“To the family of Albert Hale, we offer our heartfelt condolences and prayers at this difficult time. We join our Navajo people in grieving for the loss of our great leader, a loving family man, and my brother. Throughout his lifetime, he demonstrated his love and compassion for our people through his service and all of his great contributions as President of the Navajo Nation and as a member of the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives. He was known by many as ‘Ahbihay’ and always greeted everyone with a smile and shared his humor with all. He stood strong on many issues and left the world a better place than he found it. First Lady Phefelia Nez and I pray that his family will take comfort in knowing that he is now with our Creator at this time,” said President Nez.
The family of Albert Hale issued the following statement: “The Hale Family appreciates the outpouring of prayers and condolences for our mighty leader Albert Hale. The Navajo Nation knew him as Ahbihay but we knew him as a loving and supportive dad and husband. He deeply cared for our Diné Nation and people. His contributions were immense and we know that his work as a leader and lawyer impacted so many lives. We will carry on and honor his legacy as a leader and traditional man.”
Hale was born in Ganado, Arizona in 1950. He was Áshįįhi and born for Tódich’ii’nii. His maternal grandfather was Honágháahnii and his paternal grandfather was Kinyaa’áanii. He served as the President of the Navajo Nation from 1995-1998. He later served as a member of the Arizona State Senate from 2004 to 2011 and with the Arizona House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017.
“My family and I are very saddened by the loss of a great leader of our time, the Honorable Albert Hale. On every occasion, he greeted us with open arms and a warm smile. In his many years of service to the Navajo people and the citizens of Arizona, he was very instrumental in many issues and always stood up for underserved communities. We will always cherish our memories of him and hold him close to our hearts. We remember his family, friends, and colleagues in our prayers at this time,” said Vice President Lizer.
At a young age, Hale experienced the atrocities of the boarding school era and graduated from Fort Wingate High School in 1969. He later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico. He was a member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association and the New Mexico Bar Association, and served in many different capacities at various levels of government and also had his own private law practice.
“Throughout his service to the Navajo Nation, he helped our people in many ways by helping to secure water rights in the state of New Mexico, advocating for the remediation of uranium mine sites and mine workers, securing critical funding at the state level, and for his outspoken advocacy for people of all backgrounds and nationalities. We ask all of our Diné people to join us in honoring former President Hale and to offer prayers for his family,” President Nez added.
On Tuesday, President Nez and Vice President Lizer issued a proclamation calling for all flags on the Navajo Nation to be flown at half-staff beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 through Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in honor and memory of former Navajo Nation President Albert Hale.