HENRY CHEE DODGE
Henry Chee Dodge began his career in politics early. At the age of twelve, he
worked as an interpreter at his first
job at the supply room at Fort Defiance. At the age of 20, Henry was hired by
the US Government to serve as official
interpreter for the Navajos, a position he held for nearly ten years. He was
asked to translate in many different
situations, often serving as the conveyor of Government laws to his people while
explaining to the Government the
Navajo view of the same situation. He was valued for his ability to remain calm
in heated and difficult situations.
US Government Agent Dennis Riordan praised him for his “cool headedness and good
judgment, and tact” when
under pressure.
While Dodge was still serving as official interpreter he was appointed “head
Chief of the Navajos” in 1884 by
Agent Riordan, a position sanctioned by the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
Dodge was twenty-four years old. He continued to spend a great deal of time
traveling throughout the large
expanse of the Navajo reservation talking to headman about Government issues. He
also began working closely
with Dr. Washington Matthews, post surgeon at Fort Defiance, to collect and
translate Navajo stories and chants.
From his first job at the age of twelve to his job as official interpreter and
Head Chief, Dodge had begun earning
a wage. By his late twenties, he was a wealthy man. Dodge invested his earnings
in several ventures, but his
most prosperous was in ranching. Besides his primary home in Crystal, New Mexico,
Dodge purchased ranch
land at Tanner Springs near Klagetoh, Arizona where he ran several thousand head
of cattle sheep and horses.
When the Navajo Tribal Council was formed in 1923 as the official governing body
of the Navajo tribe, Dodge
was elected by the Council as the Navajo Tribal Chairman. He was so revered by
his people that, again, in 1946
he was elected Chairman. However, Dodge never took office. He was old and had
fallen ill with pneumonia in the
winter of 1946 and died on January 7, 1947.
The exact year of Dodge’s birth is unknown. His mother was Bisnayanchi, half
Navajo and half Jemez. His
father is said to be Juan Cocinas (several variations), a Mexican silversmith
and interpreter in the employ of Agent
Henry L. Dodge. However, there is recent evidence that Agent Henry L. Dodge
himself may have been his father.
After Agent Dodge’s untimely death, a letter was written in February 1875 from
Agent Dodge’s brother, Augustus C.
Dodge, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Edward P. Smith. He talks at
length about a Navajo son belonging to
Henry Dodge. He refers to the boy being “…now some 18 years of age”. If this
indeed is Henry Chee Dodge, this
would place his birth at about 1857. Whatever Dodge’s parentage, or exact birth
date, there is no question that he
lived a full and rewarding life that substantially impacted the history of the
Navajo people.
Henry Chee Dodge began his career in politics early. At the age of twelve, he
worked as an interpreter at his first
job at the supply room at Fort Defiance. At the age of 20, Henry was hired by
the US Government to serve as official
interpreter for the Navajos, a position he held for nearly ten years. He was
asked to translate in many different
situations, often serving as the conveyor of Government laws to his people while
explaining to the Government the
Navajo view of the same situation. He was valued for his ability to remain calm
in heated and difficult situations.
US Government Agent Dennis Riordan praised him for his “cool headedness and good
judgment, and tact” when
under pressure.
While Dodge was still serving as official interpreter he was appointed “head
Chief of the Navajos” in 1884 by
Agent Riordan, a position sanctioned by the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
Dodge was twenty-four years old. He continued to spend a great deal of time
traveling throughout the large
expanse of the Navajo reservation talking to headman about Government issues. He
also began working closely
with Dr. Washington Matthews, post surgeon at Fort Defiance, to collect and
translate Navajo stories and chants.
From his first job at the age of twelve to his job as official interpreter and
Head Chief, Dodge had begun earning
a wage. By his late twenties, he was a wealthy man. Dodge invested his earnings
in several ventures, but his
most prosperous was in ranching. Besides his primary home in Crystal, New Mexico,
Dodge purchased ranch
land at Tanner Springs near Klagetoh, Arizona where he ran several thousand head
of cattle sheep and horses.
When the Navajo Tribal Council was formed in 1923 as the official governing body
of the Navajo tribe, Dodge
was elected by the Council as the Navajo Tribal Chairman. He was so revered by
his people that, again, in 1946
he was elected Chairman. However, Dodge never took office. He was old and had
fallen ill with pneumonia in the
winter of 1946 and died on January 7, 1947.
The exact year of Dodge’s birth is unknown. His mother was Bisnayanchi, half
Navajo and half Jemez. His
father is said to be Juan Cocinas (several variations), a Mexican silversmith
and interpreter in the employ of Agent
Henry L. Dodge. However, there is recent evidence that Agent Henry L. Dodge
himself may have been his father.
After Agent Dodge’s untimely death, a letter was written in February 1875 from
Agent Dodge’s brother, Augustus C.
Dodge, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Edward P. Smith. He talks at
length about a Navajo son belonging to
Henry Dodge. He refers to the boy being “…now some 18 years of age”. If this
indeed is Henry Chee Dodge, this
would place his birth at about 1857. Whatever Dodge’s parentage, or exact birth
date, there is no question that he
lived a full and rewarding life that substantially impacted the history of the
Navajo people.