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to resolve issues related to the land dispute between the two tribes. This did not help the Navajo Hopi Joint Use Area situation, and thousands of Navajo were relocated. During Zah's term, he established the Navajo Nation
Permanent Trust Fund (NNPTF), utilizing tens of millions of dollars won in a
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In 1995, Zah was recruited by ASU president Lattie Coor to become a special advisor to the president on
American Indian Affairs for Arizona State University. He held the position until 2011, focusing on increasing retention of Native students and success. While he was an advisor, the Native
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in 1960, and
Arizona State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in education, in 1963. While at ASU he met his wife Rosalind, who was also a student there; they got married in 1963.
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that he co-founded. A few years later, he became executive director and remained so until 1981. Under his leadership, several of the organization's legal cases related to
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as special adviser to the president on
American Indian Affairs from 1995 to 2011 and consulted companies willing to work with his nation.
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Zah began fundraising for the Navajo
Education and Scholarship Foundation in 1987. In 1989 and 1990 he directed a regional office for
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374:. In 1986, Zah lost reelection to his predecessor, but MacDonald was suspended and indicted before finishing his term.
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266: with: what he did in his various roles at the school board, tribal council, etc.. You can help by
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354:; the following year he became board president. In 1982, Zah campaigned against longtime incumbent
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In early 2022, Zah was recognized with the 2021 Grand Canyon Trust
Lifetime Achievement Award.
227:(December 2, 1937 – March 7, 2023) was an American politician who held several offices with the
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558:"Peterson Zah's life, impact remembered at celebration of life on ASU campus | ASU News"
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to adult students seeking vocational skills. From 1965 to 1967, he was a participant in
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449:"Peterson Zah, the one and only Navajo chairman and president, dies at 85"
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population of the university doubled. Zah received honorary degrees from
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673:"Former Navajo Nation president Zah receives lifetime achievement award"
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Zah died of cancer on March 7, 2023, at Fort
Defiance Hospital in
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for the
Arizona Vocational Education Department, teaching
290:, the son of Henry and Mae Multine Zah. He graduated from
498:"Peterson Zah, 85, Navajo Nation's First President, Dies"
616:"President-elect Albert Hale Plans Changes For Navajos"
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During his time as Navajo president, Zah worked with
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537:, Arizona Archives Online, Arizona State University
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18:President of the Navajo Nation from 1991 to 1995
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362:. Zah won, and 1983 he became chairman of the
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588:"Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe"
111:January 15, 1983 – January 10, 1987
58:January 15, 1991 – January 10, 1995
471:
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318:Diné beʼiiná Náhiilnaah bee Aghaʼdiitʼaahii
316:In 1967, Zah became deputy director of the
301:After college, Zah spent a year working in
286:Peterson Zah was born December 2, 1937, in
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399:American Indian Religious Freedom Act
671:Daily Sun Staff (January 10, 2022).
556:Faller, Mary Beth (April 25, 2023).
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352:school board in Window Rock, Arizona
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868:Native American people from Arizona
647:"Nation's trust funds looking good"
496:Genzlinger, Neil (March 31, 2023).
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388:tribal leader and childhood friend
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873:People from Navajo County, Arizona
535:Peterson Zah Collection, 1969–1994
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645:Donovan, Bill (January 4, 2018).
568:from the original on May 28, 2024
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350:In 1972, Zah won election to the
883:Chairpersons of the Navajo Tribe
878:People from Window Rock, Arizona
863:Arizona State University faculty
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320:(DNA) People's Legal Service, a
311:Volunteers in Service to America
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239:, until 1995. He then worked at
893:School board members in Arizona
888:Presidents of the Navajo Nation
858:Arizona State University alumni
747:Presidents of the Navajo Nation
401:allowing the ceremonial use of
208:Arizona State University, Tempe
698:President of the Navajo Nation
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237:president of the Navajo Nation
46:President of the Navajo Nation
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848:21st-century Native Americans
843:20th-century Native Americans
447:Joe, Kianna (March 8, 2023).
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370:, the governing body for the
360:Chairman of the Navajo Nation
233:chairman of the Navajo Nation
99:Chairman of the Navajo Nation
322:nonprofit legal organization
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231:. From 1983 to 1987, he was
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241:Arizona State University
199:Rosalind Zah (1963–2023)
853:Phoenix College alumni
476:Peterson Zah Biography
425:Fort Defiance, Arizona
328:people of the Navajo,
179:Fort Defiance, Arizona
364:Navajo Tribal Council
292:Phoenix Indian School
288:Low Mountain, Arizona
162:Low Mountain, Arizona
773:Milton Bluehouse Sr.
395:Peabody Coal Company
80:Position established
620:Kingman Daily Miner
415:College of Santa Fe
686:Political offices
596:. January 17, 1991
503:The New York Times
345:U.S. Supreme Court
341:Indian sovereignty
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379:Save the Children
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372:Navajo Nation
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172:March 7, 2023
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798:Jonathan Nez
758:Peterson Zah
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654:. Retrieved
651:Navajo Times
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453:Navajo Times
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343:reached the
337:reservations
326:impoverished
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268:adding to it
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225:Peterson Zah
224:
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174:(2023-03-07)
129:Succeeded by
106:
86:Succeeded by
53:
25:Peterson Zah
15:
838:2023 deaths
833:1937 births
763:Albert Hale
708:Albert Hale
390:Ivan Sidney
368:Window Rock
117:Preceded by
91:Albert Hale
76:Preceded by
827:Categories
803:Buu Nygren
788:Ben Shelly
702:1991–1995
692:New office
572:August 16,
431:References
358:to become
275:March 2023
190:Democratic
155:1937-12-02
307:carpentry
294:in 1958,
247:Biography
204:Education
107:In office
54:In office
656:March 8,
566:Archived
562:ASU News
458:March 8,
413:and the
324:serving
630:July 9,
600:July 7,
509:May 31,
303:Phoenix
403:peyote
196:Spouse
181:, U.S.
164:, U.S.
97:11th
658:2023
632:2012
602:2012
574:2024
511:2023
460:2023
386:Hopi
332:and
330:Hopi
169:Died
149:Born
44:1st
366:at
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