Tradition:
Come vote,
and it's 'mutton, honey'
Ernest
Nez stands near his food table Tuesday outside of the St. Michaels Chapter
House. Nez, who is running for St. Michaels Chapter President, set up
the booth to provide food to voters. (Photo by Nick Short/Independent)
By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Frybread goes hand in hand with
many things: mutton stew, winter nights, and election day.
The practice of feeding voters outside of chapter houses across the reservation
has become a candidate tradition and Tuesday's tribal primary was no exception.
Although this year's tribal elections are what some refer to as grassroots elections
chapter positions, grazing officials, and school board members it didn't stop
eager candidates from setting up tents and serving donuts and coffee for breakfast
and the all-time favorite mutton stew and frybread for lunch.
"It's a traditional thing; it goes along with the election, I guess," said
John Begay, a contender for one of Fort Defiance's grazing officer positions.
Call it anything a campaign method, tradition, socialization, and culturebut
buying votes.
"It's a more respectful way," said Elmer Milford, a former council
delegate for Fort Defiance. "It's an opposite way than (national elections)."
Instead of bashing each other, candidates feed voters.
"We show appreciation," said Ernest Nez Sr., a candidate for Saint
Michaels Chapter president. "We thank everybody as a family."
Family members of candidates usually make dough for frybread or pour coffee for
voters. Donations of soda or sweets, like candy or cookies, are given by friends
for the occasion. Voters sit down where they can find a seat, before or after
voting, and visit with people they may not have seen in months.
"It's an enjoyable thing," Nez said. "It gets back to tradition."
Since chapter houses were, at one time, the only place for miles where dances
and public meetings were held, it comes as no surprise that voters in tribal
elections take their time voting, visiting, and eating.
"It's a way to say thank you," said Bess Yellowhair-Simpson, who set
up a food stand although she is running unopposed for the Fort Defiance Agency's
election board supervisor. "It's a nice social thing." |
Wednesday
May 5, 2004
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Tradition: Come vote, and it's 'mutton,
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