REFERENCE TITLE: Peterson Zah; death resolution

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HCR 2046

Introduced by

Representatives Peshlakai: Austin, Blattman, Bravo, Contreras L, Contreras P, Hernandez A, Hernandez L, Longdon, Pawlik, Quiñonez, Schwiebert, Seaman, Shah, Travers

A Concurrent Resolution

on the death of navajo nation president peterson zah.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Peterson Zah, long-time counselor and leader of the Navajo Nation, died on March 7, 2023 at the age of 85.

Born on December 7, 1937 in Low Mountain on the Navajo Reservation, Peterson Zah graduated from the Phoenix Indian School before attending community college and then Arizona State University on a basketball scholarship. After graduating with a degree in education, he taught carpentry and other vocational skills on the Navajo Reservation. He went on to serve as the Native American liaison to Arizona State University's president for 15 years, working diligently to boost the number of Native students and graduates. Additionally, Peterson Zah successfully encouraged colleges and universities to accept Native American students at in-state tuition rates, regardless of whether they graduated high school in the Arizona, New Mexico or Utah portion of the Navajo reservation.

From 1967-1982, Peterson Zah cofounded and served as Executive Director of Dinébe'iná Náhiitna Be Agha'diit'ahi (DNA), or "Lawyers Who Contribute to the Economic Revitalization of the People." As the executive director of the DNA People's Legal Service, he oversaw several of the nonprofit organization's legal cases that were eventually heard by the United States Supreme Court.

Peterson Zah served as the last Chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1982 to 1987 as well as its first President from 1990 to 1994, after the Nation's government was restructured into three branches of government. Kind, low-key, charismatic and humble, President Zah worked tirelessly to better the lives of the Navajo people throughout his lifetime. Among his many accomplishments, he helped establish the Permanent Fund in 1985, which continues to receive tribal payments from coal, pipeline, oil and gas leases on reservation lands. He worked with Hopi tribal leadership in a respectful, direct manner to mend the two tribes' dispute over land boundaries. President Zah lobbied the federal government to ensure that Native Americans could use peyote as a religious sacrament, and he ensured that the interests of Native Americans were reflected in federal environmental legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

Even after his presidential tenure ended, Peterson Zah consulted with later Navajo leaders to guide them on issues ranging from housing, families, veterans and education. He never ceased encouraging Native American youth to pursue their education and counseled many to seek advanced degrees. Peterson Zah maintained a continual sense of beauty in life and worked diligently to improve the world around him for future generations.

Courageous, passionate, loyal and honest, Peterson Zah earned the respect and admiration of all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him over the years. He will be greatly missed by the Navajo people, the citizens of Arizona, his many friends, his loving wife, Rosalind, and his children and grandchildren.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature express their regret at the passing of President Peterson Zah and extend their deepest condolences to the Navajo people and his surviving family members.