Ben Shelley sits in the crowd awaiting the results of the Miss Navajo Nation pageant on September 11, 2010 in Window Rock, Arizona. Former Navajo Nation President Shelley passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in New Mexico after a long hiatus. Illness, family spokesman Deswood Tome said | Photo credit: Felicia Fonseca, The Associated Press, St. George News

Gallup, New Mexico (AP) — Former Navajo Nation President Ben Shelley died Wednesday morning in Gallup, New Mexico, after battling a long illness with his family, said Deswood Tomé, a spokesman for the family. he was 75 years old.

With ambitious projects such as purchasing a coal mine, building an aerial tramway to the Grand Canyon, and reconciling water rights with Arizona, Shelley became the first sitting vice president to be elected to the reservation’s top post. The United States he is 27,000 square miles and extends to New Mexico, Utah and Arizona.

He won the 2010 election despite being indicted in a case that accused dozens of Navajo Nation lawmakers of stealing from tribal governments. Shelley and his vice president, Rex Lee Jim, have spoken openly about the charges and reached a settlement to repay part of the funds.

Shelley was sworn in as president on the sprawling reservation in January 2011 after serving one term as Vice President under Joe Shirley Jr. Navajo fluency issues involving another presidential candidate.

Sherry’s family mourned the “death of a man who put others first” Wednesday and thanked the Navajo for their support.

“When he was born he was told by his elders that he would be a great leader,” they said in a statement to the Associated Press. By being a father, he has shown us to put people first.”

Shelley was known for her energetic personality, waking up before dawn and for her extemporaneous but heartfelt speeches.

What he sees as successful ways for the tribe to prosper into the future, including buying a coal mine for $85 million and negotiating a settlement to secure water in Arizona and the lower Colorado River basin, is widely celebrated across America. It was not widely admired. reservation. During his 16 years on behalf of his hometown of Thoreau, he served as a member of his Council of Navajo His Nation and also served on the Board of the McKinley County Commissioner.

In written testimony presented to Congress earlier this month, Shelley wrote:

The floating settlement was ultimately disapproved by the Navajo legislators and neighboring Hopi tribes. To this day, the tribe has no right to drink water in the lower reaches.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has ordered flags to be lowered throughout the reservation to honor Shelley, who died just two weeks after former tribal president Peterson Zar.

One of the most ambitious proposals from the Shelley administration was an aerial tram that would carry tourists from the eastern rim of the Grand Canyon on a reservation near the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers. Shelley touted it as a way to get tourist money and create Navajo jobs.

“He had the strength and courage to tackle controversial issues,” said Ernie Zha, Shelley’s former communications director.

Shelley advocated a ban on smoking in public places and approved a junk food tax. Received approximately $1 billion settlement to clean up.

Shelley was the first Navajo president to work with a legislative body that was reduced from 88 to 24 members on a ballot initiative. Shelley approached the task by trying to be as inclusive as possible to advance Navajo priorities, said Shelley’s former assistant and chief of staff Sherick Roanhorse. .

“The first six months were very difficult for the entire Navajo Nation government,” says Roanhorse. “They had to redefine themselves.”

Outside the office, Sherry enjoyed driving with his wife, Martha, on road trips, working on Thoreau’s ranch, and tinkering with cars, Lonehorse said.

“If I have an extra hour when I’m in Phoenix or Albuquerque, I’ll visit some of the junkyards and see what kind of parts are available,” says Roanhorse. “That was his hobby.”

Sherry and his family have been in the transportation business for the past seven years.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Martha Shelley, with whom he has five children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Shelly’s family will hold a private service and a public memorial service in the future.

Written by FELICIA FONSECA, The Associated Press

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