Klee Benally facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Klee Benally
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Klee Benally at Human Rights March 2012
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| Background information | |
| Born | 11 October 1975 Flagstaff, Arizona, United States |
| Died | 30 December 2023 (aged 48) |
| Genres | Punk rock, alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musicians, artist, activist, silversmith, filmmaker |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Associated acts | Black |
Klee Benally (born October 11, 1975 – died December 30, 2023) was a talented Navajo musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the punk rock band Blackfire. Klee was also a dedicated activist, artist, silversmith, and filmmaker. He even performed traditional Navajo dances and was a champion fancy war dancer.
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Early Life and Family
Klee Benally was born in 1975 in Flagstaff, Arizona. His father, Jones, was a traditional Navajo medicine man. His mother, Berta Benally, was a folk singer and songwriter. She was born to Russian-Polish Jewish parents.
Klee had two siblings, his sister Jeneda and his brother Clayson. Their family belonged to the Bitter Water Clan. They grew up in places like Black Mesa, Tusayan, and Flagstaff. Their father's family came from Black Mesa in the Navajo Nation.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Klee was a model for photographer John Running. Running also photographed Klee's family. This was part of an agreement with Canyon Records, which released music by their band, Blackfire. Klee lived in Flagstaff with his wife, Princess.
Music Career
Klee, Jeneda, and Clayson formed their punk band, Blackfire, in 1989. They became well-known and toured all over the world. Their music often included parts of traditional Navajo music.
They were also inspired by famous punk bands like Ramones, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, Crass, and Bad Brains. The band's name, Blackfire, refers to the pollution. This pollution came especially from coal mining on the Navajo Nation.
Film and Video Work
Klee Benally created many short documentary films. He directed a documentary called "The Snowbowl Effect." This film talked about plans to build a ski area on Arizona's San Francisco Peaks. He also wrote and directed a full-length movie called "Power Lines."
Community Involvement
Klee was very active in his community. In 2004 and 2005, he helped organize the southwest Native American Film and Video Festival. This festival took place at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
He also helped start several important community projects. These included the Taala Hoghan Infoshop and Indigenous Action Media. He also co-founded the Outta Your Backpack Media Project, the Flagstaff Activist Network, and the Save the Peaks Coalition. Klee once said, "Our generation has a whole lot of anger. We can try to turn negative into positive, be productive."
In May 2010, Klee took part in a direct action protest. He and five others protested at the Tucson Border Patrol Headquarters. They were speaking out against military actions on Indigenous lands and a law called Arizona SB 1070.
Achievements and Awards
Klee Benally won many awards for his art. He received honors at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. In 1991, he was the first student to win Best Show at the Navajo art show at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
In 2010, a community group in Flagstaff gave Klee the Livable Community Award. This award recognized his important work for social and environmental justice.
Passing Away
Klee Benally passed away on December 30, 2023. He was 48 years old.
Images for kids
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Klee Benally at Human Rights March 2012
