Ferrell Secakuku, a former chairman of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, died on Wednesday. He was 69.
Secakuku was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this month. He refused chemotherapy treatment and chose to let the disease take its course, his daughter, Kim, said.
"Just before he passed away, we had a very nice rain come down ... it's significant to Hopi in terms of just welcoming him into the spirit world," Kim Secakuku told the Associated Press.
Secakuku led the tribe from 1994 to 1997. During that time, he negotiated a settlement with the Navajo Nation over land claimed by both tribes.
Get the Story:Former Hopi chairman Ferrell Secakuku dies at age 69 (AP 7/25) 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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