The First Time - A Navajo Indigenous Experience

I still remember my first visit to New Mexico. It was an incredible place!

Completely different than what I was used to, cactus thriving, yucca

everywhere! And mountains! Enormous, forbidding and welcoming all at

the same time. Such an experience!. We were a young family and were

going to be camping in our van, which we had fixed up to accommodate the

four of us. It took some time to get to Sante Fe, which was an unforgettable

experience in itself. The part that I remember best, are the times when we

encountered the Indigenous People, most of whom were Navajo or

Pueblo. First, we met them at the Governor’s Palace, where they sit on the

sidewalk selling their crafts. Rugs, jewelry, sand paintings and more all

displayed on homemade rugs. In those days, most of the sellers spoke little

English and we paid with cash. I wanted desperately to sit down and talk

with them, to find out what their lives were like, and what their ancestors’

lives were like. But it was not possible to do that under those

circumstances, so we moved on.

We encountered many Navajo at the campground where we stayed near

Gallup. I remember one man who told us that he hoped someday to come

to the Midwest to see cornfields. He had never seen one. This stayed with

me…..

And then we drove through the reservation, which is the only way to

reach Chaco Canyon, our destination. That’s when the true desperation of their plight hit us. The poverty is heartbreaking and real. I could not help but wonder why these people live in such poverty in America? It was

unbelievable! Small hogans that housed entire families, with NO running

water and NO electricity! And there were almost no gas stations or stores.

If you needed something, you had to hitch up a wagon or, if you were lucky,

fire up the truck and take the entire family on a drive that could last hours

just to get a few supplies.

This Navajo indigenous experience has never left me. It has become part of me, and I will

do whatever I can to help.

Nowadays they are in better shape than they were 40 years ago when I

first went there. But there are still many with no running water, no electric

and long drives for supplies. Jobs too are hard to find. These are good,

hard-working people who just need a break.

And there are many other tribes in this country who struggle just to meet

basic needs. I hope to be able to help more of them, but I cannot do it

alone. That is one reason this novel was written. My hope is that it touches

others and gives them the same passion that I have. Together, we can

accomplish much good!

Interested in my novel? Grab a copy here.