Elderly abuse march ignored

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

Dr. Marjorie "Grandma" Thomas pushes a wheelchair while walking with Mary Gilmore, right, Ruth Gilmore, Marybeth Sage and Leon Skyhorse-Thomas on Monday to protest the abuse of elderly people. The small group marched from the Navajo Nation fairgrounds to the office of President Joe Shirley Jr. in order to meet with him and voice their concerns over allegations of a recent incident involving the BIA, but neither Shirley nor Vice President Frank Dayish were in the office to meet with them. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

WINDOW ROCK — Allegations of abuse against an 84-year-old Navajo woman spurred "Grandma" Thomas into action once again Monday.

Dr. Marjorie W. Thomas organized a last-minute protest that began at the fairgrounds in St. Michaels and proceeded to the executive offices of the Navajo Nation. The protest march was prompted by reports of Hopi police officers abusing Rena Babbitt Lane of Black Mesa.

Thomas was angered by the alleged treatment of Lane and the lack of a response from the Nation's leaders.

"I'm really concerned about the elder abuse, and no one is saying anything," Thomas said. If the leaders won't speak up, then she will, Thomas said. She will make sure the elders know that she cares about them, she said.

Her concerns that the administration is turning a deaf ear to elder issues was highlighted as she entered the administrative offices only one of the double doors was unlocked and it required an extra effort for Thomas to get her wheelchair into the building.

Then there was no one there to meet with Thomas and the small group of marchers.

"I made a courtesy call to let them know we were coming," Thomas said. But she received the same answer as she asked if she could speak with President Joe Shirley Jr., Vice President Frank Dayish or Shirley's Chief of Staff Patrick Sandoval: they're not in. "Come on, you people, who works here?"

"President Shirley is Grandma's neighbor," said Leon Skyhorse-Thomas, "Grandma" Thomas's son and one of the marchers.

"I'm his nal," Grandma added. "He doesn't want to see his nal that's why he took off. His nal has a big mouth."

Clinton Jim, an assistant to the president, came to the outer office and sat with the protestors and discussed their complaints.

"Something in my mind says something bad but we're here on a peaceful walk," Thomas said. She wondered why Navajo officials have made no statements regarding the Lane situation.

"I want the president to say something. Why doesn't he wake up?" Thomas wondered. "We need help, I need help. The youth and the elders need help." She recalled another march to support the elders in Chinle, and only Dayish showed up on behalf of the administration.

"I'll be reading the papers and if I don't see anything happening, I'll walk again," Thomas said.

The president's office is receiving reports on the matter, Jim said; however, the president in the interest of government to government relations must move cautiously, he added.

"We can't go on hearsay," Jim said.

The people want to know that somethng is being done, Thomas said. She's willing to speak up for them, she added.

"I'm a very open person, I say what I want to say," Thomas said. "I know there are other people out there (being abused) and I have to say something."

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at hopkins1960@hotmail.com or by calling 505-371-5443.