Peterson Zah
Encyclopedia
Peterson Zah was the first Navajo
President and the last Chairman of the Navajo people. Since 1995, he has been working at Arizona State University
as the Special Adviser to ASU President on American Indian Affairs. Zah also works as a consultant to companies attempting to do business in Indian Country.
and Arizona State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in education in 1963.
After college, Zah spent a year working in Phoenix
for the Arizona Vocational Education Department, teaching carpentry
to adult students seeking vocational skills. From 1965 to 1967 he was a participant in Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
, working at Arizona State University as field coordinator of a training center.
In 1967 Zah became executive director of the Dinebeuna Nahiilna Be Agaditiahe (DNA) People's Legal Service, a nonprofit organization
. He remained in that position until 1981. Under Zah's leadership, several of the organization's legal cases related to Indian sovereignty reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1972, Zah won election to the school board in Window Rock, Arizona
; the following year he became board president. In 1983 he became chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council
at Window Rock
, the governing body for the Navajo reservation
headquartered there. He served in that position until 1987, when he became engaged in fundraising for the Navajo Education and Scholarship Foundation. In 1989 and 1990 he directed a regional office for Save the Children
, and in 1990 was elected president of the new Navajo Nation, the first person to be elected to that position.
Among the accomplishments that Zah is credited with during his time as Navajo president was working productively with Hopi
tribal leader Ivan Sidney to resolve issues related to the land dispute between the two tribes. Zah and Sidney had been childhood friends. During Zah's term, he established the Navajo Nation Permanent Trust Fund, utilizing tens of millions of dollars won in a lawsuit against Peabody Coal Company. The NNPTF has grown to over a billion dollars.
In 1995 Peterson Zah became Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs for Arizona State University.
Zah has received honorary degrees from Colorado College
and the College of Santa Fe
.
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
President and the last Chairman of the Navajo people. Since 1995, he has been working at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
as the Special Adviser to ASU President on American Indian Affairs. Zah also works as a consultant to companies attempting to do business in Indian Country.
Biography
Peterson Zah was born December 2, 1937 in Low Mountain, Arizona, the son of Henry and Mae Multine Zah. He was educated at Phoenix Indian SchoolPhoenix Indian School
The Phoenix Indian School, or Phoenix Indian High School in its later years, was a Bureau of Indian Affairs-operated school in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. It was mostly a high school, but it served lower grades from 1891 to 1935. It opened in 1891 and closed in 1990 at the orders of the federal...
and Arizona State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in education in 1963.
After college, Zah spent a year working in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
for the Arizona Vocational Education Department, teaching carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
to adult students seeking vocational skills. From 1965 to 1967 he was a participant in Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
Volunteers in Service to America
VISTA or Volunteers in Service to America is an anti-poverty program created by Lyndon Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as the domestic version of the Peace Corps. Initially, the program increased employment opportunities for conscientious people who felt they could contribute tangibly to...
, working at Arizona State University as field coordinator of a training center.
In 1967 Zah became executive director of the Dinebeuna Nahiilna Be Agaditiahe (DNA) People's Legal Service, a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. He remained in that position until 1981. Under Zah's leadership, several of the organization's legal cases related to Indian sovereignty reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1972, Zah won election to the school board in Window Rock, Arizona
Window Rock Unified School District
Window Rock Unified School District is a school district within Apache County, Arizona, USA. WRUSD comprises seven schools within a 65-mile radius.WRUSD serves several unincorporated areas, including Fort Defiance, Sawmill, St...
; the following year he became board president. In 1983 he became chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council
Navajo Tribal Council
The Navajo Nation Council is the legislative branch of the Navajo Nation government. As stipulated in the Navajo Nation Code, "The Legislative Branch shall consist of the Navajo Nation Council and any entity established under the Navajo Nation Council...
at Window Rock
Window Rock, Arizona
Window Rock is the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a sovereign Native American nation in North America. Window Rock contains the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park, as well as the Navajo Nation World War II Memorial...
, the governing body for the Navajo reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
headquartered there. He served in that position until 1987, when he became engaged in fundraising for the Navajo Education and Scholarship Foundation. In 1989 and 1990 he directed a regional office for Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
, and in 1990 was elected president of the new Navajo Nation, the first person to be elected to that position.
Among the accomplishments that Zah is credited with during his time as Navajo president was working productively with Hopi
Hopi
The Hopi are a federally recognized tribe of indigenous Native American people, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. Their Hopi language is one of the 30 of the Uto-Aztecan language...
tribal leader Ivan Sidney to resolve issues related to the land dispute between the two tribes. Zah and Sidney had been childhood friends. During Zah's term, he established the Navajo Nation Permanent Trust Fund, utilizing tens of millions of dollars won in a lawsuit against Peabody Coal Company. The NNPTF has grown to over a billion dollars.
In 1995 Peterson Zah became Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs for Arizona State University.
Zah has received honorary degrees from Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
and the College of Santa Fe
College of Santa Fe
Santa Fe University of Art and Design is an institution of creative and performing arts based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The university offers programs in creative writing, theatre, art, graphic design, moving image arts , music, and photography, based on a liberal arts core curriculum...
.