Our Story
Our Mission
After the signing of the 1868 Treaty, an elderly man named Chief Munyanna settled the lake area. When asked for his name the Anglo could not spell it from the pronunciation so they renamed him Chief Mariano. The community did not have a name at the time. Chief Mariano and his scouts began construction of an earthen embankment to catch rain and melting snow runoff. The workmen used arrows, saddle blankets and rugs to excavate the silt to build the embankment. Soon after, the dam created a lake. Because Chief Mariano, mobilized the construction of the dam. The lake became known as “Mariano Lake”, and eventually, the community became known by the same name.
local chapter information
Smith Lake Chapter
Phone: 505-786-2141 | Fax: 505-786-2143
Pinedale Chapter
Phone: 505-786-2208 | Fax: 505-786-2211
Thoreau Chapter
Phone: 505-905-0139 | Fax: 505-905-0140
Crownpoint Chapter
Phone: 505-786-2130 | Fax: 505-786-2136
chapter officials
Jay R. DeGroat,President
Henry T. Begay, Vice-President
Henry P. Begay, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer
Edmund K. Yazzie, Council Delegate
Anthony Begay, Land Board Member
