In Memoriam
Virgil Masayesva, 1948 - 2005
Virgil Masayesva was the co-founder of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona University.
Virgil was actively involved in the development of ITEP’s tribal air quality training programs, including the American Indian Air Quality Training Program, the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center and many other programs dedicated to the protection and preservation of tribal cultures and sovereignty.
A graduate of both the University of Arizona (B.S.) and Arizona State University, Virgil received his Masters degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in regional planning, and has also completed post-graduate studies in public health policy while at Arizona State. He devoted his professional career to working with Indian tribes on various policy and development issues related to education, health, economic development and the environment. He received national and international recognition for his leadership and outstanding contributions to Native peoples and the protection of indigenous cultures.
Born in 1948 in Hotevilla, Arizona, Mr. Masayesva was a member of the Hopi Tribe and a decorated Vietnam veteran. From 1990 to 1992, he served as special assistant to then-NAU President Eugene Hughes. He also served as Acting Director and Program Director for the Hopi Tribe from 1974 to 1976. Prior to his employment at NAU, Mr. Masayesva worked with Phoenix Area Indian Health Service, Indian Development District of Arizona, Inc., ACKCO, Inc, and the Arizona Commission on Indian Affairs.
Virgil Masayesva Tribal Air Programs Excellence Awards
Cal Seciwa, 1953 - 2009
ITEP Director Cal Seciwa passed away on July 13, 2009 in Zuni, New Mexico surrounded by his family.
Seciwa was raised in the Zuni area and spent much of his youth involved in his family’s farming, ranching and sheep-herding activities. He was a member of Zuni’s Badger clan, born for the Eagle clan, and maintained close ties with his Zuni cultural and spiritual heritage. In 2006 he and his family sponsored a Shalako home, contributing to the tribe’s most important religious ceremony.
Cal came to ITEP and Northern Arizona University after more than 15 years at Arizona State University, where he served as director of the American Indian Institute, an organization whose mission is to recruit and retain Native students at ASU. As ITEP’s director he helped to forge new programs to provide direct assistance and services to tribes across the country to address environmental protection and management issues.
Before his career with ASU and NAU, Cal served in various settings as a teacher and school administrator, tribal administrator and co-coordinator of intertribal efforts on issues such as cultural preservation, NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act), Indian economic-enterprise programs and infrastructure development.
Cal is survived by his wife Margie Seciwa, daughters Chelsa and Collyn, and five grandchildren who live in Tempe. He is also survived by many relatives in Zuni.
He will be missed by all of us that knew and worked with him at ITEP and NAU. We will remember him for his kindness, humility and sense of humor.
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