Katie Bolf, a Gallup resident born in Croatia, works to send donated clothing and money to orphanages in Croatia.

Photo by Michael Fagens

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Gallup woman helps Croat orphanages

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Katie Bolf (see photo above) remembers the war — the burning of entire villages, the looting, the homes abandoned, the bombing of her hometown.

Her memories are of World War II, when her country sided with Germany.

But two years ago, Bolf was once again was reminded of the horrible aftermath of war. While visiting her native homeland of Croatia, Bolf said she saw communities deserted and destroyed from her countrys war with what was then Yugoslavia

Croatia succeeded in breaking away from Yugoslavia while fighting the war in 1991-92, but in the process lost a part of the country primarily occupied by Croatian Serbs. However, in 1995, in a brief resumption of the war, Croatia regained its lost territory.

Four years ago, Bolf began visiting two of the countrys orphanages -- Vrhovec in Zagreb and Brezovica 20 miles away. Vrhovec is home to 50 children, ages 7 and under, and Brezovica shelters 150 children who rang from infants to 16 year olds.

Starved for love and attention, the children would gather around Bolf wiht arms outstretched, longing to be held.

Since then, Bolf has raised money and collected clothing for the orphans.

"I did the work for the kids," she said, "and will continue to help because I was brought up in the was, and I know what it means not to have anything."

After the war, Bolf said, children were left alone by parents who either were killed or disappeared. Bolf believes there are more orphans now than before the conflict.

Looking through a photo album, Bolf points to a picture from three years ago of orphans picking out clothing donated by Wal-Mart. One of the little girls, she said, had become deaf from the sound of explosives used in the war.

As part of a food and clothing drive by North American Croatian Relief Inc., Bolf sent 180 pounds of childrens clothing to the Kansas City-based organization in September.

When the donation arrived at the end of January, the director of Brezovica, Jelena Brajsa, wrote to thank her. In her letter, Brajsa said the orphans Bolf helped have either had something happen to them in the war or suffered from illness.

The nuns at Vrhovec also wrote to thank Bolf for a $500 donation. In the letter, they tell of five children brought to the orphanage after their mother forced them to beg and steal, beating them if they did not bring anything home.

Bolf agrees there are people in Gallup who could use the help she provides overseas, but stands by her decision to help fellow Croatians. "I help the country where I was born and raised," she said. "You can't take that out of your body; you're emotionally involved in it."

Bolf said she helps with other organizations in town, such as the Sacred Heart Cathedral, but maintains that her main purpose is helping the orphans and people in Croatia.

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Peaches tells Deswood: Get out of Kayenta

Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — Daniel Peaches has decided Kayenta is not big enough for both him and Peter Deswood, executive director of the township.

While Peaches, who represents Kayenta on the Navajo Nation Council, hasn't given Deswood until sunset to get out of town, he has written a letter to Deswood saying the time has come for him to go elsewhere.

" I truly believe that you have overstayed your welcome in this community because the divisive role you played thus far is beyond your ability to amend or repair," Peaches said.

Peaches, a once-powerful figure in the tribal government during the administration of former Tribal Chairman Peter MacDonald, has been a sharp critic of Deswood, as well as other township leaders.

In a recent letter to Jerry Gilmore, chairman of the township commission, he criticized Deswood for the "high-handed" way he was running the township. "I would prefer," he said in his January letter, "someone who is more diplomatic, more sensitive to the citizens of our community."

But the letter sent to Deswood on Wednesday was the harshest one yet.

"It was my hope that with your education and experience, you (would have brought) greater progress to our community but apparently you have decided on a different path," Peaches said. "You have chosen, with or without the blessing of the township commission, to attack the integrity of the Kayenta Chapter government and its officials to the media. The chapter and township have been engaged in a number of disputes in the last three years, including one over the township boundaries. There is also a disagreement over whether the township is supposed to share its revenues with the chapter."

"I do not believe", Peaches stated in his letter to Deswood,"it is your role as executive director of the township to divide the community leadership, to say one side has the truth and the other side is wrong."

Peaches said he was not happy with statements made by Deswood to the media that "insinuated that political leaders have an agenda against the township." With these statements, Peaches said, he felt Deswood had "crossed the line of respect and dignity."

Peaches doesnt have the authority to remove Deswood. That authority rests with the townships commission.

"I hope the township commission", said Peaches, "will allow you to leave our community and we can pick up the pieces and go forward as one people again. We want progress for our community but not at the cost of our self-respect and the dignity of our people. The unity of our people should never be sacrificed in the name of progress."

George Joe, spokesman for the township, said Deswood had no comment on Peaches letter.

But he said leaders in the township were appalled and disturbed with the tone of the letter.

Deswood, who is a former director of the Navajo Nations Water Resources Division, is originally from the Lukachukai area in Arizona. He also has a home in Farmington. In addition, Deswood has worked for the Navajo Agricultural Products Industries.

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Groups challenge Crownpoint Uranium Project safety

S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer

CROWNPOINT — Two groups challenging the Crownpoint Uranium Project, a proposed reopening of uranium mines, have asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reopen the licensing hearing and consider new evidence that raises grave safety issues and poses a serious public health hazard.

Earlier this month, the Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining and the Southwest Research and Information Center filed an affidavit citing scientific studies and expert testimony from a Crownpoint family practice physician, John D. Fogarty...

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Church Groups will try to right wrongs

Nancy Watson
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — More than 25 churches and prayer groups will walk 400 miles, beginning Friday, and ask Navajos for forgiveness.

"We were inspired by the Lord to repent as Anglos for the atrocities to Navajos that occurred before, during and after the Long Walk," said Cindy Crebo of the Four Corners Prayer Center.

The Long Walk took place in 1863, when Navajos were rounded up by the U.S. Calvary and forced to march 400 miles to a prison encampment, Bosque Redondo, at Fort Sumner by the U.S. Calvary.

The purpose of the pilgrimage is to solemnly ask the Navajo people for forgiveness for the historical wrongs of the 1860s, Crebo said.

Crebo said many Native Americans also say the time has come for forgiveness.

"They see the need for their people to forgive and be free of the past", she said.

The walk will begin at 7 p.m. Friday after prayers of repentance at Fort Sumner Memorial...

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Deaths

Josephina M. Vigil

GALLUP — Services for Josephina M. Vigil, 104, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 31, at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Father Diego Mazon, O.F.M. will officiate. Burial will follow at the Sunset Memorial Park.