MacDonald absent for homecoming

The sigh that filled the auditorium in the Farmington Civic Center last Saturday when word was announced that Peter Mac Donald would be unable to attend his homecoming celebration was one of deep concern rather than one of disappointment. The family sent word by telephone from their home in Tuba City that the former chairman of the Navajo Nation was bed-ridden and unable to attend his first public appearance since his release from prison in January.

Some 500 family members, relatives, friends and supporters assembled in Farmington to welcome home the man who was born on a goatskin in a hogan near Teec Nos Pos and rose to become the most influential Native American in the nation.

Mac Donald was trained as a Code Talker with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma and worked as an engineer in California before returning to the reservation to help his people.

He was elected to four terms as chairman of the Navajo Nation and served in that capacity until the Navajo Nation Tribal Council removed him from office in March l989.

In 1993 Mac Donald was convicted in federal court for his role in a bloody riot in l989 when his supporters attempted to restore him to office. He had served over eight years of a 14-year sentence that was commuted by President Clinton on Inauguration Day.

MacDonald has been in seclusion since his release from a federal medical prison in Fort Worth, Texas. Diabetes, heart problems and arthritis have taken their toll. At 72, Mac Donald can only walk short distances without tiring. He is in need of a wheel chair most of the time. Last week he visited a doctor in Tucson to determine whether his heart would be able to withstand hip surgery, said Thomas Atcitty, former chairman of the Navajo Nation and a cousin of Mac Donald.

“His health and physical condition is the important thing now,” said Seymour Tso a retired Navajo Nation councilman from Cameron. Tso said he was not disappointed in Mac Donald not being able to attend the celebration. “We all know that he needs more time to adjust to the new way of life with his family,” Tso added.

In spite of Mac Donald’s absence the homecoming festivities went on as planned. Representatives from the New Mexico Congressional delegation read a statement of support and encouragement for Mac Donald and his family.

Thomas Atcitty represented the MacDonald family at the homecoming celebration. He said he had not seen Mac Donald since his release and like everyone else was looking forward to the occasion.

“It is too soon,” Atcitty said. “We need to leave him alone and let him recover. If we had our way, we’d have him up 24 hours a day, 30 days a month. We all want to talk with him.”

Vern Lee from Shiprock, New Mexico, and the one credited with coordinating Mac Donald’s release, said that there were other celebrations planned to welcome Mac Donald back home. One is planned for Smith Lake, near Crownpoint, New Mexico this Saturday. Another has been scheduled for Tuba City on March 3rd. Lee said that he was uncertain now if they would take place because of Mc Donald’s current physical condition.

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