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Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren is disputing sexual harassment accusations made by Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya against him.
In April, during a livestream on social media, Vice President Montoya publicly said she was harassed and bullied during a meeting, but did not name the alleged harasser.
“In the month of August 2023, I had to write a statement because I was sexually harassed.”
During a press conference Tuesday, President Nygren revealed the allegations were against him from a meeting in his office with Vice President Montoya.
President Nygren repeatedly disputed the accusations.
“I never sexually harassed or sexually assaulted the vice president or have disrespected her or have done anything she’s accusing me of doing.”
President Nygren says he asked the vice president to meet with him because he learned that her marriage was ending and he wanted to offer support.
In a written statement to the Office of the President, Vice President Montoya said the meeting made her feel “uncomfortable” and that she felt “objectified.” Vice President Montoya said she felt powerless, alleging she tried to leave President Nygren’s office multiple times and was told to “just sit there” and was hugged as she left.
During the press conference, President Nygren acknowledged the hug saying he put one arm around Montoya’s shoulder and gave her a partial side hug to show support, but denies any wrongdoing.
President Nygren says he wants the vice president to join him in a Peacemaking session to address the issues.
Meanwhile, there’s a tribal investigation underway.
UPDATE: VP Montoya responded to President Nygren’s press conference comments via local news station KOAT:
“As the first female vice president of the Navajo Nation, I am dedicated to bringing forth real solutions that will ensure the safety of all workers on the Navajo Nation from sexual harassment and assault. I also stand to protect all victims from offensive sexual advances. My story is only one of many. I thank the victims who’ve shared their stories of unwanted sexual advances and solicitations with me in the past several months. Together, we will move forward and bring real solutions with real enforcement to eliminate sexual harassment and assault in the workplace for our Navajo relatives. Victim shaming and character assassination is not a solution, but we will overcome those obstacles and others to create a safe working environment for all Navajo people.”
The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) has rolled out plans for its October convention in Anchorage with a program dedicated to an up-and-coming generation of Alaska Natives, as Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports.
AFN President Julie Kitka says this year’s theme, “Our Children, Our Future Ancestors,” is timely.
“I think it will be a very unique convention and also very forward-looking too.”
Kitka says the gathering will take up The Way Forward report produced by a national commission on Native children named for two late elders – Alyce Spotted Bear, a Great Plains tribal leader, and Walter Soboleff, a Lingít scholar and religious leader from Southeast Alaska.
Both were passionate advocates for Native children. Before Soboleff died at the age of 102, he often encouraged young people to “take care of the older person you are going to become.”
Kitka says the commission’s report was sent to President Joe Biden and Congress in February and makes many recommendations that deserve a thorough review at the convention.
“We can improve things for our children, not to be satisfied with the way things are, that things can improve, and we can make it easier for them and expand opportunities.”
After 33 years, this will be the last convention Kitka will oversee as president.
Although she announced her decision to step down earlier this year, Kitka says she was both surprised and honored to be asked to deliver this year’s keynote speech.
“Time is right for change, and I view the transition at AFN as an opportunity for someone new to step in and shoulder the responsibility – and bring a whole new set of ideas and way of doing things. This is part of the process. It’s good.”
Kitka says the AFN Board plans to select her replacement before the convention, so it’s likely the new president will also address the convention.
Kitka says she expects subsistence and national politics to take center stage.
She says State Rep. Thomas Baker (R-AK)’s proposal to pass a constitutional amendment allowing subsistence management on federal lands to return to the state was the first time in more than two dozen years that the state has had this discussion.
The Kotzebue Republican’s resolution, HJR 22, failed to get support this past session, but Kitka says it’s worthy of a deeper discussion during AFN.
“I think that one of the biggest things at the convention is the National issues going on, for the Native community to show that it cares. I think that’s going to be a very dominant issue.”
The three-day gathering is set to begin on October 17.
It is the state’s largest convention, drawing delegates and their families from across the state.
Dakota News Now reports that Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) has announced the state will host a Tribal Public Safety Crisis Summit.
The summit is expected to take place in Pierre in June.
The announcement comes amid tense relations between the administration and tribal governments.
A number of tribal governments located in South Dakota have banned Gov. Noem from their reservations.
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