ASU students fascinated by trip to Navajo Nation

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — They came, they saw, they concurred.

Students from Arizona State University's Cultural Immersion Tour visited the Navajo government Wednesday, and all agreed the trip was fascinating and eye-opening.

This is the third straight year that the ASU students have visited Navajo, said librarian Ed McKennon. Students must be recommended by a staff or faculty member, and submit a 300-word essay introducing themselves and outlining educational objectives and learning outcomes from participating in the program. The group size is limited to 10 students for more manageable interaction, said Beverly Honanie.

"Each year we learn something new," said Honanie, who is senior coordinator for ASU's Multicultural Student Services Department. Honanie is Hopi, and the students will visit with her people next. They have already visited the Zunis, she said.

Council delegate Kee Allen Begay talked about the Navajo council and answered questions from the students. Begay was a last-minute fill-in for delegate Rex Lee Jim, whose schedule prohibited him from taking part in the visit.

Begay is an old hand at this type of duty, having met with eight Wisconsin students on Tuesday. It is important for the tribe to interact with the public and get its message out, Begay explained.

As the second youngest delegate most are over 60 he said he may be more of a risk taker, Begay said. Some of the older delegates, and tribal elders, worry that if they make too many waves the federal government will come and take everything away, Begay said.

With federal recognition, an Indian tribe qualifies for federal assistance for everything from housing to education and health care. However the U.S. Congress has "plenary" power over all the nearly 600 recognized tribes and could strip any of them of recognition at any time.

This happened to several economically successful tribes in the 1950's during an era known as Termination. Losing federal aid and tax exemptions, all the tribes soon fell back into poverty and disarray.

The Navajo are proud to be citizens of their clans, their tribe, their states and their country, Begay said. He noted that of all the flags in the council chambers, the American flag flies highest. The Navajo Nation flag is displayed, as are the state flags of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

A veteran himself, he spent his tour at Alaska's Fort Richardson. Begay said the Navajos respect their veterans and hold them in high regard especially the legendary Code Talkers.

Part of the Code Talkers' success was due to the difficulty of reading Navajo, Begay said.

"I can speak Navajo, but I'm slow at reading it," Begay explained. "It is very difficult."

In chambers delegates are allowed five minutes to speak on an issue, but are allotted equal time to repeat their statements in Navajo. Begay said he always makes sure to speak Navajo so that any elders, who may be in the audience and have difficulty with English, can follow the proceedings.

One student asked if a person had to be bilingual to serve on the council?

"No, but many of the people who elect you are, and if you aren't, you might not get elected," Begay replied.

Begay told the students about the murals on the chamber's walls, how they told the story of the Navajo people. Today there are about 300,000 enrolled Navajos, with half living on the reservation, Begay said.

The ASU program is a way to promote and encourage different cultures, Honanie said.

She and McKennon said Begay's presentation was very interesting, but not everyone was enthralled.

Elizabeth Honanie, 3, soundly slept on her mother's shoulder.

"She was good on the bus ride down here," Honanie said. "But she just got tired."

As for Begay, he said he never gets tired of doing his part to work for the good of the Navajo people.

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