Navajo Nation to fly flags at half-staff for former president

All flags on the Navajo Nation will be flown at half-staff through Monday in honor of former tribal President Thomas Atcitty.

The 86-year-old Atcitty died Sunday in New Mexico.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer issued the proclamation for the flag lowering that began Friday morning.

Atcitty was the tribe’s vice president from 19951998 and served as president for five months in 1998. He also served seven terms as a New Mexico state representative from 1980-1994.

From 1972-1977, Atcitty was the president of Navajo Community College, the first tribal college on a Native American reservation. It later became Diné College.