Former Navajo leader Ben Shelly was a ‘humble public servant’
Kalle Benallie
ICT
Former Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly was remembered as a fearless and courageous leader. He died Wednesday after a long illness, according to a family spokesman.
He was 75.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a statement that he remembers meeting Shelly several times when he was a student at Arizona State University and how they met again in December.
“He was very straightforward. He was always courageous. I think with that type of fearless attitude; just being a heavy equipment operator, to ascend to be president of the Navajo Nation is something to be said for his type of leadership style,” Nygren said. “Jasmine and I want to extend our condolences to his family. I think the state of New Mexico on the Navajo side should be very proud of him.”
Shelly, of Thoreau, New Mexico, was the tribe's seventh president and took office in January 2011. He served one term as vice president in 2007.
He lost his re-election bid in 2014, but the Navajo Supreme Court extended his term for five more months after the election was delayed over Navajo language fluency requirements for the job involving another candidate.
Prior to that, Shelly served on the Navajo Nation Council for 16 years representing Thoreau and served eight years as a McKinley County commissioner in New Mexico
The Navajo Transitional Energy Company wrote in a Facebook post on how Shelly and the Navajo Nation Council helped create the Navajo Transitional Energy Company in May 2013 to prevent the economic impact of Navajo Mine in New Mexico closing.
He also worked on a bill with Navajo Nation Speaker Johnny Naize and Council Delegate LoRenzo Bates to allocate funding on researching the viability of purchasing the mine from BHP Billiton. It proved successful as a few months later on Dec. 13, 2013, the Navajo Transitional Energy Company put up the mine.
It is the country’s largest Native American-owned coal producer, according to their website.
“The purchase secured more than 800 jobs at the Navajo Mine and Four Corners Power Plant and continues to provide millions of dollars in revenues to the Navajo Nation each year,” the company posted.“NTEC is forever grateful for the vision of President Shelly and the leaders who worked together to create NTEC. Our prayers and condolences are with his family during this time of mourning.”
Read More
The Navajo Nation Judicial Branch posted on Facebook how Shelly was a “humble public servant.”
“He helped to lead the Navajo Nation through governmental change and worked to streamline Navajo Nation government processes. He supported the Navajo Nation Judicial Branch in ensuring judicial services were carried out for the people by appointing judges to the bench during his time as president. We thank his family for sharing their loved one with our Navajo Nation,” the post said.
SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY.
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley offered her condolences to his family on behalf of the 25th Navajo Nation Council.
“President Shelly will always be remembered in our hearts and minds for his great sense of humor, devoted public service, and his love for his people and family. We mourn the loss of our leader, but we honor and give thanks for his life and the legacy that he leaves behind,” Curley said.
Shelly and his family ran a transportation business for the last seven years.
He is survived by Martha Shelly, his wife of 57 years, five children, 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Shelly's family will be holding a private service for him with a public memorial to be coordinated with the Navajo Nation’s Office of the President and Vice President at a future date.
Shelly’s passing comes two weeks after the death of Peterson Zah, the first Navajo Nation president, who died at 85 years old.
Flags on the Navajo Nation will be flown at half-staff in honor of Shelly, the Office of the President and Vice President proclaimed.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Indian Country Today is a nonprofit news organization. Will you support our work? All of our content is free. There are no subscriptions or costs. And we have hired more Native journalists in the past year than any news organization ─ and with your help we will continue to grow and create career paths for our people. Support Indian Country Today for as little as $10.
