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Buu Nygren

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President of the Navajo Nation since 2023

Buu Nygren
10th President of the Navajo Nation
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2023
Vice PresidentRichelle Montoya
Preceded byJonathan Nez
Personal details
Born (1986-12-25) December 25, 1986 (age 38)
Blanding, Utah, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJasmine Blackwater
EducationArizona State University (BS, MBA)
University of Southern California (EdD)

Buu Van Nygren (born December 25, 1986) is a Navajo politician currently serving as the 10th President of the Navajo Nation.

Early life

Nygren was born on December 25, 1986, in Blanding, Utah. His mother is Navajo and his father is of Vietnamese descent. His mother gave birth to him at 15 and he never knew his father. When giving him a last name his mother misspelled the Vietnamese last name Nguyen as Nygren.

Nygren is Táchiiʼnii (Red Running into Water clan). As his father is not Navajo, he has no paternal clan and is therefore said to be born for Vietnamese when his clans are named. He attended Red Mesa High School.

Nygren was the running mate of Joe Shirley Jr. in the 2018 Navajo Nation presidential election, losing to Jonathan Nez and Myron Lizer. In the 2022 election, Nygren and running mate Richelle Montoya received 34,890 votes, defeating the Nez-Abeyta campaign who received 31,339 votes. He was sworn in on January 10, 2023. At 35 years of age, Nygren is the youngest person to have been elected President of the Navajo Nation.

President of the Navajo Nation (2023–present)

Nygren received international media attention when he protested human remains being sent to the Moon as part of Peregrine Mission One. Nygren claimed that the moon is the "heritage" of the Navajo and other Indian nations and that sending human remains would desecrate Indian spiritual property. Nygren also stated that NASA had coordinated with the Navajo on the 1998 Lunar Prospector mission, however, NASA has no jurisdiction over Peregrine as it is both launched and operated by private companies.

In August 2024, a petition was launched to recall Nygren from office. The recall organizers accused Nygren of reneging and inaction on his campaign promises, misusing tribal funds, and creating a culture of workplace harassment.

Sexual harassment allegation

On April 16, 2024, Nygren was accused by Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya, his 2022 running mate, of sexually harassing her during a meeting in August 2023. The President's office has previously been accused of fostering a culture of sexual abuse and violence towards women staffers. This followed a separate accusation a month earlier in which a former male staffer accused Montoya of sexual harassment in January 2023.

Nygren has denied the allegations and accused the Navajo Times of discrediting his administration. In May 2024, three Navajo Nation Chapters drafted a resolution calling to place Nygren and several assistants on administrative leave. On June 14, 2024, Nygren issued a press release alleging the drafters of political motives.

The accusation is currently being investigated by the Navajo Nation Attorney General's office.

Personal life

Nygren has worked in construction management. He is married to former Arizona state representative Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren.

References

  1. Gonzales, Antonia (October 31, 2022). "Buu Nygren explains why he should get Navajo votes ahead of presidential election". KUNM. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  2. Silversmith, Shondiin (November 9, 2022). "Navajo voters elect Buu Nygren as president, ousting Jonathan Nez". Longview News-Journal. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  3. Denetclaw, Pauly (September 20, 2018). "Nygren never felt like he wasn't Diné". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022.
  4. Smith, Noel Lyn (April 5, 2022). "Former vice president candidate Buu Nygren seeks to lead Navajo Nation". Farmington Daily Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  5. Smith, Noel Lyn (November 8, 2018). "Voters on the Navajo Nation elect president, council delegates". Farmington Daily Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Fonseca, Felicia (November 9, 2022). "Buu Nygren wins Navajo Nation president, beats incumbent". Washington Post. AP. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  7. "NN President Official Certified Results 2022 General Election" (PDF). Navajo Election Administration. 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2022.
  8. "Buu Nygren has been sworn in as the next Navajo Nation president". NPR. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  9. Clark, Stephen. "Navajo objection to flying human ashes to the Moon won't delay launch". Ars Technica. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  10. "Recall effort launched against Navajo President Buu Nygren". KNAU Arizona Public Radio. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  11. Allen, Krista (April 18, 2024). "Richelle Montoya says she was sexually harassed, Nygren staffers 'don't help'". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  12. Allen, Krista (May 30, 2024). "Former Nygren staffer files sexual harassment complaint against Montoya". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  13. Allen, Krista (June 6, 2024). "'Hazhóó'ó yee': Nygren: media are 'against me'". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  14. Wittenberg, Alexandra (June 17, 2024). "Chapters present resolution to place Nygren on administrative leave". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  15. Rickert, Levi (June 4, 2024). "Navajo Nation president disputes 'false accusations'". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
Political offices
Preceded byJonathan Nez President of the Navajo Nation
2023–present 		Incumbent
Presidents of the Navajo Nation
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