Atama Zedkaia

Who is Atama Zedkaia?

Leroij Atama Zedkaia was the Marshallese paramount chief, or Leroijlaplap, of Majuro. Leroij Zedkaia spearheaded the movement to break the Marshall Islands away from the rest of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and form the independent Republic of the Marshall Islands. She was also the mother of Jurelang Zedkaia, who has served as the President of the Marshall Islands since 2009. Leroij is a title by a female paramount chief, or Leroijlaplap, in the Marshall Islands.

Zedkaia was considered a key figure in the Marshallese independence movement. She worked to break the Marshall Islands away from the rest of Micronesia, which was incorporated into the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands at the time. According to journalist Giff Johnson, "From a traditional leader point of view, she was very active in the background in supporting the move that was being led by the political leadership here that ultimately was successful in rejecting a Micronesia wide constitution and then developing the Marshall Islands constitution in 1979 which is the foundation for government here ever since."

Atama Zedkaia died on Friday, November 19, 2010, at the age of 79. President Jurelang Zedkaia's Minister in Assistance Ruben Zackhras declared a week of national mourning following her death. Marshallese flags were ordered to be flown at half mast until Saturday, November 28, 2010.