Funeral for Peterson Zah a 100-Mile Procession to Mourn Navajo Nation's First President

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.-Peterson Zah, the first president of the Navajo Nation, was remembered Saturday with a memorial service and 100-mile funeral procession that stretched from western New Mexico to eastern Arizona.

Zah, who walked on last Tuesday at the age of 85, was a legendary leader many described as an inspiration and one of the greatest American Indian leaders in history. He served as chairman of the Navajo Nation Council from 1983 to 1987, and later won the Nation's first presidency in 1990, after the Tribe changed its government to three branches: executive, judiciary, legislative.

On Saturday, Zah's funeral procession was led by the Navajo Nation Police Department and began at 8:00 a.m. in Tse Bonito, N.M., drove through Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, and ended in Low Mountain, Ariz. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority hoisted 150-foot American flags from their utility trucks along the route. Many families stood with Navajo Nation flags waving to the family and friends of Zah and live-streaming the procession for their families.

https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/funeral-for-peterson-zah-a-100-mile-procession-to-mourn-navajo-nation-s-first-president