The term Diné, which means people in the Navajo language, is seen by many as a more culturally accurate reflection of the nation’s heritage and identity.
On Wednesday 25 Navajo Nation CouncilThe state’s Law and Order Commission has approved legislation that seeks to hold a referendum so Diné voters can decide whether to change the state’s official name. Navajo From nation to the Diné nation.
Never miss the biggest stories and breaking news from Indian Country. Click here to sign up and get our reporting delivered straight to your inbox every weekday morning.
If the 25th Navajo Nation Council if the legislation is approved, the referendum will be submitted to Navajo voters so that they can decide on the name change at the next general election on November 5, 2024.
Law and Order Committee Chair Eugenia Charles-Newton stressed the potential implications an official name change could have for the nation’s sovereignty, citing historical examples such as the 1986 renaming of the Papago Indians to the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Council Rep. Herman M. Daniels, Jr., who sponsored the legislation, said recognizing the traditional name would similarly recognize the state’s sovereignty and tribal identity. Navajo Nation.
Vice Chair Cherilyn Yazzie called for a comprehensive cost analysis to fully understand the potential financial impact of the name change before moving forward. Committee members supported the request to include in the legislation financial and administrative costs associated with updating official documents, signage, digital platforms and other materials.
The outcome of the referendum will have important implications for the community, government agencies and the cultural identity of the Navajo people.
The Law and Order Committee voted two times in favor and one time against forwarding Legislation 0201-24 to the Naabik’iyati’ Committee for further deliberation. If the Naabik’iyati’ Committee approves it, the legislation will then be forwarded to the full Navajo Nation Council for a final decision.
About the Author: “Native News Online is one of the most widely read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other indigenous peoples. Contact us at editor@nativenewsonline.net.”
Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
