DR. CLINTON M. PATTEA
“Magyoda”
NOVEMBER 11, 1930 – JULY 5, 2013
He was born on November 11th, 1930 to Lillian Shenah and Felix Pattea, on his ancestral land of Kwoyokopaya-Yavapai, now known as the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. His upbringing was very modest, relying on farming and cattle ranching to sustain, not just one’s life, but the life of the whole community. Today, modern society would consider it impoverished, but Dr. Pattea would tell you he was blessed, being taught his Yavapai culture and to fluently speak the language.
Dr. Pattea’s formal education started at the Fort McDowell Day School, later he attended the Phoenix Indian School, where he began to demonstrate his leadership talents. He was the sophomore class president and lettered in football and baseball. He graduated from Phoenix Indian School in 1954.
During a time, when scholarships for native students were not available, his passion to learn drove him to pursue a higher education. He enrolled as a full-time student at the Arizona College (now Northern Arizona University) putting himself through college by working part-time at the Valley National Bank (now Chase Bank). Dr. Pattea graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Promoting education would be his lifelong legacy.
While in Flagstaff he met his wife of 54 years, Rosiebelle, the “Beautiful Rose”, a young woman from the Hopi village of Oraibi, Arizona. The two would start a life and family in Fort McDowell.
Dr. Pattea started his lifelong service to his Tribe in 1960, when he was elected into the Tribal Council. He carried the distinction of being the youngest Council Member ever. At the time, Council positions were not compensated, so he continued his employment with the Valley National Bank in Scottsdale, Arizona for 12 years. He was offered the opportunity and accepted a position, as the Director of Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs, with the State of Arizona, where he worked for 16 years. He retired from his commission in the late 1980’s to pursue full time service to his community.
In 1999, Dr. Pattea was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, by his alma mater Northern Arizona University. NAU President, Clara M. Lovette, introduced Dr. Pattea by saying:
“It’s a great honor to have with us the honorable Clinton Pattea, a distinguished leader in his community. He recognizes that education is essential to the advancement of Indian Nations. His contributions is to build a bridge between the traditions of the older generation of Indian leaders and the innovations of the new generation.”
Through many of the challenges, as well as successes, (i.e. the Orme Dam; establishing water right settlements; 1992 Indian Gaming/FBI raids; providing economic development and employment opportunities to the Tribe and Arizona) the Yavapai people have gone through, Dr. Pattea’s influence and the involvement among many others of Fort McDowell, will truly not be forgotten.
Dr. Clinton M. Pattea was long recognized as a driving force behind the Yavapai Nation and Arizona’s successes in Indian Gaming. He was the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Wendell Chino Humanitarian Award presented by the National Indian Gaming Association. Dr. Pattea touched many lives and his passing was deeply felt throughout Indian Country, condolences were shared by many.
The Arizona Indian Gaming Association wrote on the day of his passing:
Dr. Pattea gained national attention as the leader who initiated a gaming compact with the State of Arizona to allow gaming for the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and other Tribes, despite the resistance of the then-Governor Fife Symington and other Arizona politicians.
Others proclaimed:
“We mourn the loss of a great Tribal Leader ” said Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Acting Chairman of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. “Dr. Pattea had the courage to stand up for sovereignty and the future of all Tribes in our State. Because of his actions, Tribal people and all Arizonans continue to benefit from Tribal gaming.”
“Dr. Pattea’s wisdom and endearing smile will be sorely missed,” said Valerie Spicer, Executive Director, Arizona Indian Gaming Association. “He was truly a visionary. Our prayers are with his family and the community at this very difficult time.”
Most recently, on June 29th, 2013, he was commended at a Lifetime Achievement & Legacy Celebration at which the following Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Proclamation honoring Dr. Clinton M. Pattea was surprisingly revealed:
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE TRIBAL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF Fort McDowell, through the Tribal Council do hereby honor Dr. Clinton M. Pattea for his many years of leadership, thanking him for his tireless efforts on behalf of not only the Nation, but the tribal communities throughout Arizona and across the United States, recognizing him for his intelligence, friendship, strength, vision, and advocacy for the Nation and Indian Country.
Dr. Pattea was honored to be memorialized through the approval of Resolution No. Ft. McD. 2013-37:
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Tribal Council, on behalf of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, hereby names the Tribal Offices Building the “Dr. Clinton M. Pattea Tribal Government Offices Building” in recognition of his service to the Nation and the Yavapai people.
It was also during this event, the Dr. Clinton M. & Rosiebelle Pattea Foundation was dedicated. When asked in an April 2011 interview, what he was most proud of, Dr. Pattea replied, “his students and their effort to continue their education”. The Foundation will honor Dr. Pattea’s passion for learning and will ensure his wishes are fulfilled. In a final statement Dr. Pattea wrote:
There are three (3) important areas in any Tribal community:
1. Education
2. Culture
3. Health & Wellness
Our greatest and most important challenge is to develop our most precious asset – our native people.
Education is one of my most important passions.
We all need to encourage and inspire our young people of the importance of staying in school and achieving their educational goals.
This will be the path to a quality life and empowerment for all our Tribes in Indian Country.
My work will continue in creating the Dr. Clinton M. and Rosiebelle Pattea Foundation.
We will create scholarships to promote education, culture and health and wellness.
Thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Clinton Marshall Pattea is survived by his devoted wife Rosiebelle; his children Stephanie, Sandra and Steven; eight grandchildren: Shelley, Tamara, Andrea, Clinton, Stevi, TJ, Ryan, Renae; as well as seven great-grandchildren: Ariana, Alexis, Cynthia, Destiny, Mia, Sofia and Caleb Marshall.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the supporters and voters that entrusted his leadership during his tenure as Council Member and President of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
