Why the Navajo Nation Isn’t Just Part of Arizona

Did you know that the Navajo Nation is a sovereign nation? The Navajo Nation has its own lawmakers, and the Navajo Tribal Code resembles that of the United States government. The Nation has its own constitution, legislative body, and judicial system, and it's one of the largest tribal governments in the U.S.

Located primarily in northeastern Arizona, it's the largest Native American reservation in the United States.

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The People: The Navajo Nation and Cultural Identity

According to the Crow Canyon Archeological Center, those commonly known as Navajo call themselves Diné, which means "The People" in their own language, Diné Bizaad. This name reflects a deep cultural identity and their connection to ancestral lands, traditionally known as Dinétah.

The term “Navajo” comes from the Tewa Pueblo word “navahu’u,” which means “farm fields in the valley.” In the 1600s, the Spanish settlers adapted the word into Apaches de Navajó, referring to the Diné as valley farmers. The word "Navajo" has become the term outsiders generally use, while the people themselves prefer "Diné."

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Is the Navajo Nation a Sovereign Government?

The Navajo Nation's government is a sovereign entity, and the structure is very similar to the way the U.S. system is set up.

Like the U.S. government, the Navajo Nation is split into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. There is also a President and Vice President elected by popular vote to serve a four-year term.

The legislative branch, known as the Navajo Nation Council, has 24 elected delegates from 110 local chapters. Like the U.S. Congress, the delegates write and pass laws for the Nation.

The judicial branch of the Nation includes a Supreme Court as well as district courts that interpret laws based on both written statutes and traditional customs.

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Does the Navajo Nation Abide by the Laws of the United States

The Navajo Nation has considerable autonomy, but its citizens still have to comply with federal laws and, in some cases, with Arizona state laws, especially where jurisdictions overlap.

The Treaty of 1868 between the United States and the Navajo Tribe formally recognized the Navajo Nation as a sovereign entity. This treaty established the Navajo Reservation and granted the tribe the right to govern itself within its territory.