Wendell Chino

Wendell Chino (December 25, 1923 - November 4, 1998) was an Apache minister known for his defense of tribal sovereignty who served as the leader of the Mescalero Nation for over 40 years. An autocrat and staunch capitalist, Chino fought to improve the reservation's standard of living and foster economic self-sustainability. His policies developed many tribal-owned businesses, including the Ski Apache resort. He is also known to have served as chair of National Congress of American Indians and an associate pastor of the Mescalero Reformed Church for 4 years.

Early life and education Wendell Chino was born on December 25, 1923, in Mescalero, New Mexico, to the Mescalero Apache Nation as the fifth out of 11 children. Eleven previous years to his birth, Chino's parents were freed by the U.S Army as previous prisoners of war. Chino was mentioned in the annual report of the Board of Domestic Missions of 1939 when he was just 16 years old. This was highlighting Indian leadership and recognized him as "a school boy who is being trained to be a general helper at the mission and whom it is hoped will develop into a leader as he grows older." Not much else is known about his early child hood, but after attending the Indian school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Chino continued his education at Central College in Pella, Iowa due to a grant from the Reformed Church. This organization was founded by members of National Tribal Chairman's Association in 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona. A meeting was held run by Chino where 171 tribes and 1,500 American Indians and Alaska Natives came together to express their concerns and desires for a better life. Chino is known as a "benevolent dictator" along with Roger Jourdain for their approaches in the Indian rights movement. On March 19–20, 1979, Chino appeared in court hearing along with Clyde Bellecourt, Theodore Means, and Barbara Namias to address National Indian Civil Rights Issues.

National recognition Chino's actions reached national recognition; his ability to advocate for Indian self-determination, sovereignty and rights, and the insistence that the federal government acknowledge and respect the treaties in regards to the Indian nations lands and resources. In doing this, he generated a great deal of revenue and was recognized all over the country.

Later life Chino remained connected with the Reformed Church and friends with the pastors. Chino died on November 4, 1998, from two heart attacks at the UCLA Medical Center. Previous to his death, Chino wished that the pastor of the Reformed church would preside, and this was fulfilled. His -hour funeral service was attended by more than two thousand people. Peter Domenici, US senator; Gary Johnson, governor of New Mexico; and Manuel Lujan, former secretary of the US Department of the Interior all spoke at his service.