Russell Begaye recently was sworn in as president of the Navajo Nation at the Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Outgoing President Ben Shelly draped the traditional Navajo blanket on Begaye’s shoulders, as Begaye noted, “There should never be a break in leadership. We should always be working together. Make sure that there is no gap between one president and the next.” Jonathan Nez was sworn in as vice president.
Begaye’s term ends several months of in-fighting in the Navajo government, mainly because the tribe disqualified a presidential candidate for refusing to prove he spoke Navajo fluently. In his inaugural speech, Begaye called for restoring the Navajo language to its rightful place, adding the Navajo people should not be ashamed of speaking the language but should embrace the power of the language because it is part of the foundation of the people.
Begaye also stressed the importance of the Navajo people coming back to the reservation, including Navajos who left to receive an education and how now use their skills to help off-reservation communities. “It is time we bring them back,” he said.
Begaye also said he wants Navajos to return to their old ways of eating foods produced on the reservation because as they have become more accustomed to eating foods from the Anglo society, Navajos have become obese and afflicted with diabetes and other diseases. Begaye said the time has come for the tribe to end its dependence on the outside world and to examine the opportunities it possesses inside the four sacred mountains.
Also he stated not only do the people need to come together, so do tribal leaders from all levels of the government. “We never come together like we should,” Begaye said.
Despite those and other issues, Begaye said, “The people are excited, and that makes us excited about everything that’s going to take place. They’re expecting something different, and they are expecting us to move the nation forward.”
The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise operates Twin Arrows Navajo Casino near Flagstaff, Arizona; Northern Edge Navajo Casino near Farmington, New Mexico; Fire Rock Navajo Casino near Gallup, New Mexico and Flowing Water Navajo Casino near Shiprock, New Mexico.
