Peterson Zah was an American politician who held several offices with the Navajo Nation is best known for being the first president of the largest tribal reservation in the US in 1990 after the government was restructured, and he dedicated his life to correct wrong doings against Native Americans. Before Zah pursued a career in politics he taught carpentry and other vocational skills after earning a degree in education at Arizona State University. He also co-founded a federally funded legal advo... morePeterson Zah was an American politician who held several offices with the Navajo Nation is best known for being the first president of the largest tribal reservation in the US in 1990 after the government was restructured, and he dedicated his life to correct wrong doings against Native Americans. Before Zah pursued a career in politics he taught carpentry and other vocational skills after earning a degree in education at Arizona State University. He also co-founded a federally funded legal advocacy organization that serves Navajos, Hopis and Apaches. In 1982 he became the tribe's chairman and under his leadership the tribe won a court battle with Kerr McGee that gave the tribe the authority to tax companies that extract minerals from the 27,000 square-mile reservation which he used to established a now multi-billion-dollar Permanent Fund in 1985. Zah fought to ensure Native Americans were reflected in federal environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. He became special advisor to the president on American Indian Affairs for Arizona State University in 1995.
