We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and the White Mountain Apache Tribe; please keep them in your prayers during this difficult time. Chairman Ronnie Lupe was a great leader and a warrior. After serving in the U.S. Marines, he went on to a distinguished career as a leader and a statesman and had a profound impact across Indian Country.
Those who knew Chairman Lupe were honored to hear the words and messages he shared. He was a mentor and teacher to many. He worked on countless issues to promote and protect the rights of Indian Tribes, including efforts to champion self-governance, economic development, and securing safe drinking water.
Ak-Chin Indian Community Council Member, Delia Carlyle, serves as the Chairperson of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association and remembers first meeting Chairman Lupe as a student at Theodore Roosevelt School, Fort Apache, AZ in 1968. “Chairman Lupe would visit with all of the students and encourage us to do well in our studies,” she says. “In time, I stood by him as a tribal leader on so many important issues protecting Tribal sovereignty and rights for the betterment of Indian People. I am honored to have known him. He was an amazing leader.”
Many times, his leadership took him away from the White Mountain Apache Reservation throughout Arizona and across Indian Country. Former Chairman Lupe embodied a lifelong dedication to servant leadership. He served as Chairman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe for nine terms, served as Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians, and served as a member of the President’s Advisory Board of Northern Arizona University. In addition, former Arizona Governor Jack Williams appointed former Chairman Lupe to serve as a member of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs.
Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman and ATGG Chairperson, Dr. Ned Norris, Jr., said, “Ronnie Lupe was an icon of tribal leadership. He lived his values and led from the heart, creating a legacy of service that will inspire generations to come. His commitment to protecting tribal sovereignty and rights has had enormous impacts on his tribe and all tribes. Ronnie’s wisdom, his courage, and his leadership will be greatly missed.”
Funeral Arrangements for former Chairman Ronnie Lupe are as follows: The Wake will be held Friday, August 16, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at 205 N. 5th Avenue in Whiteriver, AZ. The Rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Whiteriver Catholic Church. The Funeral service will be held Saturday, August 17, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the Chief Alchesay Event Center in Whiteriver, AZ.
