Clinton promises technology
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — President Clinton flooded an enthusiastic crowd with
promises of a technological revolution for the Navajo Nation in his
speech Monday at Shiprock.
"I am here because I believe the new technologies like the Internet
and wireless communications can have an enormous positive impact in
the Navajo Nation," the president said. "They can help you
to leap-frog over some of the biggest hurdles to develop your economic
and human potential."
On a land where 77 percent of the homes have no telephones, accessing
the Internet can be difficult, if not impossible.
Clinton said to ameliorate this problem, the Federal Communications
Commission may provide phone service to people on the reservation
for as little as $1 per month. The program would be an extension of
the Lifeline program, which provides discounts on phone bills to low-income
families.
Clinton introduced himself in the traditional Navajo way. He said,
"Yah ta hey," and gave his name and his "clan's"
name the Irish.
Spectators, who were hot and tired after standing under the sun for
several hours, whistled, clapped and cheered as Clinton listed the
technological accomplishments and goals of the reservation.
Clinton introduced his topic, the "digital divide," by talking
about the Navajo Code Talkers who used the Navajo language to send
encoded messages during World War II.
The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to technology
and those who don't.
"It is fitting that we begin this day by recalling their achievements,"
Clinton said of the code talkers. "After all, there are few people
in America who better embody the power of communication.
"But there is a cruel irony here. For more than 50 years after
the code talkers were able to communicate with one another, over great
distances in the Pacific, it is still hard to communicate between
many parts of the Navajo Nation itself."
The Internet is available on parts of the Navajo Nation already, Clinton
said.
In Shiprock, the PowerUP partnership has brought the Internet to the
Boys and Girls Club. Rural health clinics on the western reservation
are linked to medical specialists at the University of Arizona, Clinton
said.
People need to continue their efforts to bring advanced technologies
to the reservation to further economic development here, he added.
"Almost 30 years ago ... I first drove across New Mexico,"
Clinton said. "I had my first opportunity to buy for my mother
and the girlfriend who became my wife some beautiful Navajo jewelry.
"Now, just imagine if all the remarkable silversmiths and weavers
of the Navajo Nation could sell their work not only in local markets,
but in national and global markets as well."
Clinton said his budget will give $2 billion in tax incentives to
private companies to donate computers and sponsor technology centers
and training classes.
Several private companies have already donated to the Navajo Nation.
Microsoft has given $2.75 million in computers and software to Navajo
chapter houses.
But shipping in equipment to the reservation and getting schools and
hospitals set up with the Internet may not close the digital divide.
Myra Jodi, a 13-year-old from Ganado, spoke to the audience before
Clinton. Myra had recently won a computer from a contest on the Internet,
which she logged onto from a computer at her school. Unfortunately,
Myra did not have a telephone line at home so that she could access
the Internet there.
Clinton said people must be given basic amenities like telephone lines
before they can take advantage of the Internet.
Therefore, FCC Chairman William Kennard is proposing to get phone
service to all Native American homes for as little as $1 per month,
Clinton said.
No phone lines go out to Rovina McRoy's home in Sweet Water, Ariz.
McRoy drove 20 miles Monday morning to see Clinton and said she was
happy to hear she may soon have inexpensive phone service.
Susie Nelson from Shonto, Ariz., said she has phone service, electricity
and running water, but she can't afford to buy a computer. She said
she was glad Clinton talked about economic development on the reservation.
Clinton said he wants to encourage private companies to invest and
bring jobs to Native American reservations.
"I want Americans to look first to people here at home, who need
work and education, who need technology and opportunity," he
said.
Clinton is the first president to officially visit the reservation.
Monday was also Navajo Sovereignty Day.
"Though many of your ancestors gave up fighting and gave up land
and water and mineral rights in exchange for peace, security, health
care and education," Clinton said, "the federal government
did not live up to its end of the deal."
He ended his speech by saying: "We have never had a better chance
to build the right kind of relationship. We have never had a better
chance to build new connections between people, between cultures,
between nations."
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Voter sign up exceeds 100,000
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — More than 100,000 Navajos on the reservation have
registered to vote, according to Carol Perry, the new director of
the Navajo Election Administration.
The new total is 102,417. This marks the second time in the past 10
years that voter registration for the tribe has passed 100,000.
The first time occurred eight years ago, just before the tribal election
office had its first purge of voters.
Navajo voters will go to the polls on May 2 for a primary for hundreds
of chapter, school board and grazing positions. They will also be
voting on the size of the Navajo Nation Council.
To try to increase the turnout, the election office will meet with
state voting officials from Arizona, New Mexico and Utah Wednesday
morning.
"We've met with three registrars already, and they have great
ideas," Perry said. "They all do some different things.
We're all dealing with the same obstacles, poor road conditions and
not enough money for rides to the polls and so on. That can change."
While she hopes older voters those over age 40 will continue their
traditional high participation in tribal elections, Perry said, the
administration needs to reach younger voters.
"We now have a very large youth population, and we really want
them to participate," she said. "Then the government will
really be the voice of the people."
Perry recalled as a girl of about 10, seeing the determination and
disappointment of her father, one of the few people with an education
in her chapter, taking and failing the Arizona test, so "he was
not able to vote," she said. "By the 1970s, things changed
with the passage of the Voting Rights Act."
But Navajos have "internalized that oppression now that external
forces are no longer allowed to do that," she said.
The new total, from the close of registration on Feb. 24, was reported
to the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors at its meeting last week
as part of the tribal requirements to determine the limitation of
campaign spending by candidates in the May 2 primary and Aug. 2 general
elections.
Under the election code, candidates can legally spend up to $1.50
per registered voter within each affected election precinct (normally
a chapter).
The board also will ask the council for an extra $267,963 to pay for
the referendum on the tribal council size and postponed until its
April 27 meeting extending the filing deadline for farm board posts
in the Many Farms and Kayenta chapters.
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Students share their dream of Internet
access
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
SHIPROCK — During a conversation with students from Lake Valley
School in Shiprock, President Clinton emphasized the dream of higher
technology and phone service for the Navajo reservation.
The meeting at Diné College was televised via a webcast within
the school to the White House press traveling with the president.
"The whole point of this effort is to tell people that the children
of Native America are intelligent and they deserve world-class opportunities.
And the adults are able and deserve a chance to make a living,"
he said to the crowd.
Unlike his formal speech, Clinton seemed to relax and enjoy his hour-long
conversation with the children, making them laugh and then asking
them for questions. One youngster asked Clinton about the lack of
911 services. "People die because police get their information
late," the student said. "If they had Internet, they could
communicate with other police departments better."
Clinton told the youngster, "I'm going to see whether we can
do anything to accelerate Internet access, especially police departments.
But I think we ought to have it in many homes as soon as possible.
So we have to get telephone service out to everybody. And then we
need to get the Internet connections."
Another student asked Clinton what interests him about the Navajo
Nation. "Oh, many things. I'm interested in the history, in the
culture and the creative arts," he said. "And I'm interested
in the commitment I see from your leaders and your citizens and your
young people to education and to using all this modern technology
to try to give Navajo people, especially Navajo young people, the
chance to fulfill their abilities and live out their dreams without
having to give up their culture, their language and their heritage."
Clinton turned the tables and asked the children to answer a question
for him. "If you could change anything about your education and
could get any improvement you wanted, what would you do? What change
would you make, if you could?"
Students answered: "Better schools and more equipment and Internet
access in the schools."
"Internet access to all schools, that's good," Clinton said.
"Right now, over 90 percent of America's schools have Internet
access. And what we're trying to do is to make sure that 100 percent
do, including all of the Native American schools in the country. And
we have gotten the cost down low enough so that everyone can afford
it now. So all schools should be able to get access within a year
or so. We should be almost 100 percent of the schools.
"The more we can make access to this technology universal, the
more we will be able to make equal educational opportunities universal,"
he said. "And then, from there, we will be able to move on to
making people's economic opportunity more universal. That's my goal."
"Why are the computers important to the reservation?" One
student wanted to know. One of the reasons Clinton cited had to with
economic development.
"Computers are important because they can enable people in the
Navajo Nation to start jobs and create businesses and earn incomes
in a way that wouldn't be possible," he said. Through a website,
he claimed, "anybody anywhere in America or anywhere else in
the world that's on the Internet can be your customer."
One student was concerned about the future of the "digital divide"
project and the education of Indians after the November election.
"We have supported very strongly a tribal sovereignty relationship
that would honor the principle of tribal sovereignty, increase the
U.S. government's investment in education and health care," Clinton
said, "but would basically be committed to empowering tribal
leaders and Native American people all over our country to lift themselves
up through economic and educational initiatives.
"And the reason I've spent so much time for over seven years
now trying to get this relationship right is because I would like
it if my policy became America's policy and that every leader without
regard to party would follow the same path. That's what's best for
you and what's best for us."
Clinton also reminded the group about an earlier announcement, providing
basic phone service to every household on the reservation for no more
than a dollar a month.
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Clinton gets his wish, meets with code
talkers
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
FARMINGTON — President Clinton told Navajo Nation President Kelsey
Begaye last week that he wanted to do two things when he came to the
Navajo Reservation to meet some Navajo Code Talkers and to talk to
Navajo pro golfer Notah Begay.
He got one of his wishes.
"The visit was an eye-opener for him," Begaye said Monday
shortly after Clinton departed the San Juan Regional Airport on a
plane for an overnight stay in Albuquerque.
Clinton got to meet Navajo Code Talkers, but Notah Begay was a no-show,
saying he had a scheduling conflict. The golfer also declined Clinton's
invitation last year to visit the White House.
Begaye dined with Clinton along with some 30 other people last Thursday
at the Phoenix Hotel in Washington, D.C. While others were at the
dinner because they had made large contributions to the Democratic
Party, aides to Begaye said he was there as Clinton's guest.
At that dinner, Clinton gave Begaye his wish list for his visit to
the reservation.
"I told Clinton at the dinner that I was there to check up on
his Navajo," Begaye said.
Begaye's office had sent a tape to the White House giving at Clinton's
request a short introduction in Navajo that the U.S. president could
make at the beginning of his speech.
The consensus after Clinton spoke was that he did a fairly good job
it got a fair number of chuckles from Navajo-speaking listeners but
it was evident that someone along the way had provided him with a
phonetic version of the Navajo words.
Begaye had turned up at the Farmington airport, expecting
to fly to Shiprock with Clinton so that the Navajo president would
be able to point out some of the highlights on the way. But Begaye
found himself in another helicopter.
After Clinton had left Farmington for Albuquerque, Begaye said he
had gotten some quality time about 45 minutes with Clinton while he
was in Shiprock.
Although Begaye had a number of items he wanted to bring up including
a plea for clemency for former-Navajo Chairman Peter MacDonald Begaye
said the conversation between the two leaders dealt mostly with technology
and other areas that were an outgrowth of Clinton's Shiprock speech.
"I'm pretty confident that Clinton has a better understanding
of the reservation after this visit," Begaye said, pointing out
that aides in his office had "made it a point to share information
with Clinton's staff" before the visit to help Clinton better
understand some of the conditions on the reservation.
Begaye said he was also "proud" of the efforts of Shiprock
residents in putting the event together. But tribal officials admitted
this visit would have been more meaningful if it had occurred during
the first year of the Clinton administration instead of the last,
when Clinton's ability to shape government policy is waning.
Monday's event marked the fifth time Begaye has seen Clinton since
Begaye took office in January 1999. Begaye has talked to Vice President
Al Gore twice, but both times occurred when Begaye was speaker of
the Navajo Nation Council.
He has not spoken to Gore's opponent for the presidency, Texas Gov.
George W. Bush, a Republican, but Begaye did send Bush a strong letter
several months ago when the governor said he thought state governments
had authority over tribal governments
Although Begaye said he pointed out the error of this belief in his
letter, "I never received a reply back."
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Clinton wows 'em in Shiprock
Fans wait hours for a glimpse
Nancy Watson
Diné Bureau
SHIPROCK — For many of the Navajos who traveled to Shiprock Monday
to see President Clinton, it was a time of waiting.
Some waited for five hours in the hot sun. Others watched as their
children got sick from the heat. Still others fell asleep.
When the gates opened, many of the Navajos filed in, only to find
that, for them, there was standing room only and it was at least 50
yards from the stage...
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Bengals pounded by Vikings
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
GALLUP — The Gallup Bengals found out that the Valley Vikings
are as good as they were said to be.
The Vikings routed the Bengals 10-0 and 18-4 to sweep the District
1AAAA contest Monday afternoon at Gallup High School, dropping the
Bengals to 4-2 in district.
"I knew they were good," Gallup head coach Wes Shank said
of the Vikings. "I knew they were fast, I knew they could hit
the ball and I knew they could play some defense..."
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Mental illness focus of seminar
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
MILAN — So many people young and old, male and female, with mental
diseases or behavior disorders have screamed out for help, but those
screams often fell on deaf ears.
Judges, attorneys, family members, law officers and medical personnel
have heard those cries during the ordinary course of their days, but
the people crying out might as well have been speaking a foreign language.
It is not that the people hearing the cries did not care. They simply
did not understand...
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Stabbing victim living in fear
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A Tse Bonito woman who had a knife plunged into her
head told a McKinley County jury that she no longer feels safe in
the home she has lived in for the past 20 years and is "afraid
of her shadow."
The victim, Barbara Bald, 59, who miraculously survived the Aug. 11,
1998, attack, was the first witness in the trial Monday of a Mississippi
man accused of attempting to kill her.
Lopez-Rael said people who have battled behavioral disorders and mental
illness often make excellent treatment guardians...
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Guliford looks in top form
Gallup sophomore wins three races; Aretino also first
Marilyn Sepulveda Invitational
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE - With her fainting spells hopefully a thing of the past,
Gallup High sophomore Felicia Guliford was in championship form Monday
afternoon during the prestigious Marilyn Sepulveda Invitational at
the UNM Track and Field Stadium.
Guliford grabbed three firsts that included a new meet record in the
800 meters during the invitation-only for the top boys and girls athletes
in the state. The Bengal sophomore cruised to impressive wins in the
800, 1600 and 3200 to reaffirm her status as the state's top female
long distance runner...
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Non-Navajos fail to see president
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
FARMINGTON — Although thousands of Navajos had a chance to see
President Clinton up close and in person when he visited Shiprock
Monday, a hundred non-Navajos who waited for him at the San Juan Regional
Airport here weren't so fortunate.
The airport was under tight security most of the day, with only reporters
and photographers allowed on a grassy strip alongside the runway,
where they saw Clinton disembark from a plane and walk some 100 feet
to a waiting military helicopter...
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Deaths
Leon B. Anderson
ST. MICHAELS — Funeral Mass for Leon B. Anderson, 80, will be
held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, at the St. Michaels Parish. Father
Meldon will officiate. Burial will be in St. Michaels Community Cemetery.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today, April 18, at St. Michaels
Parish.
Anderson died April 17 in Fort Defiance, Ariz. He was born June 18,
1919, in Red Lake, Ariz., for the Big Water People Clan into the Salt
People Clan.
Anderson was retired from the Santa Fe Railroad in 1976. He was a
member of the Native American Church, and enjoyed hunting and participating
in sweat lodge ceremonies.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth N. Anderson of Hunters Point,
Ariz.; sons, Harry Anderson, Gary Anderson and Leonard Anderson, all
of St. Michaels; daughters, Mary E. Long of Fort Defiance, Ariz.,
and Linda Bordy of Gallup; sisters, Dora Miles of Fort Defiance, Ariz.,
and Eleanor Kanesta of Albuquerque; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Anderson was preceded in death by Henry and Martha Belone, and sons,
Richard, Virgil and Joseph Anderson.
Pallbearers will be Harry Anderson, Leonard Anderson, Michael Anderson,
Anderson Long, Ralph Fulgham and Travis Lee.
The family will meet at 3 p.m. today, April 18, at the Fulgham residence
in Hunters Point, Ariz.
Cope Memorial Chapel of Gallup is in charge of arrangements.
Dolores J. Sanchez
GALLUP — Funeral services for Dolores J. Sanchez, 72, will be
held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in
Gallup. Father Jim Walker will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset
Memorial Park in Gallup. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. tonight,
April 18.
Sanchez died April 15 in Gallup. She was born Nov. 25, 1927, in St.
Johns, Ariz.
Survivors include her husband, Lorenzo J. Sanchez of Gallup; daughters,
Gloria S. Garcia and Dolores Parra, both of Gallup; son, Daniel J.
Sanchez of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Sanchez was preceded in death by father, Guillermo Jaramillo; mother,
Deluvina Jaramillo; sister, Jenny Baca; and brother Epifanio Jaramillo.
Pallbearers will be Lawrence Andrade, Paul Andrade, Frank Baca, George
Gabaldon, Sean Roybal and Ruben Sanchez.
Rollie Mortuary of Gallup is in charge of arrangements.
Ellsworth Zimmerman
ALBUQUERQUE — Funeral services for Ellsworth "Zim"
Willard Zimmerman, 91, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 19,
at the French Mortuary Wyoming Blvd. Chapel in Albuquerque. Charles
Crutchfield will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park
in Albuquerque.
Zimmerman died April 15 in Albuquerque. He was born Nov. 11, 1908,
in Waldron, Mich.
Zimmerman attended school in Waldron and business college in Fort
Wayne, Ind. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. In 1946,
he purchased the Popular Dry Goods, which later became Zimmerman's.
Zimmerman served as president of Gallup Rotary Club and the Gallup
Chamber of Commerce. He was active on the Board of Directors of the
Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial for many years. He was a member of
the Ballut Abyad Temple and supported the Shriner's Children's Project.
He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, and spending time with family
and friends. He enjoyed playing the trombone, piano and organ.
Survivors include his son, Roger Zimmerman of Albuquerque; two grandsons,
and two great-grandchildren.
Zimmerman was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Kelley Zimmerman;
brothers, Orville and Oakley; and sister, Marie.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Zimmerman, Arnold Hudgeons, Jay Christensen,
Jerry Hall, Roger Cox, and Paul McCollum.
Donations can be made to Futures for Children at 9600 Tennyson NE,
Albuquerque, NM 87122.
Gayle F. Landers
RIO RANCHO — Memorial services for Gayle F. Landers, 51, will
be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at Paradise Hills United Methodist
Church in Albuquerque. Pastor David Snyman will officiate. Burial
will be in Vista Verde Cemetery in Rio Rancho.
Landers died April 14 in Rio Rancho. She was born Dec. 12, 1948, in
Gallup.
Landers was a member of Paradise Hills United Methodist Church, and
taught Bible study classes. She enjoyed sewing and fishing.
Survivors include her husband, Cliff Landers of Rio Rancho; daughter,
Denise Bernsen of Albuquerque; son, Curtis Landers of Rio Rancho;
parents, Gordan and Clela Crawford of Bullhead City Ariz.; and brother,
Dale Crawford of Mohave Valley, Ariz.
Donations can be made to the Paradise Hills United Methodist Church.
Quentin Newsom
GALLUP — Services for Quentin Newsom, 38, are pending.
Newsom was died April 16 in Albuquerque. He was born June 16, 1961,
in Bismark, N.D.
Cope Memorial Chapel of Gallup is in charge of arrangements.
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