New Law and Old Law Together | Navajo Nation
Abstract
For hundreds of years, the Navajo lived under a traditional justice system composed of both Navajo common law and consensus-oriented judicial procedures. The aim of the justice system was simple: to restore harmony. Over time, the Nation wrestled with the alienating and disempowering effects of laws and procedures inconsistent with their culture and history. Tribal members who were used to resolving their own disputes were made dependent on modern institutions, including western-style police and judiciaries, and self reliance and community participation withered. The Navajo Nation Judicial Branch introduced an innovative legal system that is independent, fair, responsive, and consistent with the Nation’s culture and traditions.