At The Power Place On Navajo Land (And Other Thoughts)

Somewhere on the highway between Tuba City and Kayenta you will see a sign announcing “The Power Place” (or ex-place, now?), a Christian outreach center on the reservation. Personally, I find proselytizing to be offensive, belittling to the culture being “taught”, and I think it smacks of hubris (“I have the truth and I am here to give it to you.”).

Let folks make their own way in life, I say. Let them have and maintain their own traditions.

If you really want to sell a point of view to someone, use attraction, not promotion.

All this IMHO, of course.

Abandoned. Navajo Nation, Arizona, 2016

Diné (as painted on the above ruined building) is what the Navajos will call themselves, meaning “the people” or “the Navajo people”. The Navajo Nation certainly has a proud history–who hasn’t heard of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II? Or, how about the war chief Manuelito?

In the first example, I cite a group that fought for the dominant white culture. In the second, someone who led the Navajo Nation against the oppression of the U.S. government (until that was no longer a viable option, anyway).

I find it interesting that we (as in the dominant culture) tend to celebrate the Native Americans who worked with us and signed peace treaties with us, and adopted our culture (Pocahontas, Sacajawea, anyone?)…while, at the same time, largely ignoring those Native Americans who fought valiantly to defend their own culture and people. Ethnocentrism at its best, dontcha know, and to the victor go the history books.

Today, the Navajo Nation is the richest (not counting casino earnings) and most populous of the native tribes in the U.S. as well as owning the largest physical land area–over 27,000 square miles (larger than West Virginia!). Still, something like 40% of the tribe has no running water. Alcoholism takes its toll as individuals search for an identity that walks the painful, jagged line between Diné traditions and the economic and social demands of the outside, off-res, culture. Obesity and diabetes are manifest now that high-caloric fast food is readily available.

Yes, Navajo Land is a place of great beauty, but also of great contradictions…a land of great pride and of high hopes–but, unfortunately, it is also a cauldron for an unfortunate stew of problems (as are many of our reservations in the West).

On a more positive note, below is yet another example of Jetsonorama’s huge installation art posters. Depicted are Mae Jean Begay (struggling with a mobile phone) and Mary Reese, daughter and mother, respectively: