Clarence Atwell Jr. (November 30, 1945 – February 28, 2013) was an American Tachi Yokuts tribal leader and politician. He served as the Chairman of the Tachi Yokuts of Santa Rosa Rancheria from 1967 until 2009. [1] [2] Atwell has been widely credited with improving the standard of living on the Santa Rosa Rancheria reservation during his 42-year tenure as Chairman of the Tachi Yokuts. [1]
Atwell was born on Tachi Yokuts land, under a tree, on November 30, 1945. [1] His father was a medicine man. [1] He was raised by his grandmother, who only spoke the Tachi language. [1] She taught Atwell indigenous Tachi Yokuts traditions and hunting techniques. [1] Clarence Atwell would later become a medicine man like his father. As an adult, Clarence Atwell Jr. held bear dances and sweat lodge throughout California. [1]
Clarence Atwell died from cancer at Adventist Medical Center in Hanford, California, on February 28, 2013, at the age of 67. [1] His first wife, Audrey, died in 2000. [1] He was survived by his second wife, Jeanette, whom he married in 2002. He had two children from his first marriage: Kaya Atwell, and Rufus Atwell.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Griswald, Lewis (March 1, 2013). "Longtime Tachi Yokuts leader Clarence Atwell Jr. dies". Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
- ^ Johnson, Joe (March 2, 2013). "Clarence Atwell Jr. passes away at 67, Tribal leader dies after many years of service to his people". Hanford Sentinel. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
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