Chapter (Navajo Nation)

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Tsidii To'ii (Birdsprings) Chapter House

A chapter has been the smallest local self-government unit in the Navajo Nation Reservation in the southwestern United States since 1998 .

history

The Indian agent John G. Hunter is considered to be the founder of the idea of ​​the chapter. In 1927 he initiated the establishment of the first chapter by the Navajo. As a kind of agricultural cooperative, they should serve to impart new methods of agriculture and animal husbandry through the federal authorities. The organization was left to the Navajo themselves. In 1934 there were more than 60 such chapters. The federal government's measures to reduce the Navajo livestock due to overgrazing in the 1930s then led to great resistance and disappointment among the Navajo. It was not until the 1950s that the idea experienced a certain revival. By a resolution of the tribal council in June 1955, the chapters were regarded as local grassroots organizations of the tribe and 86 recognized chapters received financial support from the tribal government. The chapter meetings followed the traditional informal meetings of the local tribal groups. Not only were local affairs discussed in the chapter houses, but meetings were also held with the tribal council delegates who presented their ideas on tribal affairs.

The Navajo Nation Local Governance Act (LGA) of 1998 established the chapters as the smallest local self-government unit of the Navajo Nation Reservation and regulates the legal relationships of the chapters. In principle, the administration of local affairs is placed in the hands of the chapters, whereby they must observe the customs and traditions of the people in addition to the laws of the Navajo Nation.

Todays situation

As of 2020 there are 110 chapters, of which only 45 are certified and thus have the powers according to LGA. Certification by a government agency of the Navajo Nation is intended to ensure minimum standards of local administration. Since this has only been achieved for less than half of the chapters since 1998 and the quorum for chapter assemblies is often not achieved due to a lack of interest from the youth , there are considerations to replace or supplement the chapters with around 24 regional self-government units. The Navajo Council approved a regionalization proposal in August 2016. A referendum on the Navajo Council's proposal for regionalization was blocked by a veto by the President of the Navajo Nation.

Of the 110 chapters, 57 are in the state of Arizona , 50 in New Mexico and three in Utah .

Navajo Agency Number of chapters of which "certified"
Tuba City / Western 18th 11
Chinle 15th 4th
Fort Defiance 26th 12
Shiprock (Northern) 20th 12
Crownpoint / Eastern 31 6th
Navajo Nation 110 45

According to the 2010 United States Census , the Tuba City Chapter had the most residents with 9265 and White Rock with 76 the fewest; the average was 1579. The six chapters with more than 5,000 residents had about 25% of the total population of the Navajo Nation Reservation.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Chapter Houses of the Navajo Nation  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ see Wilkens p. 152
  2. ^ Alyosha Goldstein: Poverty in Common: The Politics of Community Action During the American Century , Durham and London, 2012, p. 187 ; Young (p. 68) speaks of more than 100 chapters
  3. ^ Navajo Tribal Council Resolution CJ-20-55
  4. ↑ 2012 still 34
  5. ^ Local Governance Act Certified Chapters ; accessed on May 23, 2020
  6. ↑ Andrew Curley, Michael Parrish: Local governance and reform: a conceptual critique of regionalization and the Title 26 Taskforce , 2016; accessed on May 23, 2020
  7. ^ Council OKs referendum on restructuring chapters. US Today of August 9, 2016; accessed on May 23, 2020
  8. ↑ Begaye vetoes regionalization referendum. In: Navajo Times, Aug. 19, 2016; accessed on May 23, 2020
  9. ↑ Chapter directory ; accessed on May 24, 2020
  10. ^ Official site of the Navajo Nation - Navajo Nation Chapters; accessed on May 16, 2020