Jack Jackson, Sr., former state lawmaker and Navajo council delegate, dies at 90

Jack Jackson Sr., a former Navajo Nation Council delegate who served in the Arizona Legislature for nearly 20 years and helped secure a critical source of education money for Native communities, died Sunday in Phoenix. He was 90.

His family said Jackson leaves a legacy as a "spiritual leader, medicine man, educator, legislator, rodeo cowboy, rancher, athlete and coach and fierce defender of preserving and prolonging Diné traditions, culture and language so future Navajo generations will continue to prosper and thrive. He will be greatly missed and deeply.”

Jackson was born in 1932 in Leupp. After graduating from the Chilocco Indian Vocational High School in Chilocco, Oklahoma, he earned both his bachelor's and master's degree at Northern Arizona University. He received an honorary doctorate from Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 2019.

Before starting on his path to public service, Jackson was an educator, first as a teacher at Window Rock High School in 1957, where he taught social studies, health and physical education. At Diné College, which was then known as Navajo Community College, he was the athletic director, director of student affairs and head basketball coach. He later became the director of the Office of Diné Education and Philosophy.

“Dr. Jackson believed the education of Navajo children was a vital means to make certain the Diné were prosperous, but he also realized there was another avenue to help the citizens of the Navajo Nation, and so began his political career,” his family said in a statement.

Jackson represented the Fort Defiance Agency on the Navajo Nation Council from 1980-84. He then ran for the Arizona House of Representatives, where he served for 14 years before winning a seat in the state Senate. There, he served for an additional five and a half years. In his final term as senator, he proudly served alongside his son, former state Rep. Jack Jackson Jr.

Helped secure funding for education

During his time in the Arizona Legislature, Jackson was instrumental in passing the bill establishing the Arizona Indian Legislative Day that to this day occurs at the beginning of every session. Indian Legislative Day affords a unique opportunity for all of Arizona’s 22 tribal governments to make their voices and concerns heard at the capitol.

He was especially proud of his bill ensuring Transaction Privilege Tax funds were allotted to tribal educational institutions in addition to the counties, towns and municipalities that had received the money for years. The passage of the TPT bill in 1999 provided $17.5 million in funding for Diné College over 10 years. The funding has been renewed for two more 10-year periods and heralded his commitment to education. It was his greatest legislative legacy, his family said.

“Jack Jackson was more than an educator and political leader, however," his family said. "While he and his brother, (the late) Dean C. Jackson were at boarding school in Oklahoma, they were exposed to their first rodeo experience."

At that time, according to the Jackson family, there was no organized rodeo circuit for Native Americans. When the Jackson brothers returned to the Navajo Nation after graduation, they founded the All Indian Rodeo Cowboy Association which helped the burgeoning Native rodeo circuit.

"They also competed in calf and team roping events," the family said. "Today, many Native rodeo competitors have the Jackson twins to thank for their successful careers.”

Integrating traditional ways into higher education

Jack and Dean were also accomplished athletes on the basketball court, which naturally progressed into coaching. Jack saw education and coaching as equally valuable ways to nurture young minds and bodies.

Jackson was executive director of the Navajo Nation Health Authority in the Office of Student Affairs and Native Healing Sciences. That led him to study to become a medicine man. After many years, Jack was ordained in the Female Windway Ceremony and the Bowguard Ceremony. He was one of the founders of the Navajo Traditional Healing Services Practitioners and Medicine Men Association. He also served as President of the Native American Church of Navajoland from 1971 to 1975.

The Diné College President's Office posted a statement remembering Jackson for helping to ensure that Navajo history, language and culture were as common in a college classroom as English and math.

"He was a pioneer in making, at that time Navajo Community College, integrate our Navajo belief and ways of knowing throughout the curriculum at our college," said Sharon Toadecheenie, chairperson of the board of regents. "He also served in the Arizona State Legislature for nearly two decades, fighting for his Navajo people and the needs of the Navajo Nation."

The 25th Navajo Nation Council offered condolences and prayers for the family, friends, and colleagues.

"On behalf of the Navajo Nation Council, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the Honorable Jack Jackson, Sr., a beloved leader and outstanding representative of our Navajo people, far and wide," said Speaker Crystalyne Curley. "Although we are saddened by the loss of a great leader, we are comforted knowing he had a lasting impact on his family and our people. Mr. Jackson was known for his dedication and compassion to making a difference in the lives of those around him. He is dearly missed, but his legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of our Navajo people."

Jackson is Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan) and born for Áshįįhí (Salt People Clan). His maternal grandfather is Táchii’nii (Red Running into Water Clan), and his paternal grandfather is Todich’ii’nii (Bitter Water People Clan).

Jackson will be buried Thursday next to his twin brother Dr. Dean C. Jackson at their family homestead in Teesto, on the Navajo Nation. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Janice A. Jackson, and his wife Eloise A. Jackson.

He is survived by his children, Ronald Jackson, Jack C. Jackson, Jr., and Dr. Florinda J. Jackson. He has five grandchildren: Rudy Ray Arviso, Amelia Grace Hubbell, Patrick Dean Hubbell, Kelly Marie Hubbell-Hinton, Reuben Jack Hubbell; and five great-grandchildren.

Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jack Jackson Sr., former Arizona lawmaker, Navajo delegate, dies