Chester Kahn

Chester Kahn
Born	1936 Pine Springs, Arizona
Died	June 1, 2019
NSA member	USA 1982 - 1989
ABM	Americas 1965 - 1972

Chester Kahn (1936 - June 1, 2019) was an American Baháʼí who served as an Auxiliary Board member for North America, and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.

Background

Chester was born into a Navajo family of silversmiths and rug weavers in Pine Springs, Arizona. His Navajo name was Tso Yazzy. As a child he began creating art by sketching on cardboard while herding sheep. In his youth he attended the Pine Springs BIA day school and Shiprock Indian School. While attending school he was baptized as a Catholic without his consent and received catechism instruction which he felt instilled fear and constituted brainwashing.

He later moved to Nevada and graduated from Stewart Indian School there. After graduating he became a silversmith and artist, painting several notable murals. While in Nevada he became acquainted with two Bahá’ís around 1956 and began to investigate the Bahá’í Faith as did his brother, Franklin, and they both declared in March 1962. Later that year they held a meeting on the Faith at their parents home which was attended by 1200 people, In 1965 Chester was appointed as an Auxiliary Board member for Propagation.

In 1968 Kahn was appointed the director of the Chinle Office of Navajo Economic Opportunity, and moved to Chinle to serve in the role. He also worked for Dine' Bits'iis Ba'ahiiya' Inc., which constructed the Chinle Nursing Home, Chinle Valley School, and Canyon De Chelly housing. In 1972 he retired as Auxiliary Board member due to the demands of his professional career.

In 2008 he served as the Grand Marshal of the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial and was named a Living Treasure, and in 2011 he was named Arizona Indian Living Treasure.

Kahn passed away on June 1, 2019, with his funeral being held on June 4.

Talks

• 2010 - Speaking on his Life
• 2011 - Receiving Award