Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly. Photo by Rick Abasta
Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly mourned the loss of Elouise Chicharello, an attorney and former Bureau of Indian Affairs official who died on April 11. Chicharello served as attorney general of the Navajo Nation in 1992 .She later went on to serve as regional director for the BIA's Navajo office from 1997 through 2004.
YouTube: President Shelly Delivers 2015 Spring Session State of the Navajo Nation
"Elouise was a strong Dine’ woman who worked at Navajo DOJ under the leadership of Claudeen Bates Arthur, Attorney General, and was instrumental in the implementation of the Navajo Department of Justice," Shelly said during his State of the Nation address on Tuesday. "She went on the become the first woman of the Navajo regional office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and continued working as the trustee of the Navajo people," Shelly continued. "We lost Elouise Chicharello after a lengthy illness as well, and she will be missed." Sharon Pinto, the current regional director of the BIA's Navajo office, also paid tribute to her former colleague in her report to the Navajo Nation Council. She called Chicharello a "lifelong advocate" for the tribe. "Mrs. Chicharello will be long remembered for her dedication, contributions and active participation in developing the Navajo Nation government through her legal representation," Pinto said. Chicharello is survived by her husband Leo Dick. Get the Story:
Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly reflects on his last months of service (The Farmington Daily Times 4/21)
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