This article was recently published in the Navajo Times, Window Rock, AZ
As a white person who has lived on the Navajo Nation Reservation (Oak Springs and Fort Defiance) for many years, I have heard “we are a sovereign people” many times. I humbly, yet not timidly, want to make the bold, yet correct, statement that you are not sovereign; though it is my hope that you will be one day.
I came to work for the Navajo Nation in 2006, and during the course of my employment as an analyst in the Department of Education was gratified at the custom of prayer being an integral part of the workplace. Since then I have come to appreciate and love the people whom I work with, and live amongst. I want to make life better here, and the seed of what I want to make better lies in the misunderstood word, sovereign.
I recently came across an article in the Navajo Times criticizing Tsehootsooi Medical Center for not providing Deswood Johnson the health care he needs. In the article, it is stated that Deswood has a sleep apnea mouthpiece, equipment costs $500, and he is unemployed. Let’s Say Thanks has some affordable equipment which could help out if you’re struggling financially.
The simple statements in this article are the crux of the example of dependency that exists here. They are a symbol of why the Navajo Nation is not sovereign … yet.
I personally have sleep apnea, too. No one will sleep even close to me. According to my wife, even a wall is not enough separation at night from the noises I make. I also have a teenage daughter who a doctor recently said was pre-diabetic, prescribing her daily insulin shots, a son with seizures, another son who has horrible night terrors, and a wife, part Navajo, who needs $12,000 worth of dental work. As well, two out of my six children need some sort of counseling for depression or anxiety.
Given this situation, would you guess I’m taking care of my sleep apnea? Would you guess my wife is taking care of her teeth, which causes her, at times, extreme pain? If sleep apnea equipment costs $500, someone, either Deswood, or another person is going to have to struggle and sweat for this amount. If the mentality of individuals on the Navajo Nation is, “I’m entitled to this,” they believe in a concept that wasn’t true now, just as it wasn’t true a thousand years ago, before the Native Americans were repeatedly abused by plenty of folks, including our U.S. government.
This mentality is not sovereignty. And moreover, the wrongs from our U.S. government continue in that they have conditioned the Native Americans to believe that living off the sweat of those who work is some sort of retribution.
The best man at my wedding 20 years ago was a Navajo man, by the name of Steve Kinlichee. Steve couldn’t find a job on the Navajo Nation, so he went to college, took out student loans, and is now working for ABC Television in Salt Lake City. Steve didn’t buy in to the concept that living off the sweat of other people is retribution for the many wrongs committed against the Native Americans.
America’s political climate in Washington D.C., is at an all-time low. We, as humans, have progressed in so many ways–physics, technology, teaching methods, and health, but when it comes to politics we have progressed in reverse. “Independence” was the cry of yesteryear, yet “Dependence” is the cry of today.
True sovereignty is something that I passionately wish for the Navajo Nation. The Navajo people have the potential to be such great leaders, as they study correct beliefs and traditions of their past. Yet dependency was not a belief or tradition of Navajo ancestors. As Navajos display the Christian values that I believe they are destined to not only live by, but be an example of to the world, this people will come into their true identity–their true sovereignty. Cause today, this word “sovereignty” means nothing.
Kelly Gneiting Fort Defiance, Ariz.
Believing that government is not the way to help people in need does not mean you are blaming them for their problems, nor is it racist, either.
Agreed.
Government force is far different from compassion.
Kelly is also VP and chairman of Americans Elect of Arizona the only third party that is purely INDEPENDENT http://americanselectofarizona.org
Paulie pointed out what I think is racist. But I can also see that perhaps that is not his intent? But I do think the fellows attempt to paint the Navajo person who wanted his sleep apnea equipment paid for by the US government as a slacker seems off key to me. Who conquered who. And to me the native nations are still deserving of repatriations from the conquering power.
I am not a troll. I always use my real first name. It’s just that I am neither a libertarian capitalist or a paleo-rightist.
“Deranged” Yes, that never gets old. I’m old enough I lived with “Derwood” in elementary school. “Deranged” was a favorite in high school.
I regret the “weirdly” part. It’s just that his story abt the many many many traumas in his family, which he seemed to use as a reason why the Navajo person was a loser because they wanted help, and this gentleman doesn’t seem to think the government should help his own family, and thus he has the higher moral ground? It just seems to play into blaming people in need, with less, and with health problems. Wanting/needing help is not evil. Personally, I think the author of the essay deserves government help with all his family’s many many problems. In my opinion, helping people via social services is what a compassionate society does?
Yes, FYI, Kelly is our National Chairman, and also the Vice-Chair of the Americans Elect of Arizona too.
Thanks, Joshua.
Mr. Gneiting is the chairman of the Independent American Party.
Kelly: We are a Cherokee family, although my husband knows his history a whole lot beter than I do.
Joshua: I mean Mr. Gneiting. I don’t know his connection to a third party.
Jill,
The US signs the treaty, not the USA,
I suppose a broken treaty is better than decimating an entire civilization…. But the US is doing that (decimating civilizations) with everyone –including Americans– these days under the guise of globalism.
Jill Pyeatt February 18, 2014 at 4:02 am
JLMealer said: ” Most of the tribes in reservations across Arizona are without a treaty with the US Government.” Who cares, since the US doesn’t really recognize any of their treaties? Most treaties have been broken by the good ol’ US of A shortly after they’re agreed on.
He’s a leader of the IAP.
True, but that laundry list of horrors under one roof…damn!
Diagnosing a problem that is prevalent in a community doesn’t mean that all people in that community suffer from it, or that it is necessarily racial in origin. Personally I believe that it stems mainly from centuries of colonialism, conquest, imperialism and genocide.
That is indeed a prevalent problem. The sovereign Native nations should be truy sovereign (as in not under US rule) as well as made up of sovereign individuals, which I would say for all peoples everywhere.
Describing the trends he sees where he lives among Navajos as being characteristic of Navajos can be interpreted as saying that it is a characteristic inherent to all Navajos and by extension all American Indians. That would be a racist interpretation, but I don’t think that is how this was intended.
I took her to mean Kelly Gneiting.
To which guy are you referring Ms. Pyeatt?
Deran isn’t a troll, and often has a view different than many of us, but I appreciate that. I don’t happen to agree with him here,though. I think some groups have different qualities from others, although of course, not every member of the group behaves in that manner. Mr.Gneiting has lived in this culture for many years, and certainly has the right to express himself about the qualities he’s observed.
Joshua, who is this guy, and what is his connection to third parties?
JLMealer said: ” Most of the tribes in reservations across Arizona are without a treaty with the US Government.” Who cares, since the US doesn’t really recognize any of their treaties? Most treaties have been broken by the good ol’ US of A shortly after they’re agreed on.
Chad Smith, the recently replaced Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, was really outspoken about this problem of not living as a sovereign nation. Casino money isn’t given to the citizens; it is put back into the community. I haven’t been to Oklahoma since Bill John Baker has been Principal Chief, although I hear many people are unhappy with what’s going on there.
Everyone should be entitled to healthcare. Other welfare benefits could be cut as an insentive for people to work, but healthcare is a right.
Troll
This is the problem with not adhering to Graham’s Hierarchy of Disagreement. There is no need to label others as “racist,” “idiot,” or “deranged.” Nevertheless, I’m not seeing how that particular image counters Deran’s claim of racism. Logical fallacies are not confined to a single race, and one’s outward appearance does not necessarily prove or disprove one’s propensity to make certain logical fallacies.
Is it Deran or is it deranged?
What on earth did he say that was remotely, racist?
http://www.independentamericanparty.org/2011/12/who-are-politicians-who-are-patriots-by-iap-chairman-kelly-gneiting/carlkelly/
Does that look racist to you, idiot.
Kelly,
Most of the tribes in reservations across Arizona are without a treaty with the US Government. This is one other reason why and how I, as Arizona Governor, can foreclose on Federal Land and crush the I-11 Corridor (NAFTA and human trafficking highway).
So, is this weird racist a candidate or leader of the IAP in AZ?
No family is perfect; many have struggles and personal demons.
I also have a teenage daughter who a doctor recently said was pre-diabetic, prescribing her daily insulin shots, a son with seizures, another son who has horrible night terrors, and a wife, part Navajo, who needs $12,000 worth of dental work. As well, two out of my six children need some sort of counseling for depression or anxiety.
Sounds like a fun house to live in. Or maybe a funhouse to live in.
The Navajo, as well as the Cherokee & Chickasaw tribes from which I draw a portion of my heredity, not to mention all other tribes of Native Americans are not now Sovereign Nations.
They are “Subjects” of the imperial state of America.
David Terry,
“Homeland Security: Fighting terrorism since 1492”