Clifford Mahooty is a Zuni Pueblo Indian elder, and member of the tribal orders of the Kachina Priest hood, Galaxy medicine society, Sun Clan, and wisdom keeper of the Zuni history and spiritual practices. Mahooty is a retired Civil/Environmental Engineer (BSCE-NMSU-1969). He worked for Shell Oil Company and various US government programs for housing under USHUD, DOI-BIA planning design and construction of Indian reservation infrastructures and school projects. 

Clifford also served in the US Public Health Service, as a commissioned officer, to provide services to American Indian communities. He served in Oklahoma and Arizona in water, wastewater, and solid waste systems. He served as the National Environmental Justice Coordinator, in the DOI-BIA for the 561 federally recognized Indian tribes.

He coordinated with various agencies of federal, state and tribal governments to enforce laws and regulations to protect sacred sites, and lands against desecration, pollution of natural resources, illegal taking of artifacts, burials, and sacred objects. He represented the Indian tribe’s environmental assessments and impact statements.

Clifford Mahooty was instrumental in the contracting of federally funded programs, where Indian Nations can administer projects including: planning, design, construction of facilities and infrastructure, schools, hospitals, law and order, housing. The law is known as PL-93-638. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1974. SOVEREIGNTY RIGHTS NOW.