Klee Benally Died: A Navajo Punk Rocker And Filmmaker Who Defended Sacred Lands, Passed Away at 48
The world has lost a remarkable activist, artist, and leader. Klee Benally, a Diné (Navajo) musician, filmmaker, and Indigenous anarchist, passed away on December 31, 2023, at the age of 48. His sister, Jeneda Benally, confirmed the news on social media, but did not disclose the cause of his death.
She wrote, “My heart is broken. My brother, my hero, my inspiration, my friend, my partner in crime, my everything. Klee Benally, you left us too soon. You fought so hard for our people, our land, our future. You gave so much of yourself to this world. You touched so many lives with your music, your films, your words, your actions. You were a warrior, a visionary, a rebel, a legend. I love you forever and always.”
Who Was Klee Benally?
Klee Benally was born in 1975 in Black Mesa, Arizona, a region rich in coal and uranium that has been exploited by mining companies for decades. His father, Jones Benally, is a traditional Diné medicine man and a renowned hoop dancer. His mother, Berta Benally, was a folk singer of Russian-Polish Jewish descent. Klee grew up immersed in both Diné and Western cultures, learning the values of respect, harmony, and resistance.
Benally started playing music at a young age, along with his siblings, Jeneda and Clayson. In 1989, they formed Blackfire, a punk rock band that blended Diné traditional music with political messages about government oppression and human rights. Blackfire gained international recognition and collaborated with artists such as C.J. Ramone, Joey Ramone, and Woody Guthrie. They also performed at the Festival in the Desert in Mali, Africa, in 2003, sharing the stage with musicians from different cultures and backgrounds.
He was not only a musician, but also a filmmaker, an artist, and an activist. He founded Indigenous Action Media, a collective that produces media and organizes campaigns for Indigenous justice. He also co-founded Outta Your Backpack Media, a project that teaches Indigenous youth how to make their own films and tell their own stories. He directed and produced several documentaries, such as The Snowbowl Effect, Power Lines, and Greening the Revolution, that exposed the environmental and social impacts of colonialism, capitalism, and globalization on Indigenous communities.
Klee was also involved in many grassroots movements and direct actions to protect Indigenous sacred lands and rights. He helped establish Táala Hooghan Infoshop, a community space that hosts workshops, events, and a library. He also co-founded Protect the Peaks, a coalition that opposes the expansion of a ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks, a mountain range that is sacred to 13 Indigenous nations. He also volunteered with Haul No, a group that resists the transport of uranium ore from the Grand Canyon to a mill in Utah. He also coordinated Clean Up The Mines, a national campaign that demands the remediation of more than 15,000 abandoned uranium mines in the U.S.
Benally was also a writer and a speaker, who shared his insights and perspectives on Indigenous issues, anarchism, decolonization, and resistance. He published several articles and books, such as Edge of Morning: Native Voices Speak for the Bears Ears, The Fight for Turtle Island, and No Spiritual Surrender: Indigenous Anarchy in Defense of the Sacred. He also gave keynote speeches and presentations at various colleges, museums, and events, such as Prescott College, CSUN, Democracy Now, Heard Museum, and Confluence.
Klee received many awards and recognitions for his work and contributions, such as the Livable Community Award from Friends of Flagstaff’s Future, the Chomsky Award for Social Justice from the Justice Studies Association, the Best Rock Recording and Record of the Year from the Native American Music Awards, the Best Picture from the Red Nation Film Festival, and the Excellence in Storytelling from the Flagstaff Viola Awards.
Klee Benally was a Navajo Indigenous Activist. He was an amazing person and one of the only Indigenous Activists to carry the WARRIOR label in truth. Warrior to us means servant. Klee served the people often and he made us the ACAB round dance song for a reason.
— Cozca (@KohzKah) January 1, 2024
Never forget… pic.twitter.com/JXUV3Fkj7j
Obituary And Death
Klee left behind a legacy of courage, creativity, and compassion. He inspired and influenced many people with his music, his films, his words, and his actions. He challenged and confronted the systems of oppression and domination that threaten the lives and lands of Indigenous people and all living beings. He advocated and demonstrated the principles and practices of mutual aid, solidarity, and self-determination. He celebrated and honored the diversity and beauty of Indigenous cultures and traditions. He dreamed and envisioned a world of justice, freedom, and peace.
Klee Benally was a champion for Indigenous people and the environment. He was a brother, a son, a friend, a mentor, a hero, and a legend. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his family, his community, his fans, and his comrades.
He will live on in our hearts, our minds, our spirits, and our actions. As he once sang, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for / We are the change that we seek / We are the fire that burns in our hearts / We are the power that we need.”
