Staff Reports
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council announced the passing of former 18th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Harold Tunney, who represented the Bodaway and Cameron Chapters, Aug. 26.
“Former Delegate Harold Tunney dedicated much of his life to serving his communities and advocating for issues that continue to be important to the Navajo people today,” Speaker Crystalyne Curley said. “From protecting our water rights and sacred sites to addressing uranium contamination and expanding telecommunications access, he worked to create better opportunities for the people he represented.”
Tunney was born in Tuba City on May 31, 1957, and lived most of his life in the Bodaway and Cedar Ridge areas. He was Kinyaa’áanii and born for the Tódích’íi’nii clan.
He served as a member of the 18th Navajo Nation Council from 1995 to 1999, representing the Bodaway and Cameron Chapters. He also served his community as a guidance and substance abuse counselor and as a community coordinator for the Cameron Chapter.
During his time as a Council Delegate, Tunney advocated for Navajo water rights, the repeal of the Bennett Freeze development restrictions, responsible land management, uranium remediation, the prevention of illegal dumping, and the protection of sacred sites
He also supported the installation of Cellular One towers across the Navajo Nation and was a proponent of expanding telecommunications and broadband access to Navajo communities.
Tunney was married to Genevieve Tunney for 43 years. Genevieve passed away in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is survived by his children, Shannon Foreman, Aaron Tunney, and Darren Tunney.
“My father had an ability to be compassionate about issues and to speak calmly. He always made sure to be careful about what he said,” his son, Aaron, said. “He always wanted to give people hope. He wanted them to strive for something bigger and to be better than they were yesterday.”
Tunney was laid to rest at his family’s burial plot on Aug. 24.
