Flyers urge racism's end in Gallup
Natives told to demand respect from businesses
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — The subject of whether Gallup business owners are racists
has once again cropped up.
A group, which has not identified itself, has been placing flyers
at the Rio West Mall and other areas of Gallup urging Native Americans
to "take no more mistreatment from businesses and avoid the places
that give you bad treatment."
A second flyer is more inflammatory: "The White people think
we're stupid. The White people think we're all drunks. The White people
think we're funny. The White people think we have no ambition. The
White people think we're behind the times. They think our children
have no future but welfare."
Hundreds of these flyers have been plastered around business areas,
urging Navajos and other Native Americans to take a stand: "Demand
respect when you eat, when you shop, when you sell and when you pawn.
Let us unite and end the racism in Gallup."
These flyers remind old-timers of the late 1960s and early 1970s,
when Gallup was embroiled in a dispute that raged over several years.
At that time, a group of young Navajos created the Indians Against
Exploitation and held demonstrations against the Gallup Inter-Tribal
Indian Ceremonial (see separate story).
While the flyers' rhetoric harkens back to a period many Gallup residents
would like to forget, the reaction today is just as powerful.
Ellis Tanner, a Gallup trading post operator, agrees when the flyers
urge Native Americans not to give their business to stores where they
feel they don't get any respect.
"I always say that if you have to demand respect from a business,"
he said, "then you shouldn't be going to that place to shop or
sell your goods."
Although he has criticized Gallup businesses for not showing enough
appreciation to their Native American customers, he thinks only a
small percentage of Gallup stores no more than 10 percent are disrespectful
to Native Americans.
These are the stores, he said, where employees humiliate their Native
American customers in front of their small children. "Some of
this verbal abuse is terrible," he said. "But what is really
worse is that their children who hear this will grow up accepting
this as normal."
But the idea of showing respect at all times is difficult to follow,
he said.
"Too many of us and I hate to admit that I was one of them would
just step over the drunks lying alongside the road and not do anything
to help them," he said. "I'm ashamed today about what I
did and ask myself, "How did we let that kind of thing happen?'"
'Best border town'
But he disagrees that Gallup as a whole shows disrespect to Native
Americans, adding that Gallup today "is the best border town"
as far as its treatment of the Indian people is concerned.
"We need to do more to show our appreciation," he said,
"and that's why Native American Appreciation Day was developed."
On that day, held annually here in June, the city, along with Tanner
and other businesses, hosts a day of giveaways and events to show
appreciation to nearby reservation residents for shopping in Gallup.
Former Navajo Tribal President and Chairman Peterson Zah, interviewed
by phone in Morgantown, W. Va., where he has been teaching, admitted
he has not spent much time in Gallup in the past decade.
"I hear from people here and there, however, that they are not
happy about the kinds of treatment they receive in Gallup," he
said.
A broader question, however, recently talked about in the national
press, concerns whether this bad treatment by clerks, waitresses and
office personnel may stem from a disrespect for everyone, regardless
of race.
Newsweek, in a recent cover story, said recent studies have found
disrespect cropping up all over the place as unemployment has gone
down. Unable to find employees to meet the demand, employers are less
willing to fire people for showing disrespect because they fear the
next person they hire will be as bad or worse than the person they
fired.
Horror stories
"I could tell you some horror stories," said Patty Lundstrom,
an Anglo who says she has been ignored or treated badly by store and
restaurant personnel. Lundstrom said she was talking as an individual,
not as the executive director of the Northwest Council of Governments.
As a result of this treatment, she said, she has come to the conclusion
that there are some stores in Gallup that "are friendly to the
customers and some that are not." Race, in these cases, has no
bearing.
She questions whether the owners of the stores know their customers
are being mistreated.
While Anglos who feel mistreated complain or don't return, Tanner
said, most Navajos continue shopping at these places.
When his Navajo customers tell him about the mistreatment,Tanner said,
he asks them why they keep going to these places. "They don't
have an appreciation for the power they possess," he said.
A few years ago, when the Navajo Nation held a workshop on border
towns and racism, this was one of the questions brought up.
Several younger Navajos theorized their parents and grandparents had
become complacent when they were ignored by salespeople or waitresses
or when clerks spoke to them as if they were children.
A Navajo woman in her 20s said this complacency may stem from the
fact that many Navajo children were taught to react passively when
treated badly.
Racism awareness
Rodney Barker became something of an expert on border town racism
in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he began researching his book,
"The Broken Circle," which chronicles a series of murders
of drunken Navajos by teen-agers in the Farmington area some 12 years
before.
He said Wednesday the group putting out the flyers may have done a
service by making people aware of the possibility of racism.
Racism, be believes, goes in cycles. When it's brought to the forefront,
usually because of a single incident, people become aware of the racism
in their community and take steps to correct it.
But as time goes by, people forget the lessons and allow racist acts
to begin again, until something happens to bring it to their attention.
"The value of these flyers is that they remind us that racism
needs to be combated continually.
"I don't think people in the community should overreact but ask
themselves if they are doing things that may be construed by Native
Americans as racist," he said. "This should be an opportunity
for self-examination."
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Cleanup work nearing end at school fire
site
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
NAVAJO, N.M. — Several days of wintry weather delayed the cleanup
of a burned out building at the local elementary school.
But the snow also provided a benefit since it kept down the dust of
the debris being scooped up and hauled off, according to Angelo DiPaolo,
assistant to the superintendent of the Gallup-McKinley County School
District.
And the cleanup crews ran into an unforeseen obstacle having to cut
apart steel in the western end of the building.
The dumping of fill dirt to cover the 6,000-square-foot site was expected
with clear weather to be completed this week, thus ending almost a
week's worth of work.
The district also was concerned the cleanup would cause too much noise.
But DiPaolo said Principal Ernie Feyler reported that it turned out
to be no problem.
Because the Feb. 16 fire destroyed everything in the library, computer
laboratory, special education classroom and a fifth-grade classroom,
35 students will spend the rest of the year in remodeled quarters
in what is known as the "Blue Barn." (It never was used
as a bus barn, as erroneously reported earlier.)
The "Blue Barn" started out as a junior high school industrial
arts building, according to a veteran teacher.
The library was moved to a large room in the front of the gymnasium.
The 20,000 volumes will be replaced. A complete list of books is available
because the card catalogue was in Gallup being converted to an electronic
format when the fire struck.
No one has said where a new computer lab will be installed. The new
lab contained 26 computers, and to compensate for the loss, the district
had to reprogram the one or two computers in each of the other classrooms
for the 530 or so students.
DiPaolo said Carl Rich, an investigator for the statewide school insurance
pool, cited a wall heater on the north wall of the library in which
a district area technician replaced a thermocouple on Nov. 10 as the
origin of the fire. The school staff had to relight the pilot light
several times before the fire, he added. It was the original 1974
heater, DiPaolo said.
Feyler said the school also lost a critical reading improvement program
collection in the fire.
Insurance is expected to cover the loss, but DiPaolo said the district
has not decided how it will replace the lost building.
The February fire is the second one in about a decade to destroy a
school building in the community. The previous fire was at the high
school, located across the street from the elementary school.
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Torreon student killed by bus
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — An 11-year-old Torreon Day School student died
Wednesday when the school bus her father was driving accidentally
ran over her in the Ojo Encino area.
Sherlynn Sandoval and her father, 43-year-old Harry Sandoval, had
left for school as usual about 6:30 a.m. on the full-size bus he drives
for the school, said Navajo Nation Police Lt. Patrick Platero of Crownpoint.
The child had set her books down on the step of the bus, and they
started falling as the bus got under way. The girl lunged for them,
grabbing a metal handle that opens the bus doors, Platero said.
Sandoval put on the brakes and grabbed for his daughter, but "with
the brakes applied and her leaning out of the door, it adds to force
of her falling out of the bus," Platero said.
She tumbled out and the right rear tire ran over her, he said.
The father stopped the bus, jumped out and checked his daughter, but
could find no sign of life, Platero said. Sandoval and a neighbor
then ran to a telephone to call for help.
She died at the scene about 6:30 a.m.
Classes for almost 400 students at the Bureau of Indian Affairs school
were canceled, but had been slated to begin two hours later than normal
because of heavy snowfall the previous day. But many people without
telephones could not be notified, including the bus driver.
Navajo police and a medical rescue helicopter from Farmington both
arrived on the scene, but medical personnel "weren't able to
do anything," Platero said.
Navajo police were still investigating "to eliminate any questions
anybody might have about the accident," Platero said.
The accident occurred near the Continental Divide in the extreme northeastern
corner of McKinley County, about 15 miles northwest of Torreon Day
School.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Begaye lauds new projects in Tuba City
George Hardeen
Special to the Independent
TUBA CITY, Ariz. — Navajo President Kelsey Begaye was back in
his home agency Wednesday to offer hope, support and congratulations.
He spent the morning meeting privately with handicapped kids involved
in an environmental lawsuit, toured a new fitness center, visited
a renovated historic building that's to become a regional library
and spent four hours at a congratulatory dinner for the championship
Warriors and Lady Warriors basketball teams.
Begaye met at the homes of the affected children no press allowed
to hear of how their lives have been changed by an environmental hazard
and the plans for their case...
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Protester sees progress in treatment
of Navajos
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — Thirty years ago, Michael Benson was one of a group
of angry young Navajos who wanted Gallup residents to take a look
at the way they treated Navajo people.
Benson's group, Indians Against Exploitation, held demonstration after
demonstration through the streets of Gallup protesting mistreatment
by Gallup businesses and the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.
Today, as a well-respected employee of the Navajo Nation's water management
program, Benson said he believed Gallup business owners have made
some progress in the way they treat their Navajo neighbors...
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4 charged with battery of women
Police probe separate cases
Mary E. Davis
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Four men were arrested and one suspect remains at-large
for allegedly hitting their girlfriends and wives. One man is accused
of extinguishing a cigarette on one of the victim's arms.
In separate incidents reported to the Grants Police Department, John
Edward, 20, of Grants; Michael Pedro, 26, of Old Laguna; Shawn Harrison,
20, of Grants; and Thomas Montoya, 22, of Albuquerque were charged
with battery or aggravated battery of a household member. A fifth
man wasn't arrested for attacking his wife, since he had left the
scene before police arrived.
Edward was charged with battery on a household member Feb. 29 for
allegedly hitting his 20-year-old live-in girlfriend at their home
in the 1700 block of Cordova...
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Poet: Violence not the Navajo way
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
CROWNPOINT — As a Navajo growing up in California,
the poet Esther Belin understood why youngsters might want to join
gangs. But she cannot comprehend why Navajos on the reservation would
resort to violence.
A full-blooded Navajo, Belin grew up in Los Angeles and graduated
from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992. Growing up in
California, she said, gave her an understanding of gangs and violence.
"There," she said, "kids felt like they needed something
to be different and separate themselves, because there are so many
people...
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Navajo Prep sings victory tune to coach
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
ALBUQUERQUE — You would think the Navajo Prep Lady Eagles would
be a bit tired.
They had just rolled up 98 points in routing the Escalante Lobos 98-54
in the first round of the Class AA 2000 New Mexico State Girls Basketball
Tournament at Highland High School in Albuquerque on Wednesday afternoon.
But they still had one more job to do. Sing 'Happy Birthday' to their
coach.
"This is my 37th birthday and it was a good present from my team,"
Robert Adams said...
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Pine Hill is set to play first-time host
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
PINE HILL - After claiming the school's first district title last
weekend, the Pine Hill Warriors are setting their sights even higher.
Pine Hill (15-9) will be hosting its first-ever Region C tournament
beginning Friday night with a first-round game against Magdalena.
Should the Warriors get by Magdalena, Pine Hill will earn its first
trip to next week's state tournament in Las Cruces. Game time is set
for 7:30 p.m. In Friday's opening game, Ramah (11-12) will take on
defending state champion Cliff at 6 p.m. at the Pine Hill gym. The
regional finals will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.
"We're not ready for the season to be completed," first-year
Pine Hill coach David Whitesell said. "We're gearing up for the
game. We've been focused since the season started. We're excited to
be playing and hosting regionals..."
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Lady Hawks' rally too little too late
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
ALBUQUERQUE — The hole was just too deep to dig out of.
The Thoreau Hawks spotted the Lovington Wildcats a 23-point halftime
deficit before their second half rally fell short in their 79-66 loss
in the Class AAA pre-playoffs of the New Mexico Girls State Basketball
Tournament on Wednesday night at La Cueva High School.
In the other pre-playoff game involving a local teamte people think
we're stupid. The White people think we're all drunks. The White people
think we're funny. The White people think we have no ambition. The
White people think we're behind the times. They think our children
have no future but welfare..."
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Deaths
Tom Kee Yazzie
VANDERWAGEN — Services for Tom Kee Yazzie, 83, will be held at
10:30 a.m., Friday, March 10 at Cope Memorial Chapel in Gallup. Burial
will follow in Vanderwagen.
Visitation will be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m., Friday, March 10, at
Cope Memorial Chapel in Gallup.
Yazzie died March 6 at the Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup.
He was born May 20, 1916 in Breadsprings into the Towering House People
Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan.
Yazzie worked for the railroad at an early age and was a silversmith.
His hobbies included training horses and rodeo.
Survivors include his sons, Wilson Yazzie of Red Rock, Wayne Yazzie,
Harry Yazzie, both of Vanderwagen, Albert Yazzie of Naschitti, Eddie
Yazzie of Blue Gap, Ariz. and James Yazzie of Ganado, Ariz.; daughters,
Darinda Lee, Alice Begay of Vanderwagen, Shirley Yazzie and Louise
Gordon, both of Gallup, Lucy Jacobs of Acusa, Calif. and Frieda Yazzie
of Twin Lakes; sister, Carrie Biggs of Ramah; 36 grandchildren; and
26 great-grandchildren.
Yazzie was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Yazzie; sons, Nelson
Skeets and Ernest Yazzie; brother, Charlie Yazzie; and three grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Leo Lee Jr., Derek Martin, Fernando Peters, Brandon
Martin, Wilson Dawes and Jefferson Brown.
The family will receive friends and family after the burial services
at the Pinetree Mission in Vanderwagen.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Elvin T. "Doc" Brown, D.V.M.
GRANTS — Services for Elvin T. "Doc" Brown, D.V.M.,
60, will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 11 at the Grants Mortuary
Chapel. Dr. Jeff Mattila will officiate. Cremation has taken place.
Cremains will lie in State at the Grants Mortuary Chapel at noon,
Saturday, March 11.
Brown died March 7 in Grants. He was born June 19, 1940 in Portales
to E.T. Brown and Opal Brown.
Brown graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales with
both a bachelors and masters degrees. He earned his doctorate of Veterinary
Medicine from Washington State University. He built City and County
Veterinary Clinic in Milan and practiced there as a solo practitioner
from July 1976 until June of 1999.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Brown of Grants; sisters, Teddy
Ludivig of Minnesota and Cherryll Hall of Texas; stepchildren, Bob
Atwood, Becky Hyduke; and a grandchild.
Brown was preceded in death by his parents, E.T. Brown and Opal Brown.
Elizabeth "Betty" Schmaltz Green
CORTEZ, Colo. — Graveside services for Elizabeth "Betty"
Schmaltz Green, 78, will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, March 10 at
the Green Lawn Cemetery, 20th and Dustin in Farmington. Father Tim
Farrell will officiate. Cremation has taken place.
Visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m., today, March 9 at the Ertel
Memorial Chapel in Cortez, Colo.
Green died March 7 at the Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, Colo.
She was born Feb. 11, 1922 in Page, N.M.
Survivors include her daughters, Joyce Trade-Howard of Lake Dallas,
Texas and Gayle Fearis Bishop of Ocala, Fla.; brother, David Schmaltz
of Gallup; sisters, Helen Woods and Joann Nichols, both of Farmington;
five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Green was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Green; son, Gary L.
Green; daughter, Martha Ann Fearis; parents; brothers, George Schmaltz,
Manuel Schmaltz and James Schmaltz; and a sisters, Catherine Schmaltz-Johnson.
Lucy Bitsuie
COYOTE CANYON — Services for Lucy Bitsie, 88, will be announced
at a later date.
Bitsuie died March 6 in Grants. She was born Jan. 1, 1912 in Coyote
Canyon into the Start of the Red Streak People Clan.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.<cm+bd>Esther Rose
Jean<cm-bd>GALLUP In the obituary published for Esther Rose
Jean, on Tuesday, March 7, Jean was also survived by Corrina Boyd
of Many Farms, Ariz.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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