Becenti Chapter

Our Story

Becenti Chapter is located in Land Management District 15 of the Eastern Navajo Agency in north central part of McKinley County, New Mexico. The Chapter House is 10 miles north of the community of Crownpoint and .5 miles west of New Mexico State Highway 371 (Veterans Memorial Highway). The chapter land base is in the “checkerboard area”, that includes Indian Allotment, Tribal Trust, Fee Lands, Private, Public Domain and BLM Lands.

The land characteristics can be described as rolling hills, sandstone mesas, and sandy washes. Chaco Wash of the eastern edge of the chapter land drains to the north into the San Juan Basin. Mesa tops gently slope with sides having been carved by precipitation and wind erosion. Elevations range from 6,169 to 6,354 feet above sea level.

The Navajo Tribal Council certified Becenti Chapter on February 15, 1955. According to the local people, the chapter is known by two names: Tloo’di’tsin, meaning “barren of trees” and Jadi hadi t’iih’ meaning “Antelope Lookout”. These names are representative of life in past, and conditions of the area. Since the names were hard to pronounce by Non-Navajos, the chapter was named simply “Becenti” after Chief Becenti, the first documented leader of the community.

In the past, the land was once densely covered with pinon and juniper, which were eventually depleted due to demand for shelter and firewood. The probable abundance of trees is suggested by two names: Tsin neez Chooz and Tsin yaa naalk’d. Many types of wild animals used to roam the area, notably antelope. Antelope were rounded up and chased off a cliff at Jadi hadi t’iih, disabling them or instantly killing them. They were used for food and clothing. Jadi hadi t’iih is located two miles south of the chapter house. The mesa also has scenic qualities.The chapter became a viable entity during the 1920’s and 30’s. A census survey was taken in 1928 at Mohalland Well; an artesian spring located about seven miles west of the current chapter house. Chief Becenti, Robert Bob Perry and John Perry, Sr. were the first elected official to represent local concerns. Although meetings were conducted at different places, it was not until 1939 that a chapter house was built to accommodate gatherings at one fixed location.

ANNOUNCEMENTS for Monthly Meetings

April 2024

All meetings will be in a hybrid setting that attendees may attend in-person or call-in.  For those attending in-person there will be a sanitation station available and CDC Guideline will be enforced.   

BECENTI CHAPTER PLANNING MEETING
April 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

BECENTI CHAPTER SPECIAL MEETING

TBA

BECENTI CHAPTER REGULAR MEETING
April 24, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Community we would like to see you there! 🙂 

BECENTI CHAPTER WORK SESSION
ICIP Work Session April 15, 2024 @ 10:00 AM

BECENTI CHAPTER COMMUNITY LAND USE PLAN (CLUPC)

CLUPC Regular Meeting
April 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Becenti Community Clean Up Week

April 22, 2024 Thru April 25, 2024

KICK OFF DAY MONDAY @ 10:00 AM

COME AND JOIN CLUP IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN 🙂 

BECENTI EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (BERT)
TBA

BECENTI CHAPTER VETERAN ORGANIZATION (BCVO)

April, 11 2024 At 9:00 a.m.

All Becenti Veterans/New Veterans are more then welcome to join.

DISTRICT 20 LAND BOARD MEETING 

N/A

SPECAIL ELECTION ON APRIL 23, 2024 

COME AND VOTE