Co-op tackles social woes
Developing healthy families is one goal
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
THOREAU — When Sister Angela Bianco left here two years ago,
she left behind a legacy that is enabling area residents to cope with
the economic and social problems that plague most Navajo communities.
"We think this is a model that can be replicated throughout the
reservation," said Eric Younger, director of The Gathering Place,
a unique program that addresses a variety of social ills within the
Thoreau area.
TGP is centered around a co-op that includes more than 150 artisans
who have revitalized the folk art industry in this area of the reservation
by creating a number of items that have attracted the attention of
collectors from throughout the world.
But while this has received the most publicity, TGP has quietly expanded
over the years to include everything from a literacy program to a
women's support group dealing with issues like domestic violence and
family harmony.
I
t all began in 1987 when Sister Angela Bianco, a nun with the Sisters
of Loretto, got together a number of women from the area and began
a quilting project to give women a chance to make money and socialize.
While Bianco listened to the women talking as they worked, an idea
of a literacy program was born.
The quilting co-op quickly expanded to include Native American artisans
who create a variety of traditional and modern crafts. And that success,
in turn, helped to fund literacy and health programs. The idea of
providing a community center to support the development of healthy
families became a reality.
"We try to have a holistic approach, integrating our health,
education and literacy and economic development programs," Younger
said.
Today, TGP provides home health visits for prenatal and postpartum
mothers and their children, maintains two family literacy centers
and teaches life skills to Navajo elders. The program even has its
own newspaper.
<cm+it>Rainbow Community Notes<cm-it>, a newspaper printed
10 times per year, is also published as part of the outreach. In addition
to a community calendar, there's a popular activity page for children.
I
t adheres to the Navajo calendar and talks about cultural issues in
an easy-to-read format. Poetry and creative writing from area school
children are often featured. Ten thousand copies of each issue are
distributed.
Another program that has caught on at Thoreau and also in Smith Lake,
where TGP has expanded, is First Teachers.
This is a program designed to help parents with young children learn
the value of spending time together reading and playing.
"Each parent who comes here with a child is required to spend
at least 45 minutes per day playing or reading with that child while
they're here," Younger said. "One gratification is to see
the number of parents who are now reading to children and taking them
to a library and who now own a library card that didn't before they
began with this program."
But the program doesn't just concentrate on young readers. It promotes
the idea that everyone no matter how old can benefit by learning.
Since parents are not allowed to just drop off their children, a number
of general education programs have been set up to improve everything
from job skills to computer use.
A parent support group, called a "talking circle," also
meets to discuss problems, successes and the many issues faced in
the raising of children. A women's support group covers issues of
domestic violence and family harmony.
The Shima Yazhi, " little mother," is a free home visitation
service provided to expectant and new mothers and their children.
The focus of the outreach is to provide health education in harmony
with Navajo beliefs and tradition, offering information about nutrition,
infant care, child development and parenting skills.
The four bilingual case workers in the program who currently handle
a total of 106 clients work with others in the area with similar goals.
But the center of the program continues to be the Navajo Co-op, which
encourages crafts people to work at home "so parents can be with
their children and still make a living," Younger said.
The co-op produces a catalog and maintains an Internet site to further
broaden the artists' markets. "One of our goals is to provide
access to marketing and promotional programs otherwise unavailable
to local artisans," Younger said.
Money raised from the sales of the merchandise is split between the
artist and the co-op. About five to 10 percent of the entire program
funding is generated from these sales, with about one-third of the
total sales coming from the catalog.
Additional monetary support comes from private interests, state grant
money and private foundations. The University of New Mexico-Gallup
is the largest supporter of TGP.
Younger said his organization is looking for a new, larger site for
the co-op, preferably one that can be seen from the highway.
"We lose a lot of sales because we aren't visible from the highway,"
he said. "And our adult basic education and computer lab programs
are busting at the seams. It can use all of this space for expansion,
once we move the co-op out of the building."
TGP received one of the most prestigious grants in the country last
spring the $35,000 Barbara Bush Family Literacy Grant. TGP was the
first agency in New Mexico to receive this distinction.
"Our goal is to be able to sustain our organization without the
need of grants and outside funding sources," Younger said. "We
are working toward self-reliance."
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Begaye, panel in battle over uranium
policy
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye is in a battle
with a committee of the Navajo Nation Council over who has the right
to decide the tribe's uranium mining policy.
It began Jan. 12 when the Resources Committee approved a resolution
that placed a moratorium on uranium mining on the reservation. The
committee said its action superseded a 1992 executive order by former
President Peterson Zah.
On Tuesday, Mellor Willie, Begaye's press officer, issued a statement
saying that "the Resources Committee is not empowered to supersede
the executive order. Only the president can do that."
Three recent legal opinions, including one on May 10, 1999, from the
Legislative Branch's legal office "all concur that the power
to rescind ... rests with the President, pursuant to Title II"
of the tribal code, Willie said.
Willie said the Navajo Tribal Code also gives the president the power
"with full authority to conduct, supervise, and coordinate the
personnel and programs of the Navajo Nation" departments that
are within the executive branch.
One of those departments is minerals within the Division of Natural
Resources.
"The president and vice president maintain the position that
they will not support uranium mining until all health-related concerns
are addressed and proven to be safe. This position is consistent with
the 1992 moratorium," Willie said.
He said the committee policy is not consistent with the moratorium
because it relies on the uranium industry to "merely certify"
that its activities will not directly or indirectly contaminate air,
water, vegetation, wildlife or livestock.
Willie said the committee policy would shift the responsibility for
solving the health and safety concerns to the department.
The committee's policy would allow the "in situ" method
to be used. This method uses two water wells. One well pumps the liquid
through porous stone to leach out the uranium. The second well sucks
the uranium-filled water back to the surface for processing. The water
is cleaned and reused.
In 1996, then-division Director Melvin F. Bautista wrote to then-President
Albert Hale that there are at least 75 million pounds of uranium on
the reservation, down to 2,500 feet below the surface.
Bautista added, "We should consider the potential benefits to
the (Navajo) Nation if favorable market conditions and safe and environmentally
sound uranium extraction techniques make it feasible to develop the
resource."
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Runner plans sacred journey
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Edison Eskeets will begin a sacred journey soon a 10-day
run covering 375 miles.
In addition to the spiritual component, Eskeets hopes to earn scholarship
money for the Native American Preparatory School in Rowe, N.M., where
he teaches fine arts.
For 10 consecutive days beginning April 17, Eskeets will run the equivalent
of a marathon and a half, between 35 and 40 miles. While he starts
this grueling trek at Blanca Peak in southern Colorado, this effort
really began more than 20 years ago, when he started long distance
running at age 16. The run will end at his home seven miles outside
Gallup in Pinedale.
As a young person, he struggled with education and home life. He credits
his involvement in sports with his later successes.
"I encountered competitive running during my sophomore year in
high school and received several athletic scholarships which allowed
me to complete my college education," Eskeets said during a phone
interview. Eskeets graduated from Gallup High School in 1978.
He received full athletic scholarships to attend Haskell Indian Junior
College in Kansas and Bradley University in Illinois. During his sophomore
year in college, Eskeets was rated sixth in the nation in cross-country
racing.
In 1994, he placed first in his age division and 39th out of 10,000
finishers in the Chicago Marathon.
In 1998, he completed a 205-mile, six-day run from Flagstaff, Ariz.,
to Gallup, raising $90,000 for student scholarships for NAPS.
Eskeets speaks with passion about his concern for young native students
who must walk in two worlds native and contemporary society to be
successful in the modern world.
He spewed statistics from the U.S. Department of Education to substantiate
the problem. Fifty percent of college freshman drop out and only 3
percent of Native American students complete a degree. Native American
students account for less than one percent of all college students.
"The issues and challenges they face, as well as the added burden
imposed by the high cost of education, often deter many gifted and
talented students from receiving the education they deserve,"
he said.
NAPS began as a summer school enrichment program for motivated Native
American middle school students. As the program grew, it expanded
into a residential college preparatory high school. Most of the students
receive full scholarships for their studies. Students are required
to complete an application packet, pass an oral interview and have
an overall grade point average of 3.0. Last year, nearly 1,000 students
applied, with openings for only 30.
"In this run I will demonstrate to native students that it is
possible to live traditionally in a contemporary context," he
said. "I hope to touch them with the sacredness of this effort
and to inspire them to 'go the distance,' to surmount tasks which
may seem daunting."
For Eskeets, this run is a sacred event, a "dance."
He will honor the four sacred mountains as well as his ancestors and
all native peoples.
"Medicine men have had prayers and we're still here, celebrating
where we're at. This is my way of paying thanks to my family for their
support for my education and career," he said.
Preparing for this test of endurance is a feat in itself. Although
he's been running long distances for more than 20 years, the last
two years have been focused on training for this goal. Each day, he
runs 15 to 20 miles and lifts weights. The regimen takes four hours.
During the run, his trainer will give him food and drink to consume
while he's running. "It's like an automobile. You have to put
gas in it," he said. Eskeets estimates he'll need three pair
of shoes for the 375-mile run.
When Eskeets runs long distances, he listens to radio stations on
a portable headset and daydreams, saying, "I reminisce about
the goodness of finishing the run."
"I have all the necessities in place, telling my own mind that
I'm prepared," he said. "I'm ready to run. You have a vision.
You make a commitment, you've done it and it's complete."
| Top |
Enchantment Region may be tough again
next year
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
It's been a little over three weeks since the Tuba City Lady Warriors
claimed its third state title during the Arizona Girls Class 3A State
Basketball Tournament that drew a record-setting crowd of 16,010 at
America West Arena. The 3A Enchantment Region was impressive as it
dominated the state tournament with Tuba City, Winslow, Monument Valley
and Ganado advancing to the Final Four.
From all indications, it appears the 3A Enchantment
Region will be the top region in the state again with at least four
of the teams returning with most of their starting five intact.
Tuba City, which beat Winslow 41-33 in the state finals, will be returning
four of five starters off its state championship team that finished
27-5. Senior forward Sharr Navaho is the lone senior starter that
will be graduating...
| Top |
Snow closes I-40, schools
Staff Report
GALLUP — A storm dumped at least 4 inches of snow in this area
overnight, causing the closure of Interstate-40 and some schools.
Snow forced schools in Gallup, McKinley County, Grants, Milan and
Laguna Pueblo to close for the day.
Snowpacked I-40 was closed between Gallup and 9-Mile Hill in Albuquerque,
as well as westbound from Gallup to the New Mexico-Arizona line. The
interstate opened mid-morning...
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Shelly cuts short jail talk
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Discussion about lowering jail costs for McKinley County
stopped short at Tuesday's county commissioners meeting when commissioner
Ben Shelly said the conversation was out of line with the agenda.
On the agenda, local attorney Steven Seeger was to present different
ways in which the county could punish criminals who had to be jailed.
By doing so, the county would save money.
Seeger was out of town Tuesday, so Doug Decker, the county's general
counsel, spoke about Seeger's ideas. Shelly, however, said Decker
could not take Seeger's place because Decker was not scheduled to
speak...
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Milan places sewer service at top of
list
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
MILAN — Village officials will look at ways to get sewer service
into the South Street and Central Street area of town where building
lots are being sold on property which has no service.
A Milan woman, who did not identify herself during the board of trustees
meeting Tuesday, said she is caught between a rock and a hard spot
because there's no sewer on her lot.
She told the trustees she bought the land and is buying a doublewide
mobile home to put on the lot...
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Grants school board replaces Columbus
Day
Mary E. Davis
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Move over Columbus, Veterans Day is moving in.
The Grants/Cibola County School District amended its 2000-2001 school
calendar Tuesday night by ousting Oct. 9, 2000 the 508th anniversary
of Christopher Columbus' historic visit to the Americas and replacing
it with Nov. 10, 2000, as a holiday for school children.
The switch came when school board member Lloyd Felipe criticized Columbus
Day as not being an appropriate holiday for schools to celebrate when
30 percent of the student population are Native American...
| Top |
Native tradition stresses running
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
GALLUP — In the past, Native Americans ran as messengers, hunters
and for spiritual reasons. Some noteworthy Native American runners
are:
Early marathoner Tom Longboat belonged to the Onondaga tribe of the
Iroquois Confederacy. He grew up chasing cows and running 26 miles
between orchards where his family picked fruit and his home. He won
the Boston Marathon in 1907.
According to legend, Hopi Louis Tewanima ran 120 miles from Winslow,
Ariz., to watch trains pass by. Once at school, he missed the train
for a race but still ran the 18 miles in time to enter and win a two-mile
event. He won an Olympic silver medal in 1912 in the 10,000 meter
run...
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Park employee placed on leave
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Sammy Trujillo, who reported his supervisor to police
on Friday, was placed on administrative leave with pay by the city
of Gallup on Tuesday.
The memo from the city's personnel department said the leave was connected
to an investigation now in progress by the city into the altercation
that occurred at Red Rock State Park on Friday morning.
"I don't have any idea what this is about," Trujillo said.
"I wasn't involved in any altercation..."
| Top |
Deaths
Charles Paul Kurley
CORNFIELDS, Ariz. — Services for Charles Paul Kurley, 79, will
be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 23, at the Ganado Presbyterian
Church in Ganado, Ariz. The Rev. Paul Redhouse will officiate. Burial
will follow on the family plot at Cornfields.
Viewing will be held one hour prior to services at the Ganado Presbyterian
Church.
Kurley died March 19 at Cornfields. He was born May 23, 1920, in Ganado
into the Towering House People Clan for the Red Running into the Water
People Clan.
Kurley attended Ganado Mission and received training in plumbing after
he served in the Army in World War II. He worked for various construction
companies as a plumber and pipefitter throughout New Mexico and Arizona.
He worked for the Indian Health Service at Gallup and in Zuni and
retired to Cornfields. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars 637 and American Legion Post 82. He served on the Fort Defiance
Health Board. He was an elder of the Ganado Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Nellie T. Kurley; sons, Winfred Kurley
of Kirtland, Ed Kurley of Aurora, Colo., Stan Kurley of Zuni, and
Floyd Kurley of Farmington; daughters, Gloria Kurley and Charlene
Kurley West, both of Cornfields, Ariz. and Antoinette Begay of Farmington;
brother, Kee Paul Kurley of Thoreau; sister, Nellie Leuppe of Parker,
Ariz.; and 20 grandchildren.
Kurley was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Kurley and Yaz Bah
Brown, and sisters, Frances Yazzie and Rose McNeil.
Pallbearers will be Stanley Kurley Jr., Joseph Paul Kurley, Nicholas
Anderson, Isaiah Lionel Kurley, Jeremy Michael West and Josiah Meshan
Charles Kurley.
The family will receive friends and family after the burial services
at the Cornfields Chapter House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
S.M. Aragon
EL MORRO — Services for S.M. Aragon, 78, will be held at 11 a.m.
Thursday at the First Baptist Church on Mountain Road. Morgan Browning
will officiate. Burial will follow at the Aragon Family Cemetery at
the Back Forty in El Morro. Dedication of grave will be by Bert Chapman.
Visitation will be held two hours before services at the church.
Aragon died March 17 at the Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in
Gallup. He was born Nov. 27, 1921, in San Lorenzo.
Aragon was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He married Pauline Hudsepth
and brought his family to reside in Grants while he worked at the
Grants Beacon. He was the pastor of the First Free Will Baptist Church
on San Jose Drive in Grants.
He later left Grants to take a publication position with the News
Herald in Cleveland, Ohio. He retired in the mid-1980s and came back
to El Morro.
Survivors include his sons, Carlos J. Aragon and Kennth J. Aragon,
both of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sister, Dorothy Savedra of Aztec; eight
grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Aragon was preceded in death by his stepson, Floyd W. Sawyer; parents,
Manuel and Isabel Marez; brothers, Jose Aragon, Gilbert Aragon, Jack
Aragon, Solomon Aragon, Julio Aragon and Richard Sanchez; and sisters,
Eula Montoya and Esther Hayes Jordan.
Pallbearers will be Toby Montoya, James Montoya, Henry Aragon, Abel
Nunez, Adam Nunez, Merv Hollis, Aaron Chapman, Stewart G. Chapman,
Richard W. Hayes and David Savedra.
Corrine "Rose" Hight
SHIPROCK — Services for Corrine "Rose" Hight, 43, will
be held at 10 a.m. today, March 22, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Sister Lois Wooten and Brother Mac Coyote will officiate. Burial will
follow at the Cortez Cemetery in Cortez, Colo.
Visitation was Tuesday, March 21, at the Ertel Memorial Chapel.
Hight died March 18 in Shiprock. She was born Feb. 21, 1957, in Cortez
to Julian Root and Cybil Mae Hight.
Hight was a 1975 graduate of Rehoboth Christian High School. She attended
Eastern New Mexico State University and Fort Lewis College. Her hobbies
included sewing and doing steamstress work.
Survivors include her stepparents, Willie Light and Barbara Iyua,
both of Shiprock; brothers and sisters, Jonas Light of Towaoc, Colo.,
Elvena Light of Shiprock, Elizabeth Hobson of Farmington, Willard
Light Jr. of San Diego, Calif., Simon Light of Towaoc, Colo., Lennie
Iyua of Kirtland, Lisa Yazzie of Tuba City, Ariz., and Joyclynn Light
of Pensacola, Fla.
Earlenda G. Holtsoi
CHINLE, Ariz. — Services for Earlenda G. Holtsoi, 64 will be
held at 10 a.m. today, March 22, at the Canyon Family Church in Chinle.
Pastor Ron Rajca will offciate. Burial will be in family land in Chinle.
Holtsoi died March 18, in Chinle. She was born Sept. 22, 1936, in
Chinle into the Coyote Pass People Clan for the Bitterwater People
Clan.
Survivors include her son, Alfred Holtsoi; daughter, Elfreda Holtsoi;
and three grandchildern.
Holtsoi was preceded in death by her mother, Mae Holtsoi; brother,
Alfred C. Holtsoi; and a grandson.
Pallbears will be Jerry D. Mitchell Sr., Edward George, Ronnie Sandoval
and Joseph Klade.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Johnny Grenko Sr.
GALLUP — Services for Johnny Grenko Sr., 74, will be announced
at a later date.
Grenko died March 20 in Gallup. He was born May 16, 1925, in Alison.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements...
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