‘Bambuuzled’: Effort begins to recall Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren

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Navajo Nation Buu Nygren addresses the Miss Navajo competition in Window Rock, Arizona, on September 2, 2024. Photo: Navajo Nation Office of President and Vice President

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Indianz.Com

An official effort is underway to remove Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren from office.

The Committee to Recall Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren began collecting signatures on a recall petition on Tuesday. The group says the tribe’s leader has “bambuuzled” the Navajo people.

“This historic filing marks the first recall of its kind in the Navajo Nation,” Debbie Nez-Manuel, a former ally of the president, said in a post on social media.

The petition accuses Nygren of breaching his fiduciary duty to the Navajo people, of neglecting to fulfill his duties and of engaging in misconduct. The latter charge cites widespread turnover of appointees within the president’s administration, along with incidents of sexual harassment — including allegations made by Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya.

“Throughout the Navajo Nation Government, non-political appointee professionals who held critical positions have also resigned due to the unprofessional behavior that has trickled down from President Nygren to his appointees,” stated Nez-Manuel, who was terminated from her job as director of human resources for the tribe in late June.

“Bambuuzled”: Effort underway to recall Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren

Petition organizers must gather enough signatures in order for the recall of Nygren to appear on an upcoming ballot. Title 11 (Elections) of the Navajo Nation Code indicates that 15 percent of registered voters “shall have signed the petition for an initiative to be placed on a ballot.”

Should the recall petition appear on the ballot, the code indicates that Nygren would be recalled with a majority vote.

Nygren won election in November 2022. He was sworn into office in January 2023, becoming the youngest person to serve as president of the Navajo Nation.

Yá’áá’ééh! Its been a busy day — Today, the Committee to Recall Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren (“Committee”)…
Posted by Debbie Nez Manuel on Tuesday, September 3, 2024

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