4:34 pm, 1.23.23, The Navajo Nation Council votes in its first female speaker, Navajo Council Delegate Crystalyne Curley, who represents the chapters of Low Mountain, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tachee/Blue Gap, and Tselani/Cottonwood. After the vote, the Navajo Council gave Curley a standing ovation. Curley will serve a two-year term as speaker, and then the Council holds another election for speaker.

Curley was among four Navajo Council delegates to be nominated for speaker. In the first round of votes, the Navajo Council gave Delegates Curley 11 votes, Tso 6 votes, Carl Slater 4 votes, and Eugenia Charles-Newton 3 votes.

Navajo Council Delegate Curtis Yanito nominated himself because he said he really didn’t know any of the candidates. But according to legislative attorneys, the Navajo Council rules or order to elect a speaker do not address self-nominations and so Yanito could not nominate himself,

The Navajo Council then voted for the top two candidates, who were Curley and Tso. Curley took 13 secret voting ballots and Tso received 11 secret voting ballots. Tso was serving as the interim speaker.

Navajo Nation Supreme Court Chief Justice gave Curley the oath of office. After the oath was given, Curley received another standing ovation.

The Navajo Council voted to recess at 5:32 pm, 1.23.23, and hear the State of the Navajo Nation Address from President Buu Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya tomorrow, 1.24.23. The Council convenes day two of its five-day winter session at 10 a.m.

The Navajo Council spent day one of its winter session on adopting its agenda, electing a speaker, and holding day one special activities.

APPROVED AGENDA OF THE 25th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL WINTER SESSION Jan 23 t 27, 2023 10 AM Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
(VIA TELECONFERENCE)
Call-in Number: (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 928 871 7160
Passcode: 86515
Livestream will be available online at:
VIMEO: www.vimeo.com/navajonationcouncil
YouTube: www.youtube.com/navajonationcouncil
NNC Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/navajonationcouncil/
PRESIDING: Honorable Otto Tso, Speaker Pro Tempore, 25th Navajo Nation Council

1. CALL SESSION TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION
2. RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS TO THE NAVAJO NATION
3. REVIEW AND ADOPT THE AGENDA
   (m) Hon. Rickie Nez (s) Hon. Casey A. Johnson (v) 23-0 (sptnv)
4. SELECTION OF THE SPEAKER FOR THE 25th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
   A. LEGISLATION 0002-23: An Action Relating to an Emergency and the Navajo Nation Council; Selecting and Confirming the Speaker of the 25th Navajo Nation Council
   SPONSOR: Honorable Vince R. James
   CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Otto Tso
   (m) (s) (v)
5. RECEIVE THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION
   (m) (s) (v)
6. RECEIVE REPORT FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE NAVAJO NATION
   (m) (s) (v)
7. RECEIVE REPORT FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
   (m) (s) (v)
8. RECEIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE CONTROLLER
   (m) (s) (v)
9. ORAL REPORTS
   A. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) (m) (s) (v)
   B. Indian Health Services (IHS) (m) (s) (v)
   C. Attorney General (m) (s) (v)
   D. Navajo Nation Youth Advisory Council (m) (s) (v)
   E. Update Report from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority regarding the Increase in Utility Rates and the Lack of Notification to the Navajo People
   (m) (s) (v)
   F. Update Report from the Navajo Division of Health on the Status of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation
   (m) (s) (v)
   G. Update Report from the Navajo Nation Auditor General’s Office regarding the Audit of the Office of the Speaker
   (m) (s) (v)
   H. Update Report from the Office of the President and Vice-President on the Lifting of the Mask Mandate
   (m) (s) (v)
   I. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)
   (m) (s) (v)
   J. Update Report by the Department of Diné Education on the Apportionment Plan – Plan 6 and to schedule a Naabik’iyati’ Committee Work Session within 30 Days
   (m) (s) (v)
10. WRITTEN REPORTS
    A. Standing Committees (m) (s) (v)
    B. Boards and Commissions (m) (s) (v)
    C. Bureau of Indian Affairs (m) (s) (v)
    D. Indian Health Services Area Director (m) (s) (v)
    E. Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (m) (s) (v)
11. OLD BUSINESS: NONE
12. NEW BUSINESS:
    A. LEGISLATION 0003-23: An Action Relating to an Emergency and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving $3,000,000 from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance (“UUFB”) for 110 Chapters’ Emergency Fund Accounts SPONSOR: Honorable Danny Simpson
    CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Lomardo Aseret
    CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Norman M. Begay
    CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Helena Nez Begay
    CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Brenda Jesus
    CO-SPONSOR: Honorable Casey A. Johnson
    (m) (s) (v)
13. CLOSE OF SESSION; ANNOUNCEMENTS; ADJOURNMENT
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