Former Navajo Nation vice chairman, council speaker Edward T. Begay dies at 87

Edward T. Begay, the former Navajo Nation vice chairman and tribal council speaker, died Sunday in Albuquerque. He was 87.

“On behalf of the Navajo Nation, we offer our condolences and prayers to Honorable Begay’s family," said President Jonathan Nez. "We also thank his loved ones for sharing his life with us and for all of their family’s contributions to our Navajo people. He was a very loving and caring person who always put the people first. We pray that his family takes comfort in knowing that he is with God and watching over them now.”

Begay is Tódích’íi’nii and born for the Tl’ogi clan. His maternal grandfather was Táchii’nii and his paternal grandfather was Kinyaa’áanii.

He grew up in the Nose Rock area of what is now called Superman Canyon in New Mexico. He married his high school sweetheart, Cecilia M. Damon, in 1961. She died in 1991. They had two daughters, Sharlene Begay-Platero and Sandra Begay, and a son-in-law, John Platero, Jr. 

“Ed T. was a loving husband, caring father and gracious grandfather, but to many, he was Cheii," his family said in a statement. "We will miss him at our dinner table, sitting next to us in church and listening to his stories of the journeys his life has taken him on. We are extremely proud of his service to the Navajo Nation, the state of New Mexico and his tribal home communities.”

From 1971 to 1983, Begay represented the Church Rock and Bread Springs Chapters on the Navajo Tribal Council, where he also served as speaker. He chaired the Advisory Committee, the Education Committee, the Economic Development and Planning Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee and the Federal Restructuring Task Force. 

In 1982, Peterson Zah and Begay successfully campaigned for the offices of Navajo Nation Chairman and Vice-Chairman, serving from 1983 to 1987. 

He is credited for developing the Permanent Trust Fund along with former chairman Zah in 1985. The fund has been hailed as a way to build a more self-sufficient Navajo Nation.

The fund mandated that 12% of all tribal revenue be invested in the trust fund and restricted from spending for a period of 20 years. The fund's two layers of financial controls are meant to preserve the principal. Another provision was a 20-year restriction from expanding the principal's interest. It mandated that before 95of the interest can be spent, a 5-year expenditure plan be approved and the remaining 5% be reinvested. 

Begay is also known as the author of Title 26, which created the Local Governance Act, recognizing governance at the local level. The act defines the executive and legislative functions of the 110 chapters on the Navajo Nation, as well as the duties and responsibilities of chapter officials and administrators consistent with the Navajo Nation's policy of separation of powers and checks and balances.

“Speaker Ed T. Begay cared for the Navajo people and worked tirelessly for us all," said Navajo Speaker Seth Damon. "The Navajo Nation mourns the loss of a compassionate, great leader and we honor his life today. Through his steadfast leadership, Speaker Begay pushed forward legislation to protect our natural resources, water, and land, while also strengthening the sovereignty of the largest Tribal Nation in the United States. We offer our sincere condolences to those he loved and send prayers of protection for his family during this time."

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Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com. Follow on Twitter @abecenti.

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