Vivian Juan-Saunders is an American politician who became the first woman to lead the Tohono O'odham Nation of southern Arizona in 2003.
In 1999, Juan-Saunders, together with running mate Ned Norris, Jr., challenged incumbent Tohono O'odham Chairman Edward D. Manuel for the chairmanship in the executive election.
[1] She defeated incumbent Tohono O'odham Chairman Edward D. Manuel, who had held the office since 1995, with 59% of the popular vote while carrying eight of the eleven electoral districts.
[1] Vivian Juan-Saunders was defeated for re-election in May 2007 by her former running mate, Ned Norris, Jr., who received 1,766 of the 3,105 total votes cast in the election.
In May 2017, Juan-Saunders was elected to the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council for a four-year term representing Chukut Kuk District.