Dilkon versus Dilcon
Chapter's correct spelling is debated

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Twas Shakespeare who poetically pondered what was in a name; the erstwhile bard determined that "a rose, by any other, should smell as sweet."

But change one letter in Dilkon and does it spell as sweet?

Is it Dilkon, or Dilcon? Do we use a 'C' or a 'K'?

Recently, Edward B. Martin, the Navajo Nation's director of court administration, presented a report to the judiciary committee relating to a new Dilcon court being planned.

"Dilkon has a 'K'," said delegate LeRoy L. Thomas.

"Is it a 'K'?" asked delegate Rex Lee Jim.

"It's a 'K'," Thomas assured the others in the room.

He should know, since Dilkon is one of the chapters he represents. The other is Teesto.

But does he represent Dilkon or Dilcon?

According to the official Web site of the Office of the Speaker, Thomas and delegate Jerry Freddie represent Teesto and Dilcon!

The speaker's office produces a wall-sized seating chart of the delegates, complete with pictures and under each name it gives chapters. And that also uses a 'C'.

The Navajo Nation's Washington D.C. office has a colored map showing the various agencies, and they spell it 'Dilkon'. Guess, we can count on Washington getting it after all, right?

Not so fast!

At the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 806 housing units standing in the Dilcon Chapter; and zilch for the Dilkon. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes Dilkon, seemingly unaware of a lurking Dilcon.

Dilcon is also mentioned in the Arizona Blue Book, and it even appears on some Din College links.

Oh, and in Winslow, you can find the Dilcon Boarding School, serving grades K to 8. So do the students from Dilkon have to be bused to Dilcon?

It's not just children that could end up confused.

If you plan to vote in Precinct 4 in Arizona's upcoming elections you best live in Dilkon. The Navajo County Recorder's Office doesn't have a Dilcon.

There is some good news. If you need help battling substance abuse, you find it in Dilkon. The same, if you hope to get an "only-interest" mortgage from the Platinum Capital Group.

Oh, what tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!

How do we know which is proper? Here's the scoop:

• Dilcon has 806 BIA houses, but not zip code; Dilkon has an official Arizona zip code, but no houses.
  
  
• The federal National Park Service recognizes the trading post John Lorenzo "Double Glasses" Hubbell opened in Dilcon around 1935; but lists nothing for Dilkon.
  
  
• The BIA operates an Indian school in Dilcon; however Arizona's Commission on Indian Affairs apparently has the same school located in Dilkon.
  
  
• The Christian Science Monitor used Dilcon; Vanderbilt University used Dilkon. One strategy for getting the correct spelling is to spell the word both ways. That's what the Farmington Daily Times has done on occasion. And ditto for The Navajo Times.

So which is it?

Stewart Byous knows.

"It's a 'K'," said the Gallup Independent copy editor.

So the Independent gets it right most of the time anyway.

All this is enough to make Shakespeare rolleth over in his grave!

So, it's Dilkon with 'K'. Now you know.

Or is that cnow?

— John Christian Hopkins can be reached at 1-505-371-5443, or by email at Hopkins1960@hotmail.com.