For Our Navajo People

by Iverson, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780826327185
• ISBN10: 0826327184
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Univ of New Mexico Pr

Summary

One hundred documents written by Diné men, women, and children speaking for themselves and on behalf of their communities are collected in this book. Discovered during Iverson's research for the book, these letters, speeches, and petitions, almost all previously unpublished, provide a uniquely moving portrait of the Diné during an era in which they were fighting to defend their lands and to build the Navajo Nation. Six crucial, overlapping subjects are addressed here: land, community, education, rights, government, and identity. Brief introductions to each chapter and each document provide the necessary context, and historic photographs selected by Monty Roessel (Navajo), an outstanding photographer, supplement the words of the people. Most of the vast literature about American Indians emphasises the actions and words of non-Indians. Indians become the victims, the people to whom things happen. This volume furnishes a different view of the native past. It shows Navajos making their own history. It demonstrates how the Diné worked to keep their lands, develop their economy, build their communities, educate their young people, affirm their rights, govern themselves, and maintain their heritage while forging a brighter future.

Author Biography

Peter Iverson, Regents' Professor of History at Arizona State University, is a leading scholar of twentieth-century American Indian history Monty Roessel (Navajo), Executive Director of Rough Rock Community School, has written and provided photographs for award-winning books for young people

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	xiii
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	1	(2)
Land	3	(46)
Introduction	3	(1)
Chee Dodge addresses the problems that would occur with the end of trust status and the division of tribal lands, February 2, 1914	4	(1)
Chee Dodge writes to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs about Navajo oil resources, March 2, 1923	5	(1)
Tribal Council members consider land use issues, July 8, 1926	6	(2)
Jacob C. Morgan opposes using the Navajo oil fund to purchase new reservation lands, February 18, 1927	8	(3)
John H. Lee protests a decision denying him access to grazing lands, October 11, 1936	11	(2)
Adolph Maloney favors one version of livestock reduction, August 9, 1937	13	(1)
Chee Dodge notes the challenges and problems inherent in the use of land resources, April 20, 1938	14	(1)
Navajo Tribal Council members question Superintendent Fryer about the details of livestock reduction, May 15, 1939	15	(7)
Scott Preston and others write to their congressional representative about current federal grazing policies, February 14, 1940	22	(2)
Manuel Denetso criticizes the imposition of land management districts, July 5, 1940	24	(4)
Paul Jones reports that Hopis are taking wood from Navajo land, January 13, 1944	28	(1)
Deshna Clah Cheschillige emphasizes the importance of developing ``our country,'' July 19, 1944	28	(1)
Mrs. Chiquito fears she will lose her land, May 17, 1947	29	(1)
Tom Jones, Rachel Laughter, and others describe the ``Big Snow,'' January 1, 1948	30	(2)
Dewey Etsitty attacks the donkey and praises the elephant, April 18, 1953	32	(1)
Marcus Kanuho and Sevier Vaughn review Navajo-Hopi relations, December 8, 1954	33	(4)
Paul Jones advocates getting ``our money's worth on oil'' and explains that industry can help the Tribe provide for the needy, October 6, 1955, and January 18, 1956	37	(2)
Gray Valentine looks at contemporary oil development and remembers past promises, January 19, 1956	39	(10)
Community	49	(28)
Introduction	49	(1)
St. Michaels residents petition to the President to add land to the reservation, February 26, 1924	50	(2)
Greasewood chapter officers ask for a boarding school and Round Rock chapter asks for a day school, April 14, 1932 and March 20, 1939	52	(2)
Shonto and Lukachukai residents let the Commissioner of Indian Affairs know they need better roads, June 15, 1935 and February 1937	54	(2)
Toadlena chapter officers inform Dr. W. W. Peter that a physician is needed in their community, January 30, 1937	56	(1)
Kinlichee chapter members request that their Christmas wish be granted, December 25, 1937	57	(1)
Eastern Navajo area residents doubt the author of the Taylor Grazing Act knows anything about them, n.d.	58	(3)
Lake Valley Chapter members demand their teacher be fired, July 26, 1940	61	(2)
Rock Point residents protest the transfer of a range rider, November 18, 1940	63	(1)
Mariano Lake chapter members present a problem with horses, October 26, 1943	64	(2)
Twin Lakes residents call for the end of the Mexican Springs soil conservation station, November 22, 1943	66	(1)
Many Farms chapter members argue for the end of livestock reduction until the war is over, November 23, 1943	67	(10)
Education	77	(44)
Introduction	77	(1)
Jacob C. Morgan (Hampton Institute) reports his activities, August 27, 1902	78	(1)
Yanapah Tsosie and Sam Ahkeah (San Juan School) report on a visitor's speech, June 1910	79	(1)
Lilly Julian (Sherman Institute) and Katherine Atencia (Albuquerque Indian School) describe life at school in 1914	80	(2)
Alice Becenti (Sherman Institute) writes about homesickness, money, and other concerns, August 24, 1914; November 3, 1915; May 1916	82	(3)
Grace Padilla (Sherman Institute) asks when she can come home, June 24, 1914; July 19, 1914	85	(2)
Gertrude Lynch (St. Michaels School) Presents her summer plans, April 19, 1915	87	(1)
John Charles (Haskell Institute) wonders about his future, November 30, 1915	88	(2)
Chee Dodge calls on the government not to use force in sending children to school, April 20, 1925	90	(1)
Waldo Emerson (Fort Wingate) clarifies why he may not continue to stay in school, November 10, 1935	91	(1)
Sally Kinlichini asks that her son return home and Lucy Harvey explains why her children are not in school, November 26, 1935, and March 1938	92	(1)
Alice Clark invites the director of Navajo education to Toadlena School, May 17, 1940	93	(1)
Sam Gorman speaks about the value of a good education, February 2, 1941, and November 4, 1953	94	(5)
Chee Dodge summarizes the changes in Navajo perspectives about education, May 20, 1946	99	(2)
Roger Davis calls for compulsory education, February 18, 1947	101	(2)
Lilly Neil explains the situation in the checkerboard area, September 8, 1947	103	(3)
Hoskie Cronemeyer advocates an emphasis on English in the schools, August 11, 1952	106	(2)
Sam Ahkeah emphasizes the importance of higher education, July 20, 1953	108	(1)
Alice John Bedoni (Phoenix Indian School) stresses the value of education, June 1, 1954	108	(2)
Dillon Platero reviews current problems, needs, and accomplishments, January 25, 1960	110	(11)
Rights	121	(39)
Introduction	121	(1)
Peshlakai and other leaders support the federal government, November 29, 1908	122	(1)
Be-zho-she describes a confrontation with superintendent William Shelton, November 1, 1913	123	(5)
John Yazza and Willie George write from prison, June 24, 1916, and July 8, 1922	128	(1)
Nelson Etcitty chastises Superintendent Samuel Stacher, April 4, 1922, and April 21, 1922	129	(3)
Howard Gorman speaks out about the traders, December 20, 1939 and July 2, 1940	132	(3)
Roger Davis calls for the Navajos to receive the same kind of benefits as non-Indian farmers and ranchers, June 6, 1940	135	(2)
The Navajo Rights Association approves by-laws and resolutions, October and November, 1940	137	(5)
Deshna Clah Cheschillige advocates Navajo rights, December 8, 1940	142	(2)
Private Ralph Anderson demands the right to vote, April 30, 1943	144	(1)
Evans Holly, Jack Jones, James Oliver, and Sam Capitan document some of the challenges facing the Native American Church, August 29, 1944, April 15, 1945, and May 8, 1945	145	(3)
Julia Denetclaw tries in vain to register to vote, May 6, 1946	148	(1)
Annie Wauneka raises questions about the status of Navajo water rights, May 3, 1952	148	(2)
Frank Bradley reveals the problems experienced by Navajos working off the reservation, November 3, 1953	150	(2)
Annie Wauneka addresses health care, November 2, 1953, October 12, 1955, and January 15, 1959	152	(6)
Howard Gorman discusses the need for legal assistance for individual Navajos, October 9, 1958	158	(2)
Government	160	(52)
Introduction	160	(1)
Atsidi Nez calls for one boss for all of the Navajos, December 31, 1920	161	(1)
Jacob C. Morgan declares Chee Dodge and his friends are trying to force him off the tribal council, May 20, 1927	162	(2)
Deshna Clah Cheschillige speaks about the needs of the people, June 1, 1933	164	(2)
Tom Dodge says the Tribal Council must deal with traders, soil erosion, and missionaries, October 30, 1933	166	(3)
Jacob C. Morgan employs the example of Booker T. Washington, March 12, 1934	169	(2)
Jim Shirley complains about administrators taking too much of the Tribal Council's time, April 9, 1934	171	(1)
Chee Dodge recommends the removal of Superintendent E. R. Fryer, April 20, 1936	172	(3)
Tom Dodge resigns as chairman of the Tribal Council, May 7, 1936	175	(2)
Tom Dodge characterizes Jacob Morgan as the Navajo Hitler, March 24, 1938	177	(2)
Jacob C. Morgan articulates his hopes for his administration, November 8, 1938	179	(2)
Jacob C. Morgan addresses the role of the Tribal Council, March 7, 1939	181	(3)
Chairman Jacob C. Morgan denies the right of Vice Chairman Howard Gorman to speak during a Tribal Council meeting, May, 15, 1939	184	(1)
Tsehe Notah talks about the need to plan for our own people, July 5, 1940	185	(2)
Notah Begay supports a range rider, November 19, 1940	187	(1)
Howard Gorman reports to E. R. Fryer on Tom Dodge and Chee Dodge, January 28, 1941	188	(5)
Robert Martin and other Tribal Council members provide Congress with a list of grievances, April 1946	193	(2)
Dewey Etsitty and Roger Davis argue the traders must pay more rent, June 26, 1948	195	(3)
Ned Hatathli urges the Tribal Council to plan for the future, October 14, 1955	198	(2)
Annie Wauneka analyzes the job being done by the general counsel, January 23, 1956	200	(2)
Howard Gorman clarifies the significance of Williams v. Lee, January 13, 1959	202	(10)
Identity	212	(55)
Introduction	212	(1)
Chee Dodge warns people about a short rope, November 16, 1905	213	(1)
Clitso D. Dedman seeks Lorenzo Hubbell's advice, September 9, 1912	214	(1)
Gehbah Manuelito and Ed Becenti disapprove of Navajo ceremonies, August 18, 1929	214	(2)
Toadlena schoolchildren explain how a rug is created, how sheep are cared for, and how a hogan is constructed, ca. 1930	216	(3)
Tom Dodge refutes an inaccurate magazine article about the Navajos, February 25, 1933	219	(3)
Roy Kinsel, Mattie Denet Dale, John Harvey, Hola Tso, Scott Preston, and David Clark furnish conflicting testimony about peyote, May 9, 1940, and May 15, 1946	222	(8)
Navajo Code Talkers use their language and imagination, 1942-1945	230	(3)
Private Ralph W. Anderson asks for support during World War II, July 3, 1943	233	(1)
Dan Keyonie reminds John Collier that Navajos are fighting for him, July 10, 1943	234	(1)
Sam Ahkeah lauds the sacrifices of Navajo soldiers and calls for an end to livestock reduction and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, July 9, 1943	235	(2)
David Clah categorizes sheep as ``a thing of the past,'' February 19, 1947	237	(1)
Jim Hale and Eugene Gordy explain why sheep and horses still matter, June 28, 1948 and August 20, 1951	238	(3)
Alfred Damon considers changing times, ca. 1952	241	(4)
Howard Gorman and Sam Ahkeah examine the importance of preserving traditional ceremonial knowledge, March 2, 1954	245	(3)
R. C. Gorman stresses the value of military service, April 1, 1954	248	(2)
Ned Hatathali notes the altered place of livestock in the Navajo economy, September 19, 1957	250	(3)
Paul Jones outlines issues, achievements, and opportunities, January 1959	253	(14)
Sources	267	(3)
Index	270