Ferrell Secakuku, a former chairman of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Secakuku, 69, led the tribe from 1994 to 1997. He helped negotiate a settlement with the Navajo Nation over lands claimed by both tribes.
Secakuku and his family learned of the cancer diagnosis two weeks ago. He is refusing chemotherapy, his daughter said.
"He just feels that whatever time is given to him is a blessing," Kim Secakuku told the Associated Press.
Get the Story:Former Hopi Chairman at Peace with Cancer Diagnosis (AP 7/13) Relevant Links:
Hopi Tribe - http://www.hopi.nsn.us
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Black Mesa Indigenous Support, Navajo family support site - http://www.blackmesais.org Related Stories:
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Former Navajo chairman speaks on elder abuse (12/08)
Rep. Renzi seeks funds for Navajo-Hopi efforts (12/7)
Navajo elders march in protest of elder abuse (12/6)
Judge approves Hopi-Navajo land agreement (12/6)
BIA blames harassment of elder on Hopis (12/1)
Navajos upset over BIA treatment of elder (11/28)
Elderly Navajo woman says BIA rangers assaulted her (11/27)
Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe to sign agreement (11/3)
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Navajo president signs Hopi land agreement (10/2)
Navajo-Hopi land agreement moves forward (9/27)
Navajo-Hopi land agreement up for review (9/26)
Deal to settle Navajo-Hopi dispute rejected (08/24)
Deal reportedly near on Hopi-Navajo dispute (8/18)
Navajo Nation moves to fight land dispute bill (07/27)
Navajo-Hopi land conflict still stirs hard feelings (07/07)
Hopis, Navajos divided over land dispute measure (06/23)
Listening Lounge: Hearing on Navajo-Hopi land act (6/21)
House Resources hearing on Navajo-Hopi land bill (6/20)
Navajo woman refuses to leave home on Hopi land (02/06)
McCain prods tribes, government on tribal land dispute (07/22)
Senate hearing on Navajo-Hopi land settlement bill (7/21)
Navajos oppose McCain bill on Navajo-Hopi settlement (7/15)
