To the People of the Navajo Nation:
The Court’s decision in Speaker Curley v. President Nygren affirms what I have believed all along: that standing firm for the Navajo People is the right thing to do. The path here was not easy, but I remain proud that I stood firm throughout this difficult time.
The People voted to give the President a specific power called the line-item veto — the authority to reject parts of a piece of legislation without having to reject the whole thing. You, the People, gave the President this power directly, through a petition and vote.
When I used that authority, I believed it was necessary to protect the interests of our People and to keep our government’s branches in proper balance, the Navajo Nation Council disagreed and sued me over it.
I chose to fight that lawsuit — not to protect myself, but to protect the authority you gave to this office, and to protect your right to decide how your government works.
The Court ruled in my favor. In its decision, the Court reaffirmed something important: no single branch of our government — not the President, not the Council, not the Courts — stands above the others. Each has limits. And ultimately, the Court put it simply:
“The government of the Navajo Nation belongs to the Navajo people.”
That is what this fight was always about. The authority of our government does not belong to one person, one office, or one branch. It comes from you.
Thank you for allowing me the honor of serving you and standing up for you. I will continue to put the Navajo People first, defend your voice, and do the work needed to move our Nation forward.
Sincerely,
Dr. Buu Nygren, President
THE NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT
