Richelle Montoya

{{short description|11th Vice President of the Navajo Nation}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Richelle Montoya

| office = 11th Vice President of the Navajo Nation

| president = Buu Nygren

| termstart = January 10, 2023

| spouse = Olsen Chee (sep. 2023)

| predecessor = Myron Lizer

| image =

}}

Richelle Montoya is an American politician who is the 11th vice president of the Navajo Nation.{{Cite news |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Indigenous leaders elected |url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/newscasts/11-09-22-indigenous-leaders-elected |access-date=2022-11-10 |newspaper=Ict News |language=en}} She is the first woman elected to the executive office of Navajo Nation.

Montoya is from Torreon, Sandoval County, New Mexico and is Hashtł'ishnii (Mud clan) and born for Ta'neeszahnii (Tangle clan).{{Cite web |last=Silversmith |first=Shondiin |title=Navajo voters elect Buu Nygren as president, ousting Jonathan Nez |url=https://www.news-journal.com/navajo-voters-elect-buu-nygren-as-president-ousting-jonathan-nez/article_6bf16e5e-3f48-5380-9e04-ef52e6c59d45.html |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Longview News-Journal |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110192229/https://www.news-journal.com/navajo-voters-elect-buu-nygren-as-president-ousting-jonathan-nez/article_6bf16e5e-3f48-5380-9e04-ef52e6c59d45.html |url-status=dead }} Her maternal grandfather is Kinłichii'nii (Red House clan), and her paternal grandfather is Táchii'nii (Red Running into Water clan).{{Cite web |last=Silversmith |first=Shondiin |title=Buu Nygren becomes youngest Navajo president, Richelle Montoya becomes the first woman VP |url=http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report//011123_nygren_montaya_navajo/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Tucson Sentinel |language=en-US}}

She served as the president of the Torreon/Star Lake Chapter and is a member of the Na’ Neelzhiin Ji Olta’ Inc. board.{{Cite web |last=Krisst |first=Rima |date=2022-08-11 |title=Aiming for balance: Nygren picks Richelle Montoya-Chee as running mate |url=https://navajotimes.com/rezpolitics/election-2022/aiming-for-balance-nygren-picks-richelle-montoya-chee-as-running-mate/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Navajo Times |language=en-US}} In August 2022, Montoya was selected as the running mate of Buu Nygren during the 2022 Navajo Nation presidential election.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-09 |title=Nygren chooses New Mexico leader as running mate in Navajo president election |url=https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2022-08-09/nygren-chooses-new-mexico-leader-as-running-mate-in-navajo-president-election |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=KNAU Arizona Public Radio |language=en}}

Montoya is an advocate for the usage of the Navajo language.

She was married to U.S. Army veteran Olsen Chee. The pair separated in August 2023.{{cite web |date=2023-11-02 |last=Abasta |first=Rick |title=Olsen Chee believes protecting his wife led to separation |url=https://navajotimes.com/reznews/olsen-chee-believes-protecting-his-wife-led-to-separation/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Navajo Times |language=en}}

On April 16, 2024, Montoya accused Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren of sexually harassing her during a meeting in August 2023.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Krista |date=2024-05-30 |title=Former Nygren staffer files sexual harassment complaint against Montoya |url=https://navajotimes.com/reznews/former-nygren-staffer-files-sexual-harassment-complaint-against-montoya/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240619054554/https://navajotimes.com/reznews/richelle-montoya-says-she-was-sexually-harassed-nygren-staffers-dont-help/ |archive-date=2024-06-19 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Navajo Times |language=en-US}} This allegation followed a month after a former Nygren staffer accused Montoya of sexually harassing him during a January 2023 incident. Nygren has denied the allegation and in a June 14, 2024 press release, accused the chapters calling for his administrative leave of politically ulterior motives.{{Cite web |last=Wittenberg |first=Alexandra |date=2024-06-17 |title=Chapters present resolution to place Nygren on administrative leave |url=https://www.nhonews.com/news/chapters-present-resolution-to-place-nygren-on-administrative-leave/article_a503e4f2-2d02-11ef-a905-5bc05c41d149.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240619065645/https://www.nhonews.com/news/chapters-present-resolution-to-place-nygren-on-administrative-leave/article_a503e4f2-2d02-11ef-a905-5bc05c41d149.html |archive-date=2024-06-19 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Navajo-Hopi Observer |language=en-US}} The allegation is currently being investigated by the Navajo Nation Attorney General's office.{{Cite web |last=Rickert |first=Levi |date=2024-06-04 |title=Navajo Nation president disputes ‘false accusations’ |url=https://www.nhonews.com/news/navajo-nation-president-disputes-false-accusations/article_432de7b6-2297-11ef-a245-bf2f867ea6f5.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240619065322/https://www.nhonews.com/news/navajo-nation-president-disputes-false-accusations/article_432de7b6-2297-11ef-a245-bf2f867ea6f5.html |archive-date=2024-06-19 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Navajo-Hopi Observer |language=en-US}} In October 2024, Nygren announced that Montoya's responsibilities as vice president had been reduced and he suggested she resign from her position.{{Cite news |last=Montoya Brian |first=Susan |date=2024-10-15 |title=Navajo leader calls for tribal vice president's resignation amid political upheaval |url=https://apnews.com/article/navajo-tribal-leadership-fight-recall-63259349094896abb1ca7c2f959e8bbc |access-date=2024-10-24 |work=The Associated Press |language=en}}