Staff Reports
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Speaker Crystalyne Curley announced the appointment of Titus Nez to fill the current vacant seat on the 25th Navajo Nation Council on March 17. Nez will represent the communities of Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, and Thoreau. He will fill the vacated seat previously held by Steven Arviso, who stepped down on Jan. 9.
Nez is originally from Rainbow Canyon, located in Pinedale, N.M. He is Tó baazhní’ázhí and born for Bit’ahnii. His maternal grandfather is Naaneesht’ézhi Táchii’nii and his paternal grandfather is Hashk’ąą hadzohí.
“I would like to thank my communities for putting their trust and faith in me to finish the work Mr. Arviso was working on,” Nez said in a March 17 press release. “My primary goals are to start moving all the community projects forward. Our chapters have worked hard to bring those dollars to our community for the people and to build trust and accountability for our people.”
Nez also thanked Curley for appointing him and allowing him to repsent the citizens of District 16.
Nez is a traditional practitioner and serves as the Community Services Coordinator for the Pinedale Chapter. He previously served with the City of Albuquerque and Churchrock Chapter as a senior planner and staff assistant. Among his public service, Nez has served on various school boards and chapter committees and community organizations.
The appointment of Titus Nez was issued in accordance with the Navajo Nation’s Election Code and based on supporting resolutions from the impacted chapters. Nez is scheduled to take the oath of office on March 18, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Navajo Nation Supreme Court in Window Rock.
