ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A transformative moment for Native American leadership has emerged from the recent elections, particularly highlighted by the inspiring journey of Crystalyne Curley. Her political ambition ignited during a third-grade field trip to the Navajo Nation Council, where she witnessed a passionate debate among tribal lawmakers. “I thought to myself at a very young age, that’s where I want to be,” Curley shared, reflecting on that pivotal experience.
Curley’s election as the first woman president of the Navajo Nation marks a significant milestone, not just for her, but for Navajo women and Native American communities as a whole. This achievement is part of a broader trend observed in the recent elections, which saw multiple historic victories, including the first Black female governor and the first openly gay man and first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.
“This is a win for all Navajo women,” Curley told The Associated Press, underscoring the importance of representation in leadership roles. Experts like Jordan James Harvill, a Cherokee Nation citizen and strategist with Advance Native Political Leadership, point to decades of political organizing that have paved the way for Native women to increasingly run for and win office. “This is a seismic shift that is happening in our communities,” he noted.
The Navajo Nation and Its Historic Leadership Change
Curley’s election comes after a long history of male leadership in the modern, centralized Navajo government, which has been dominated by men since its inception over a century ago. The Navajo Nation, spanning 27,000 square miles across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, is notably the largest federally recognized tribe by land base and second in population to the Cherokee Nation.
While some Navajo traditions have been interpreted as prohibiting women from holding top government positions, others argue that the absence of women in leadership contradicts the matrilineal structure of Diné society. Jennifer Nez Denetdale, a professor of Diné studies at the University of New Mexico, explains, “You see the language of tradition used to both deride the possibility of a woman being president and to say that women’s leadership is needed now.”
Throughout her campaign, Curley faced challenges, including sexist rhetoric, yet she remains committed to breaking barriers. “As women, we have to work twice or triple as hard, especially within Navajo politics,” Curley stated, acknowledging her prior role as the first female speaker of the tribe’s legislative branch.
Implications of Curley’s Presidency
As Curley prepares to take office alongside her running mate Chris Deschene in January, she is poised to implement significant changes. Their agenda includes transitioning the Navajo Nation away from coal development and reasserting the tribe’s influence in national discussions surrounding federal Indian policy.
In a related victory, the Seneca Nation of Indians in western New York also elected its first woman president, Tina Abrams, further marking a shift towards female leadership in Native American governance.
Native Women Making Strides in U.S. Politics
In the broader context, Native women are making significant strides in U.S. politics. At her Senate victory celebration, Peggy Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Nation and the outgoing lieutenant governor of Minnesota, credited her community’s support. “I could not run for the U.S. Senate without Native women,” she asserted, highlighting the critical role of Native women in political representation.
Despite the historical context where only four Native people— all men—have served in the U.S. Senate since its establishment, recent elections signal a shift. Flanagan’s victory, alongside potential wins for others like Mary Peltola, a Yup’ik woman from Alaska, could mark the first time three Native Americans serve simultaneously in the Senate.
The Legacy of Deb Haaland
Deb Haaland’s political journey is another testament to this evolving landscape. As the first Native American woman in Congress and the first to lead a U.S. Cabinet agency, her election as the first female Native governor of a U.S. state in New Mexico is historic. “I think it’s a long time coming,” said Haaland, whose ancestral ties trace back 800 years in New Mexico. She aims to address pressing issues like education and affordability for struggling communities.
Reflecting on her journey, Haaland expressed gratitude for the support she has received from Native voters and women in politics, stating, “It’s not just a slogan. It matters that people feel represented.”
This surge in female leadership among Native Americans, as illustrated by Curley, Flanagan, and Haaland, not only challenges traditional norms but also inspires future generations to envision themselves in positions of power and influence.
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This story is published through the Global Indigenous Reporting Network at The Associated Press.
