WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has proclaimed Jan. 5 as a Day of Remembrance in honor and recognition of Navajo author, musician, silversmith and activist Klee Benally, who died Dec. 30. He was 48.
In his proclamation, the President said the Navajo Nation mourns the loss of Klee, who grew up in Big Mountain on the Navajo Nation, and whose family was impacted by the 1974 Navajo-Hopi Relocation Act.
His parents are Berta and Jones Benally.
With his sister Jeneda and brother Clayson, the siblings became well-known and respected activists to protect the San Francisco Peaks, the Grand Canyon, and Navajo traditional culture. They were also award-winning punk rock musicians.
Nygren called Klee “a fearless champion for the Diné.”
“Klee Benally used his powerful voice to amplify causes for justice and equity, seeking to uphold the dignity and sovereign rights of all Indigenous peoples,” Nygren said. “His advocacy for the protection of Mother Earth and all life within the Diné lifeway has left an indelible mark on our efforts to protect Dook’ó’ooslííd – the San Francisco Peaks – and Bidáá’ Ha’azt’i’ – the Grand Canyon.”
The proclamation calls for Jan. 5 to be a Day of Remembrance to reflect upon Klee’s enduring legacy, to express gratitude for his life’s work, and to commit to the principles and causes of Indigenous sovereignty and the protection of the Diné worldview that he believed in.
