It’s a sensitive topic and one I knew basically nothing about until I lived in Navajo area for several years. Even now, there’s still a lot I don’t know or understand because they have such an interesting and complex culture and history.

I think it’s fair to say that unless you’re around Native politics, you won’t be aware of most of what goes on and so much of it is different from tribe to tribe. Just because it’s true for one tribe doesn’t mean that it’s true for another. Every form of government has its strengths and weaknesses, as an outsider it’s easier to see them sometimes. For example, my partner and I were having a group conversation about some of the issues we had noticed in Navajo area and a participant got angry at us because her adopted son was part of the Comanche tribe. She didn’t know that they had completely different issues, political systems, and constitutions.

I apologize if I came across as harsh in my original reply. That wasn’t my intention but tone is difficult to convey through text on a screen.

Nope. You can’t even run for office unless you’re on the tribal roll and you must be at least 50% Navajo to be on the roll. They’re really selective about who they vote as Navajo Nation president too. Several years ago a guy in his 40’s was trying to run become president. Because he’d spent time outside the Navajo Nation and cultivated a successful career along with solid degrees he was seen by the younger generation as someone that would be really good for the NN as a whole. If I remember right he wasn’t elected because he didn’t speak Navajo.