Nakai, Raymond

Raymond Nakai, a Navajo Indian, was born in 1918 in Lukachukai, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation. Nakai was a Navy veteran, serving from 1942-1945. Nakai worked as a radio announcer for KCLS in Flagstaff, Arizona until 1953-1962. Nakai worked at the Navajo Ordnance Depot for seventeen years prior to being elected tribal chairman in 1963.

Raymond Nakai is noted as being the first modern Navajo political leader serving as Chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1963-1971. As chairman, the issues most important during his tenure were self determination in Navajo Education, reservation unemployment, developing Navajo economy, further development of the tribal government and improving relations with the federal government and surrounding states.

Nakai experienced unprecedented success as Navajo tribal chairman: In 1967 the Navajo Nation Bill of Rights was created, in 1968 Navajo Community College opened being the first tribally controlled community college, the Tribal Scholarship Trust was developed, relations with off reservation natural resource companies began, he was supportive of religious freedom of the Native American Church on the Navajo Reservation and was successful at renaming the tribe as the Navajo Nation. Raymond Nakai led an active personal and political life and was an innovative leader for the Navajo People.

After serving as Navajo Tribal Chairman for two terms (spanning eight years) Nakai continued his political career as a councilman. Nakai was succeeded by Peter MacDonald as Navajo Nation President in 1970.

Raymond Nakai passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2005. His wife, Ella Nakai, with whom Nakai had five children, still lives in the Southwest.

From the guide to the Raymond Nakai Collection, 1963-1988?, (Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Department)