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- <text id=90TT2825>
- <link 89TT0631>
- <title>
- Oct. 29, 1990: American Notes:Indians
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1990
- Oct. 29, 1990 Can America Still Compete?
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- NATION, Page 47
- American Notes
- INDIANS
- Chief Offender
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p> Never had an Indian leader fallen more ignominiously. Last
- week, 18 months after being suspended as chairman of the
- 180,000-strong Navajo Nation, Peter MacDonald, 61, was
- convicted on dozens of bribery, ethics and conspiracy charges
- by a tribal court. MacDonald's son Peter Jr., 36, was also
- found guilty. Prosecutors convinced a jury that the two men had
- solicited more than $400,000 in bogus loans, consulting fees,
- plane rides and other favors from businesses seeking lucrative
- Navajo contracts. Tribal leaders expressed pride that the
- judgment had been rendered by a sovereign tribal court and
- relief that the controversial trial had finally come to a
- conclusion.
- </p>
- <p> During his 13-year stewardship, the charismatic and
- flamboyant MacDonald had sought to modernize the Navajos' 17
- million-acre reservation, which is spread over Arizona, Utah
- and New Mexico, by aggressively exploiting its oil, gas and
- coal reserves and by developing shopping centers. He faces up
- to 16 years in a tribal jail and as much as $20,000 in fines--plus two more trials on other charges. MacDonald's
- conviction throws next month's tribal elections into confusion
- because Navajo leaders must now decide whether or not MacDonald
- will be permitted to run to retain his leadership post.
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-
-