WINDOW ROCK, AZ – The 25th Navajo Nation Council’s Law and Order Committee (LOC) advanced Legislation 0201-24, a proposal seeking a referendum allowing Diné voters to decide whether to change the official name of the Navajo Nation to the Diné Nation. The term Diné, meaning “the People” in the Navajo language, is viewed by many as a more culturally accurate reflection of the Nation’s heritage and identity.
LOC Chair Eugenia Charles-Newton highlighted the potential impacts that an official name change could have on the Nation’s sovereignty, citing historical precedents such as the 1986 name change of the Papago Indians to the Tohono O’odham Nation. Council Delegate Herman M. Daniels, Jr., who sponsored the legislation, said that recognizing the traditional name could similarly strengthen the sovereignty and tribal identity of the Navajo Nation. LOC Vice Chair Cherilyn Yazzie called for a comprehensive cost analysis to fully understand the potential financial impacts of the name change before proceeding further.
Committee members supported the request to include financial and administrative costs associated with updating official documents, signage, digital platforms, and other materials, into the legislation. If the 25th Navajo Nation Council approves the legislation, the referendum will be presented to Navajo voters, allowing them to decide on the name change in the upcoming general election on November 5, 2024.
The outcome of the referendum will have significant implications for the community, government entities, and the cultural identity of the Navajo people. The Law and Order Committee voted two in favor and one opposed to advancing Legislation 0201-24 to the Naabik’iyati’ Committee for further deliberation. If approved by the Naabik’iyati’ Committee, the legislation will then move forward to the full Navajo Nation Council for a final decision.
