PRESS RELEASE – Today, Thursday, April 22, the First Lady will begin her two-day visit to the Navajo Nation. She will highlight the Administration’s commitment to standing with the Navajo Nation and all of Indian Country.
Upon arrival to the Navajo Nation’s capital city, she will greet with Navajo Nation government leaders. Dr. Biden and First Lady Phefelia Nez will then greet with nine Navajo women.
Next, the First Lady will attend a welcome ceremony at the Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park & Veterans Memorial. Speaking in front of the historic red sandstone arch, the First Lady will deliver a live radio address to the Navajo Nation.
This will be the First Lady’s third visit to the Navajo Nation since 2013.
GREET
• President Jonathan Nez
• First Lady Phefelia Nez
• Vice President Myron Lizer
• Second Lady Dottie Lizer
• Speaker Seth Damon
SPEAKING PROGRAM
• Kee Allen Begay, Council Delegate
• President Jonathan Nez
• Vice President Myron Lizer
• Speaker Seth Damon
• Chief Justice JoAnn Jayne
• Navajo Nation Youth Advisory Council (performance)
• Dr. Perphelia Fowler, Navajo Division of Human Resources Director
BIOS
President Jonathan Nez
Jonathan Nez is the 9th and current president of the Navajo Nation. He was elected President of the Navajo Nation on November 6, 2018. Before his election, Nez served as Vice President from 2015 until his inauguration in early January 2019. Before being elected Vice President of the Navajo Nation, Nez served as vice president of the Shonto chapter, delegate to the Navajo Nation Council representing the Oljato, Ts’ah Bii’ Kin, Navajo Mountain, and Shonto chapters. He is an alumni of Northland Pioneer College and Northern Arizona University (NAU).
The First Lady and President Nez met in May 2019 to celebrate the opening of a cancer care center in Tuba City – the first cancer center in Navajo Nation.
Navajo Nation First Lady Phefelia Nez
First Lady Nez is of the Water Edge clan, born for the Many Goats clan. She was raised on Hopi Partition Lands in Big Mountain, Arizona. She is married to Jonathan Nez and mother of two children, Christopher and Alexander Nez. She completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University. As First Lady, her platform focuses on restoring and strengthening homes and families.
Vice President Myron Lizer
Myron Lizer is the 10th and current Vice President of the Navajo Nation. Before taking office, Vice President Lizer served on numerous business, community, and private school boards of directors advocating for tribal issues and concerns. He received his BBA from Fort Lewis College.
Navajo Nation Second Lady Dottie Lizer
Navajo Nation Second Lady Dottie Lizer is of the Towering House Clan, born for Coyote Pass clan. She is married to Myron Lizer, and they have three children. As a family, they have operated family businesses for over 50 years.
As the Second Lady, she aims to focus and advocate on behalf of the Diné women, children, elders, and the vulnerable population.
Seth Damon, Speaker of the Council
Hon. Seth Damon is the Speaker of the 24th Navajo Nation Council. In January 2021, Speaker Damon was elected to his second term as Speaker by the members of the Navajo Nation Council. During the 23rd Council, Speaker Damon served as the Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Eastern Navajo Land Commission. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and American Indian Studies from Fort Lewis College.
Kee Allen Begay, Jr., Council Delegate
Kee Allen Begay, Jr. represents the Tachee/Blue Gap, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tselani/Cottonwood, and Low Mountain areas as Council Delegate on the Navajo Nation Council. He serves on the Resources and Development Committee of the Council.
Chief Justice JoAnn Jayne
Chief Justice JoAnn Jayne was appointed in January 2018. Prior to serving as Chief Justice, Jayne served as a state representative for seven years (2001-2008) in the Montana State Legislature. Chief Justice Jayne earned her J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law, her M.S. in Watershed Management and Hydrology from the University of Arizona, and her B.S. in Agricultural Industry from Arizona State University.
Dr. Perphelia Fowler, Navajo Division of Human Resources Director
Dr. Perphelia Fowler currently serves as the Executive Director of Navajo Nation Division of Human Resources. Dr. Fowler previously served as the Human Resources Director at Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint, NM. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Change from Felding Graduate University, in Santa Barbara, C.A., Master’s Degree in Human Resources-Business Administration, and Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources-Business Administration.
Michael LaRosa
Press Secretary
Office of the First Lady
The White House
202-881-9732
@MichaelLaRosa46
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Asjia Garner
Comms, Office of the First Lady
c: 202.881.9865T
