The First Time - A Navajo Indigenous Experience

    I still remember my first visit to New Mexico. It was an incredible place! The scenery was completely different than what we saw in Illinois—red clay, cactus, and yucca everywhere! And the 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 was encountering the Indigenous People, most of whom were Navajo or Pueblo. We first met them near the Governor’s Palace, where they sat on the sidewalk selling handmade crafts. Rugs, jewelry, sand paintings and more all displayed on woven rugs. Back then, most of the sellers spoke little English and customers paid with cash. I wanted desperately to sit down and talk with some of the vendors, to find out what their lives were like, and what their ancestors’ lives were like. But it was impossible to do that under the circumstances, so we moved on.

At the campground near Gallup, New Mexico, we encountered more Navajo. I vividly recall one man who told us that he hoped someday to come to Illinois to see cornfields because he had never seen one. This stayed with me…..Living in a land of plenty, there are so many things we take for granted.

Finally, we drove through the Navajo reservation-- the only way to reach Chaco Canyon--our final destination. That’s when the true desperation of their plight hit us. The poverty was heartbreaking! Small hogans housing 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 experience has never left me.

Nowadays the Navajo people are in somewhat better shape than they were 40 years ago, more now have running water and electricity. The tribal leaders work hard to get these utilities to the people, but it takes time and money. And there are many other tribes in this country struggling just to meet basic needs. I want to help, and that is why a portion of all royalties I receive go to charities that help the Indigenous people living in America with food, education and much more.

Ultimately, my hope is that the story of Chaco teaches the readers to better understand, respect and appreciate our Indigenous brothers and sisters and stirs in them the same passion and concern that I feel. Together, we can accomplish so much good!

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