Chairman of the Navajo Nation

The Chairman of the Navajo Nation was the head of the government at the formation of the Tribal Council and the government entity to interact with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The office was replaced by the President of the Navajo Nation in 1991 during restructuring of the Tribal Government into a three-branch national government.

Chairmen of the Navajo Nation
Naabeehó Bináhásdzo  (Navajo)
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
ResidenceWindow Rock, AZ
Term lengthFour years, no term limits
Constituting instrumentNavajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holderChee Dodge
Formation1923
Final holderLeonard Haskie
Abolished1991

Officeholders

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No. Image Name Term Party Election Vice Chairman
1   Chee Dodge
(c. 1860–1947)
1923

1928
Unknown TBA Vacant
2   Deshna Chischillige
(TBA–TBA)
1928

1932
Unknown 1928 Maxwell Yazzie
3     Thomas Dodge
(1899–1987)
1932

March 30, 1936[a]
Unknown 1932 Marcus Kanuho
4   Henry Taliman Sr.
(TBA–TBA)
1937

1938
Unknown TBA Roy Kinsel
5   Jacob C. Morgan
(TBA–TBA)
1938

1942
Unknown 1938 Howard Gorman
6   Chee Dodge
(c. 1860–1947)
1942

1946
Unknown 1942 Sam Ahkeah
7     Sam Ahkeah
(1896–1967)
1946

1954
Unknown 1946 Chee Dodge (died before taking office)
Zealy Tso (1946–1950)
1950 John Claw (1951–1952)
Adolph Maloney (1952–1954)
8     Paul Jones
(1895–1971)
1955

1963
Unknown 1954   Scott Preston
1958
9     Raymond Nakai
(1918–2005)
1963

1970
Unknown 1962   Nelson Damon
1966
10     Peter MacDonald
(born 1928)
1971

1982
Republican 1970   Wilson Skeet (1971–1979)
1974
1978   Frank E. Paul (1979–1982)
11     Peterson Zah
(1937–2023)
1983

1987
Democratic 1982 Edward T. Begay
12     Peter MacDonald
(born 1928)
1987

1989
Republican 1986 Johnny R. Thompson
  Leonard Haskie
(1944–2015)
Interim
1989

1991
Unknown Irvin Billy
Office abolished, replaced by President of the Navajo Nation.

Notes

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  1. ^ Resigned from office.

See also

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References

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