Alfretta Antone

Alfretta Antone passed away March 25, 2012. She was raised on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, where lived by strong work ethics and the O'odham way of life.

Alfretta attended St. John's Catholic School in Laveen, Ariz. She married Myles Antone from Gila River in 1950 and they had five children together.

Alfretta became involved in politics and advocated to her local community of the importance of voting. SRPMIC was approached to form a precinct and polling location, and Alfretta was instrumental in naming the Honda Precinct with Lula Smith from Ft. McDowell, which meant "good place" in Smith’s language.

In 1968 Robert F. Kennedy came to campaign to the community, and Alfretta was saddened that hardly anyone, maybe two or three showed up. Despite, Kennedy still made his speech.

In 1979, Alfretta was elected vice president of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and served until 1990. She was acting president from February 1990 to July 1990. During her term, Alfretta made significant contributions to her community by starting the Huhugam Ki Museum, bringing Save the Children's Foundation to SRPMIC, reinstituting the Miss Salt River Pageant, initiating the Dialysis Center, keystone to the Senior Center of the Community, and initiating the Community Child Care Center. She was one of original negotiators of Scottsdale Pavilions, supported the Veterans post and was a keystone in repatriation agreements to allow ancestral remains to come home to be reburied.

In 2006, Alfretta was awarded "Elder of the Year," but one of the highlights of her life was in 1987 when Pope John Paul II visited Phoenix. Alfretta Antone was chosen to represent the Native American people across the United States and personally met the Pope. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community will miss their great leader and distinguished community member who served with all her heart and love.