Skip to main content

Tribal candidate must testify or take Navajo test

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — A candidate for Navajo Nation president must either take a test or be called to testify to determine whether he’s fluent enough in the tribe’s language to qualify for the post.

That was the determination Friday by Richie Nez of the tribe’s Office of Hearings and Appeals. Nez is hearing arguments in a case brought by two of Chris Deschene’s (des-CHEE’-neez) challengers in the primary election.

They allege Deschene lied on his candidate application and is violating a tribal law that says presidential candidates must speak fluent Navajo.

Deschene says fluency is hard to define but that he has communicated well in Navajo with voters on the campaign trail.

The case came to Nez after the tribal Supreme Court ruled that fluency is a reasonable qualification.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Hail to the chief: Take our presidential trivia quiz

EDITOR'S NOTE: WTOP first brought you this quiz in 2019. Presidents Day is coming. How well do you know the less-important facts about the nation's leaders? Take WTOP's quiz — with any luck, it won't take you all Presidents Day to finish it.
Read Next Story