Richard M. Begay- BIO PAGE

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Richard Begay

Mr. Richard Begay received his B.A. in Anthropology from Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH), and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Cambridge, MA). He worked on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah as a field archaeologist and later as an ethnologist for various projects, including the Bureau of Reclamation’s Glen Canyon Environmental Studies efforts to document Navajo history of the Grand Canyon region. He’s worked on many other projects on the Navajo reservation, working directly with traditional native elders and documenting oral histories, sacred places, and other resources. Richard also worked in various capacities in the Navajo Nation's Historic Preservation Department including managing the Tradition Cultural Program that oversees the Tribe’s repatriation of ceremonial items and human remains.

He also had a brief career with the USDA-NRCS January 2011 to February 2017, as a Liaison to the Navajo Nation (NM, AZ, and UT). His duties include outreach to local Native American producers to apply for NRCS conservation programs, and to identify and recommend ways to address issues concerning the development and implementation of conservation projects on Indian lands. Richard started as the Department Manager for the Navajo Nation Heritage and Historic Preservation Department on February 21, 2017. He is also the designated Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO). He will work with Navajo people, Navajo Nation departments and programs, and with federal and state partners to oversee and manage the Navajo Nation’s vast inventory of cultural resources across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. He lives on the Navajo reservation and continues to be involved in local cultural resource events and issues.

• Last Updated- 2018