The only female member of the Navajo Nation’s legislative branch says she was sexually harassed as an elected official. Now, Amber Kanazbah Crotty is calling for change.
She teared up at a recent Navajo Nation Council meeting as she described a colleague directing vulgar comments and innuendo at her. Crotty also said she was groped while working as a legislative district assistant several years ago. Crotty said tolerance for sexist comments at the tribe's highest level of government is a symptom of the overall culture on Navajo Nation.
She is only the woman on the 23-person council, and sits on the council's sexual assault prevention committee.
The federal department of justice said women in Indian Country experience sexual assaults, rape and violence at more than twice the rate of other women in the U.S.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
