Crystalyne Curley Set to Become 1st Woman President of Navajo Nation

Crystalyne Curley is set to make history as the first woman to serve as president of the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the United States by land area.

Crystalyne previously became the first woman to lead the Nation’s legislative branch as council speaker after being elected by council members in 2023. Her work has focused on key issues, including water rights, uranium contamination and voter rights.

Meanwhile, the Seneca Nation of Indians in New York has also elected its first woman president, Tina Abrams. She brings previous experience from serving two terms on the Nation’s council.

Key Highlights:

• Crystalyne is set to become the first woman president of the Navajo Nation after previously serving as its first female council speaker
• Her campaign focuses on affordable housing, behavioral health services, workforce development and protecting Dine culture
• Tina Abrams has also been elected as the first woman president of the Seneca Nation of Indians in New York

Native women became history makers for their tribes in this election, but it's not unusual for women to fill the top positions in tribal nations. Previous to them, other women such as activist Wilma Mankiller served as the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985, the nation's largest tribal enrollment, with 600,000 members.

While there is no official data regarding how many women are represented in tribal governments, Represent Women reported that in 2020 at least 78 tribal nations had achieved or surpassed gender parity in their legislatures.

Crystalyne's campaign platform includes her plan to prioritize behavioral health services, affordable housing programs, workforce development, protecting Dine culture and sovereignty, and more. 

Prior to the election, Crystalyne told Indian Country Today, a nonprofit news site, that she has taken her perspective as a mom to the job. I want my kids to have a safe future, I want my kids to have a safe home where they feel good about themselves, proud of themselves,” she said.

Navajo Nation election law deems the results unofficial for 10 days after Nov. 3rd. Crystalyne's opponent, Justin Jones, has not conceded, and will file a legal challenge regarding the results, says the Navajo-Hopi Observer, which reports that he has 1115 votes ahead of Curry.

Spanning northeastern Arizona, a portion of New Mexico and Utah, The Nation has the second most number of enrolled Tribal members across the country.