Navajo Closer Than Ever To Electing Woman Leader

Navajo Closer Than Ever To Electing Woman Leader: ...No woman has served as Navajo president, although the matriarchal society has strong reverence for women as caretakers and heirs to everything from home site leases to sheep. When introducing themselves, Navajos start with their mother's clan name.

With Lovejoy garnering twice as many votes as any of the 10 men and a second woman in a recent primary, the Navajo Nation appears closer than ever to electing a woman as its leader. But that doesn't mean Lovejoy's candidacy is widely accepted as she and Shelly approach the Nov. 2 election.

The New Mexico state senator has been called an outsider who lacks experience in tribal government. More to the point, she's been told she'll ruin a tradition in which all previous top leaders have been men and that her presidency could portend an ominous future for the tribe.