Luis Hood, 2005 Inductee

A long-time Fort McDowell tribal council member who served a term as tribal chairman, Mr. Hood dedicated his life to preserving the history and culture of the Yavapai people. He was deeply committed to teach young people the Yavapai’s native language and he stressed, “It is important to preserve the past.” He initiated the tribe’s cultural department and maintained the collection of artifacts that have been unearthed from the Native Americans who have lived along the lower Verde River over the centuries. He was a member of the negotiating team that gained the tribe a water rights agreement with the federal government. He also was a co-author of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Constitution that was adopted in 2000. One of the changes adopted in the new constitution was the length of the term served by the president. The term is now four years. Previously the president served only one year.