Stanley Manakaja

Stanley Manakaja, traditional chief of all the Havasupai people, died March 2 at Flagstaff Medical Center. He was born the eldest grandson of Chief Hmaañ Gjaah June 6, 1934 in Supai Village. Before his death in 1942, Hmaañ Gjaah chose Stanley to succeed him and designated the priest Uuva to instruct Stanley and whomever he should marry in the duties of leadership. In 1955 Stanley married Alberta Johnson of Clarkdale, who became the only person the Havasupai Tribe would ever adopt. Uuva devoted the rest of his life to teaching the couple ancient Havasupai and Hopi knowledge and values.

In 1939, however, the Tribal Reorganization Act replaced traditional Havasupai leadership with an elective tribal council. Since then, all the traditional leaders had died off until only Stanley Manakaja, the head chief, remained.

Nonetheless, in their later years Stanley and Alberta became tireless advocates for the Havasupai and fostered a cultural revival by sharing their accumulated wisdom. The couple made a lifelong commitment to restoring Havasupai life on their homelands along the Grand Canyon's south rim.

Stanley, the son of Dudley Manakaja and Eva Baaña, lost his beloved Alberta in July. He is survived by sons Daley, Aaron, Byron, Hanson, and Shelton of Supai and by daughters Sandra Joe of Reno NV, Jolene Watahomigie of Flagstaff, and Gloria Manakaja of Ft. McDowell. Stanley's brothers Andrew and Lincoln of Supai, Everett of Peach Springs, Nathan of Flagstaff, and sister Iva Lee Watahomigie of Grand Canyon survive him as well. Stanley's brother Homer preceded him in death in 1970; his daughter Judy died in 2010, and Sandra's daughter Audie, whom Stanley and Alberta raised as their own child, died in 2004. Stanley's family includes 39 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren who carry on the Manakaja tradition of community service.

Following celebrations of Stanley's life in Peach Springs March 5 and Supai Village March 6, Stanley was buried beside Alberta in Havasu Canyon.

This obituary was prepared by the Advertising Department (928) 556-2279.

Stanley Manakaja