Lovejoy rally sways Joe

By Sararesa Begay
Diné Bureau

LUKACHAKAI — Anselm Joe, a Lukachakai chapter grazing official, told an enthusiastic crowd of Navajos during a Lynda Lovejoy-Walter Phelps election rally at the Lukachaikai Chapter House Wednesday afternoon that the day before he was undecided about whom to vote for as the next Navajo Nation President.

"I was at the Joe Shirley Jr. rally (yesterday)," Joe said. "I was undecided. After listening to (Lovejoy-Phelps') qualifications, issues and concerns, I'm voting for Lovejoy-Phelps."

Joe said that his concern is land management and water so that future Navajo generations can have usable land and water.

Phelps, Lovejoy's runningmate, talked to the cheering crowd, and emphasized that as na'taani (leaders), the land and water are to be revered, and one way to work toward land and water preservation and maintenance is to create a Navajo Nation water institute so that will benefit the Navajo people.

He discussed the Cove community where uranium contamination has polluted the land and water just like the Leupp area where Phelps is originally from.

"These are difficult issues," Phelps said. "We are here to take on these issues. We as leaders, na'taani, we have to take care of the land. My big sister, Sha'di, and I will work on that."

Other issues that Phelps talked about are the complex, cumbersome BIA policies that affect not only the Navajo people negatively, but also the Navajo children.

To find solutions, Phelps said the Lovejoy-Phelps administration will conduct town hall meetings, and search for solutions for the "difficult issues" facing the Navajo Nation.

Lovejoy echoed her sili's (little brother's) message of taking care of the natural resources bestowed to the Navajo people by their ancestors.

Lovejoy said she and her little brother, Phelps, have been traveling throughout the Navajo Nation, and she knows the Navajo cultural reverence for the water, land and one's livestock.

Lovejoy strongly emphasized that one of her campaign platform's is"restoring the people voice in government,"and said that the Navajo people's voice will be heard in Washington, D.C. if she is the next Navajo Nation president.

"Many times, our voice isn't heard. When shi sili (little brother) and I work," Lovejoy said, "your voice will be heard. Protect what is right and just for the people."

"How are we going to change the (Navajo Nation) government?" asked Theodore Allen. "Here's our chance. We'll return the government to the people, let's have freedom and liberation of the people."

Tonilisa Frank Dick, a senior elementary education major at Din College, traveled to the rally along with three of her classmates to listen to Lovejoy talk about Navajo language and cultural preservation.

Frank Dick along with Lainie Yazzie, also a senior elementary education major at Din College, said there are rumors on campus about Lovejoy not being in favor of Navajo language and culture.

"I can't disrespect (the traditional Navajo way of life)," Lovejoy said to the students outside of the Lukachakai Chapter House before her rally appearance. "Why would I disrespect the language and culture? I grew up (traditionally)."

Crownpoint resident Tommy Arviso Sr., who calls Lovejoy "shi ma yahzi," (aunt) talked to the crowd, and described Lovejoy's traditional Navajo upbringing.

"She took care of livestock and lived off the land," Arviso said.

Viola Nave-St. Clair, one of the rally organizers, said she helped her mother, Lettie, and her sister, Kay Nave-Mark, to host this rally because she is channeling her frustration and anger towards the Joe Shirley Jr. administration.

"Something has to change," Nave-St. Clair said. "How will you ever know, if you don't try."

Nave-Clair became emotional when she talked about the comment about mix-blood Navajos made by a Joe Shirley staff assistant, Clinton Jim, during a Whiterock Chapter meeting on Oct. 9.

"You don't know how hard it's been," Nave-St. Clair said as her voice caught and tears came to her eyes. "(With) all the talk of being part Navajo. Everyone should be proud of who they are."

Nave-St. Clair is Towering House clan born for Bilagaana (Non-Indian), and has Cherokee heritage from her father's family.

Jim said that "they (the Shirley Administration) are Navajo and they want to have Navajo all the way."

Several Navajo women formed the "Women Against Racism," group, and marched last Monday, Oct. 16, to the Veterans' Memorial Park after learning about Jim's comment.

The women felt the comment carried a negative connotation about Navajo people of mixed ethnic backgrounds.

Lovejoy's husband, John, is Lakota from South Dakota, and Phelps' wife, Sharon, is Potawatomi.

Sararesa Begay can be reached at venisondine@hotmail.com or by calling 505-371-5443