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
MArch 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
March 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
BECENTI CHAPTER SPECIAL MEETING
TBA
BECENTI CHAPTER REGULAR MEETING
March 20, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS PLEASE COME AND JOIN US FOR THE MEETING, THANK YOU
BECENTI CHAPTER WORK SESSION
BCVO and Community Market Policy and Procedures
March 11, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
BECENTI CHAPTER COMMUNITY LAND USE PLAN (CLUPC)
CLUPC Regular Meeting
March 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day 🙂 Come join us on these days…
Tlooditsin Walking Trail Event and Make and Take activity
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on March 14, 2024
Followed by a Easter Egg Hunt at 4:00 p.m.
BECENTI EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (BERT)
TBA
BECENTI CHAPTER VETERAN ORGANIZATION (BCVO)
March 6, 2024 At 9:00 a.m.
All Becenti Veterans/New Veterans are more then welcome to join.
DISTRICT 20 LAND BOARD MEETING
N/A
Chapter Officials
Jonathan Perry , President
Marjorie Lantana, Vice-President
Arlene Arviso-Arthur, Secretary/Treasurer
Danny Simpson, Council Delegate
Janice Padilla, Land Board Member
Chapter Administration
Charmayne Hosteen, CSC
Michelle Collins, AMS
Operating Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed for Lunch
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Closed during Holidays
Chapter will be Close on:
February 19, 2024
President’s Day