Claudette Christine White

1971 - 2021

Claudette Christine White

July 19, 1971 - February 6, 2021

On February 6, 2021 Claudette Christine White began her journey to be with our heavenly Father and join the beloved family who are awaiting her arrival. Claudette was born in Yuma, AZ on July 19, 1971. She was raised by her loving mother Delores Brown on the Quechan reservation. A proud enrolled member of the Quechan Indian Tribe, she also descends from the Cocopah and Kumeyaay Indian Tribes located in AZ & CA.

Claudette graduated from San Pasqual High School in 1989 and was the first of her family to graduate from college, leaving the day after high school graduation to attend Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. She received her BA in Criminal Justice from NAU in 1995.

Claudette accomplished a lot in her short life. In 1994, she was one of the youngest people ever elected to serve on the Quechan Tribal Council. This was a significant achievement, especially considering that she was a write-in candidate. During this tenure of service, the Quechan Tribal Court was established, and the first Law and Order Code for the Quechan Indian Tribe and first Gaming code for the Quechan Tribe were drafted and implemented. She then went on to work for the Quechan Tribal Gaming Office, as a Compliance Auditor from June 1998 - July 1999, as an Assistant General Manager of Paradise Casino from June 1999 - December 2001, and as Acting General Manager of Paradise Casino from December 2001- August 2002.

Claudette decided to follow her dream of attending law school and went back to school from 2002 - 2005. While attending a full-time law school, she hustled to support herself and her son Zion by holding a full-time job as a Youth Specialist for Group Home Care in a Level II behavioral health and residential program. She also sold baked goods and burritos to make ends meet. Her hard work paid off and she received her Juris Doctorate with Certificate in Indian Law from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O Connor School of Law in 2005.

Claudette lived a life of service. She served as the Chief Judge of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians from 2018 - 2020, and before that as Chief Judge for the Quechan Tribal Indian Court from 2006 - 2018. Claudette's work to transform the justice system was recognized in the film Tribal Justice. She was a champion of the restorative justice movement, advocating for a system that worked for, rather than against, Indigenous people. She put these efforts into her practice every day as a judge, and as a leader, through national, state, and regional collaborative efforts. She was recently appointed to the California Tribal Court Forum and was also appointed to the California Tribal Court/State Court Forum. She also served as an appointed member of the California Child Welfare Council. Through Tribal Justice, Claudette become a founding member of the Sovereign Bodies Institute Board. She used every opportunity to expand her voice in advocating, serving, and bringing awareness to the movement recognizing Missing and Murdered Indian Women, Girls and Men.

Claudette was proud to have been recently elected and sworn in to serve once more on the Quechan Indian Tribal Council. She was looking forward to serving her people in this capacity. Although her service was short, she was excited to have the opportunity to make productive change and create opportunities for her people.

Claudette's focus has always been to serve. She served not only her Quechan community, but all Indigenous people, by studying cultures and establishing and incorporating more culturally appropriate forms of justice in the communities she served. She dedicated her career and personal life to giving Indigenous groups a voice. She represented the Quechan Indian Tribe, participating in one of the longest environmental protests ever - the Ward Valley Encampment. She was active in many media and press releases and interviews for the Ward Valley cause. Claudette lobbied numerous times at both the state and federal level. The issues were varied and included law enforcement, taxation, sovereign immunity, gaming issues, social welfare, education and environmental issues, and Indian health issues and services. One of her proudest accomplishments was when she was removed from a senate hearing by Senator Murkowski. She spoke up at a hearing about an environmental issue affecting the Quechan and four Colorado Indian Tribes where none of the tribes had been invited to speak. She spoke on behalf of the Tribes, and she was removed. She was proud of this accomplishment because she had the courage to give voice to people who had none.

While Claudette's legacy will continue as a bigger than life voice of fierce advocacy for Indian Country, she will also be remembered dearly as a devoted mother, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and friend. She and her son, Zion, spent their time learning and practicing culture. On weekends, they attended bird dance gatherings where she was a championship bird dancer, frequently placing 1st in competitions. She looked forward to playing and winning peon games with her team Peon til I Die. She was also known for her arsenal of gorgeous bird dance couture, and loved wearing traditional dresses and skirts daily. Though Claudette could be serious and stern, she was even more kind, funny, and silly, with the greatest laugh. She was the best sister and cuzzy. She was lovingly referred to by her sisters and cousins as Mew and Mouse. She was also affectionately referred to as The General. She enjoyed teasing her soldiers by awarding stars, stripes, and ranks, then demoting or re-promoting as necessary. Claudette was a loving and loyal friend, cheering on everyones accomplishments and pushing people to their fullest potential. She was the cool auntie to her many nieces and nephews, and enjoyed spoiling them to pieces or giving lectures as needed. She made time for anyone. She would listen if that was what you needed, or she would give her sage advice, guidance, or encouragement. Claudette had a big heart and will be remembered as a valued leader, a precious mentor, sister and friend. She is irreplaceable and her warrior spirit will be forever cherished.

Claudette leaves behind her beloved son Zion (Sonny Boy), sisters Dureena White, Mary Brown, Roxanna White, Lori White, Leah Brown, Amber (James) Espino, Starla (Martine) Cachora, brothers Joseph (Krysta) Cachora, Caine Palone, Patrick A. Brown III, uncles Woodrow Brown, Jerrell (Mary) Brown, aunts Gail Johns, Armida Brown, Carol Jean Miguel, Dorinda (Alfred) Ironcloud, Deborah (Juan) Villacana, Marilyn Brown, cousins April (Jose) Zaragoza, and Bosephus Brown. Claudette also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who she loved and cherished, as well as numerous cousins.

Claudette was preceded in death by her son Creed, loving mother Delores Brown, Father Durman White, sister Clarrissa White, brother Thomas Alvarez, nana and papa Leatrice & Mariano Matus, Grandfather Patrick A. Brown Sr., uncles, Patrick A. Brown Jr., Weldon (Bucky) Brown, and Auntie Nancy Brown

Pallbearers: Joseph Cachora, Caine Palone, Johnny Villacana, Kieran Palone, Daylen Palone, Isaac Palone, Ernesto Moreno, Gentry Goforth, Jerren Goforth, Xavier Apostal

Honorary Pallbearers: Zion White, Woodrow Brown, Patrick A. Brown III, Bosephus Brown, Jerrell Brown, Norman Osborne, Gordon Osborne, James Espino, Joe Mr. Quechan Montague, Larry Hammond Jr., Kevin Stevens, Jordan Joaquin, Virgil Smith & the Quechan Tribal Council, Her peon team (Peon til I Die), Kevin Grover, Steven Bodmer, Courtney Montiero, Chris Deschene, Alex Cardenas, Javier Apostal, George Apostal, Raymond Sonny Corpuz, Thomas Corpuz, Ernie Cosio, Jason Coyote, Mike Mirelz, Wayne Nelson, John Christman, Ral Christman Sr., CJ Martin, Keith Rice, Daniel Neria, Albert Harper, Todd Tapija, her extended bird family, and the Wu Tang Clan

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Yuma Mortuary, 775 S. 5th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364. Viewing from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Opening prayer at 3:00 pm. Last traditional ceremonial rites will be held at the Quechan Big House in Winterhaven, CA at 12:00 am, cremation to follow at 5:00 am.

Special Thank You: The family extends our deepest appreciation for the outpouring of sympathy, support, donations and sharing of stories of our precious General.

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