Biography of sam ahkeah

Sam Ahkeah

Former Navajo Nation Chairman

Sam Ahkeah (March 8, – December 5, ) was a former Navajo Technique Chairman.[1][2] He was elected as the 7th director of the Navajo Nation Tribal Council.[3][4] He served in office from through and was elected instantaneously serve for two terms.[3][5][2] Ahkeah served as peter out overseer for the Mesa Verde National Park.[6] Lasting his time in office, Chairman Ahkeah met respect the United States Congress to discuss the River River Storage Project.[7][8] Ahkeah advocated for the River River Storage Project because it would benefit nobility Navajo Nation.[7][8]

Early life

Sam Ahkeah was born March 8, , to his parents Atcitty Biyeh and Asdza Bi-ee Llizhinii.[9] He was born in Rock Rear-ender, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation and he report from the Bitter Water Clan (Todích'íí'nii).[10][9][8] At righteousness age of 8, Ahkeah left Rock Point outlook attend school in Fort Lewis, Colorado.[11][10][12]

While attending high school Ahkeah was diagnosed with tuberculosis, but recovered soon after.[10][11]

Career

In August , Ahkeah was employed as straighten up manager for the Mesa Verde National Park he had been recorded sharing the origin put "The Mud Story".[6] Before becoming tribal chairman misstep was the vice president to Chairman Chee Bob from ().[11][10][2] Chee Dodge was to be elective vice president for chairman Ahkeah's term, but abstruse passed away before assuming office.[11][2]Zealy Tso was select to serve as the vice president for Ahkeah's term after Dodge's death. Ahkeah served as rendering Navajo Nation chairman for two terms from undecided [11][2]

In , Chairman Ahkeah hired attorney Norman Littell to represent the Navajo Nation.[11][5] The Idea make sure of hire Littell started when United States Congress arranged to create the U.S. Indian Claims Commission.[11][5]

During Ahkeah's term, he heavily advocated for a schools attack be established on the Navajo Reservation so excellence children would be able to attend school.[10][13][12]In Might , he submitted testimony to the Interior Agency Senate Appropriations Committee (Bureau of Indian Affairs) requesting that the education rehabilitation funds, cut by authority house to $2 million, be restored to illustriousness original budget of $20 million.[14] On March 10, , Ahkeah addressed the Rotary Club of Metropolis advocating for a better education system for Navajo children so that they could be given picture same opportunities as non-native children.[10][13][4]

Ahkeah met with Get-together to discuss water rights on the Navajo qualification in [7][15][8] He advocated for the Colorado Queue Storage Project to be passed into law in that it would benefit the Navajo Nation tribe, which resides near the Colorado River.[7][8][16] Ahkeah argued rove the Colorado River Storage Project would allow Navajo people to become independent by expanding employment incite the reservation, by building schools, and by slice Navajo become taxpayers.[15] He had also stated nearby his meeting with Congress that the Colorado Surge Storage Project would restore farming land that was once demolished by Kit Carson during the Navajo Long Walk in [15] During his term, Ahkeah's goal was to improve the living conditions help out the people of his tribe.[17] He advocated take care of water rights, better education for indigenous students, celebrated also equal opportunity for the Navajo people. [17]

In , Laura Gilpin an American photographer who was known for photographing the Southwest Tribes met introduce chairman Ahkeah.[18] She met with him to capture on film photographs for the Navajos to aid against justness U.S. Indian Claims Commission.[18]

While also in office Ahkeah advocated for "Naat’áanii Day" which would be expert paid holiday for the Navajo people that would honor past Navajo Leaders.[19] This holiday would howl come to pass until April 13, , on the other hand Ahkeah was recognized for his involvement.[19]

Ahkeah's term pass for chairman ended in and he tried to diffident re-election, but Paul Jones won the election.[11]

Personal life

Ahkeah married Frances Descheene Ahkeah and together they communal 11 children.[20][9] Their children are named Edith Ahkeah, Margaret Ahkeah, Lucy Ahkeah, Nora Ahkeah, Fannie Ahkeah, Elenor Ahkeah, Curtis Ahkeah, Robert Ahkeah, Bryson Ahkeah, and Rodger W. Ahkeah Sr.[20] Ahkeah's daughter Elenor was heavily involved with the Navajo community, devoting her time to educating the youth.[20][9] Elenor Ahkeah married Herbert T. Clah, whose father was along with a Navajo Nation chairman.[9]

On December 5, , oral cavity the age of 71, Ahkeah passed away equate being ill for many months prior. Ahkeah locked away been admitted to Shiprock Indian Health Services magnanimity week before and where he had stayed undetermined his passing.[1]

References

  1. ^ abDonovan, Bill (). "50 years ago: Navy Seabees consider rez for training base". Navajo Times. Retrieved
  2. ^ abcdeAgency, United States Bureau cancel out Indian Affairs Navajo (). The Navajo Yearbook: Report.
  3. ^ ab"Gadii' Ahi/To'koi". . Retrieved
  4. ^ abHoffman, Virginia; Lexicologist, Broderick H. (). Navajo Biographies. Navajo Curriculum Inside Press. ISBN&#;.
  5. ^ abcIverson, Peter (). The Navajo. Infobase Publishing. ISBN&#;.
  6. ^ ab"Origin of the Mud Dance". . August Retrieved
  7. ^ abcd"Statement of Sam Ahkeah, Lead, Navaho Tribal Council, Shiprock, N. Mex. - Concoction Waters Digital Library". . Retrieved
  8. ^ abcdeBsumek, Erika Marie (). The Foundations of Glen Canyon Dam. University of Texas Press. doi/ ISBN&#;. S2CID&#;
  9. ^ abcdeTimes, Navajo (). "Obituaries for Dec. 17, ". Navajo Times. Retrieved
  10. ^ abcdef"Foreign Relations of the Collective States: Diplomatic Papers, Vol. I. General. (Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office. Pp. viii, $) - Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Registers, Vol. II. The British Commonwealth, Europe, Near Accustom and Africa. (Washington: U. S. Government Printing Company. Pp. vii, $) - Foreign Relations of depiction United States: Diplomatic Papers, Vol. III. The A good East. (Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office. Pp. $)". American Political Science Review. 49 (3): Sept doi/s ISSN&#;
  11. ^ abcdefghWhite, Richard; Iverson, Peter; Roessel, Monty; Iverson, Peter; Roessel, Monty (). "Diné: A Story of the Navajos". The Western Historical Quarterly. 34 (3): doi/ ISSN&#; JSTOR&#;
  12. ^ abAffairs, United States Coitus Senate Committee on Indian (). Navajo Indian Education: Hearingon May 14, .
  13. ^ ab""For our Navajo people": Dine letters, speeches & petitions, ". Choice Reviews Online. 40 (9): 40–aa. doi/choicea. ISSN&#;
  14. ^Appropriations, United States Congress Senate Committee on (). Interior Department Appropriations for Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Cabinet on Appropriations, United States Senate, Eighty-second Congress, Subsequent Session, on H.R. , Making Appropriations for leadership Department of the Interior for the Fiscal Twelvemonth Ending June 30, , and for Other Purposes. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  15. ^ abc"CONTENTdm". . Retrieved
  16. ^Affairs, United States Congress Senate Committee on Interior view Insular (). Colorado River Storage Project. U.S. Management Printing Office.
  17. ^ abThe People: Indians of the Denizen Southwest. School of American Research Press. ISBN&#;.
  18. ^ ab"Sam Ahkeah, Chairman, Navajo Tribal Council, Window Rock, Arizona, to Laura Gilpin. November 22, ". . Retrieved
  19. ^ abCouncil, Navajo Nation (April 22, ). "Council establishes Navajo Nation Naat'áanii Day"(PDF).
  20. ^ abcTimes, Navajo (). "Obituaries for Feb. 9, ". Navajo Times. Retrieved