Wendell Chino; Mescalero Apache Tribal Leader
Wendell Chino, a nationally known Indian leader who fought for tribal sovereignty and promoted economic development for New Mexico’s Mescalero Apaches, has died. He was 74.
Chino, who was elected a year ago to his 17th two-year term as tribal president, died Wednesday at UCLA Medical Center after suffering two heart attacks.
President since the Tribal Council was established in 1965, Chino campaigned for reelection last year by saying: “I just offer my name as a candidate and if they want me, they vote for me, and if they don’t want me, they vote me out.”
Chino led development of the Inn of the Mountain Gods, the Ski Apache winter resort on 12,000-foot Sierra Blanca in southern New Mexico. Tribal enterprises also include Casino Apache, which fell into conflict with government authorities in recent years.
The tribal president had advocated economic development “so that we and our children can participate wholly in the full American way. We want to continue to improve the social, political, economic and educational development of our people while at the same time preserving tribal autonomy.”
Funeral services in Ruidoso, N.M., are being planned.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
