Carleton A. Naiche-Palmer (June 22, 1947 – December 12, 2010) was elected president of the

Mescalero Apache Mescalero or Mescalero Apache ( apm, Naa'dahéńdé) is an Apache tribe of Southern Athabaskan–speaking Native Americans. The tribe is federally recognized as the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Apache Reservation, located in south-c ...

Tribe in 2008. He served one term, until early 2010.

Biography

Early life and education

Carleton Naiche-Palmer was born in 1947. He was a descendant of the

Chiricahua Apache Chiricahua ( ) is a band of Apache Native Americans. Based in the Southern Plains and Southwestern United States, the Chiricahua (Tsokanende ) are related to other Apache groups: Ndendahe (Mogollon, Carrizaleño), Tchihende (Mimbreño), Sehen ...

leaders

Naiche Chief Naiche ( ; –1919) was the final hereditary chief of the Chiricahua band of Apache Indians.Johansen, Bruce E"Naiche (ca. 1857–1919)." ''Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.'' (retrieved 25 Sept 2 ...

and

Cochise Cochise (; Apache: ''Shi-ka-She'' or ''A-da-tli-chi'', lit.: ''having the quality or strength of an oak''; later ''K'uu-ch'ish'' or ''Cheis'', lit. ''oak''; June 8, 1874) was leader of the Chihuicahui local group of the Chokonen and princip ...

. Naiche-Palmer's father, Ignacius Palmer, was an artist. Naiche-Palmer held a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in business from

Western New Mexico University Western New Mexico University is a public university in Silver City, New Mexico. It was founded in 1893. History Founded in the Territory of New Mexico on February 11, 1893 as the New Mexico Normal School, the school began to offer classes on S ...

, a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in business from

Pepperdine University Pepperdine University () is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and ...

and a

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' ...

in social and

economic development In the economics study of the public sector, economic and social development is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals a ...

from Arbor University. He had resided in

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

, for twenty-seven years.

Marriage and family

In 1970 he married Ada Rose Enjady. They had five children together.

Career

Naiche-Palmer was the chairman of the board of directors for the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino. He also served on the Mescalero tribal council. At the time of his election, Naiche-Palmer was the owner and main partner in an advocacy firm which represented individuals before the Mescalero Apache Tribal Court. He was active in the American Indian Business and Technologies, All Indian Pueblo Council, Sandia National Laboratories, and National Indian Council on Aging.

President of the Mescalero

Carleton Naiche-Palmer was elected president of the Mescalero Apache in November 2007, defeating the incumbent Sara Misquez. He took office in early 2008. Naiche-Palmer was sworn in as the president of the Mescalero Apache on January 11, 2008. Naiche-Palmer was defeated for re-election in the presidential primary held on September 29, 2009, coming in fifth place out of seven candidates. Former president

Mark Chino Mark may refer to: Currency * Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina * East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic * Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927 * Finn ...

finished in first place with 395 votes; former vice president Frederick Chino came in second with 253 votes; Ben Martinez was third with 247 votes; Naomi Sainz was fourth with 74 votes; Naiche-Palmer was fifth with 43 votes; Harlyn Geronimo was sixth with 40 votes, and A. Paul Ortega finished in seventh place with 26 votes. Mark Chino was elected president in the

general election A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

. Carleton Naiche-Palmer died of natural causes at a hospital in

El Paso El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the seat of El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 23rd-largest city in the U.S., the ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, on December 12, 2010, at the age of 63. He was survived by Ada, his wife of 40 years; their five children; 18 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Scott "Scotty" Ryan Palmer, who died on October 15, 2009.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Naiche-Palmer, Carelton 1947 births 2010 deaths Presidents of the Mescalero Apache Native American leaders Western New Mexico University alumni Pepperdine University alumni Politicians from Albuquerque, New Mexico