Persuasive Language
Persuasive Language What is language? What does it mean to people? Language is sacred to the Navajo people. Throughout Navajo history there are articles and statements that many of the youth don’t know the Navajo language because of the past history. It has not been a major issue in the Navajo Nations eye’s until the recent Presidential candidate, Chris Deschene was denied to run for Navajo Nation President because he could not speak Navajo fluently. Today majority of the Navajo people are not able to speak Navajo, let alone read and/or write it. Have education and economic status become more important than one’s native tongue? It seems like that is the status on the Navajo Nation. The Navajo language is a valuable tool that is needed
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to be carried out through time for our future generations to come. Many Navajo generations have been influenced by western society through the years, by leaving the reservation to obtain a degree; the people are leaving behind valuable knowledge and beliefs that saved the Navajos from their horrible past to receive a higher education. Western Society’s plan for the Navajos to be civilized has engulfed the Navajo Nation by storm. It is the year 2014 and the Navajo Nation is still here in America, supposedly was not part of western society’s genocide plan for the Navajos. Are the Navajos suffering still from past events that happened in the 1920’s, because they were forced to be “civilized”? When western civilization came to the Navajo Nation, they were trying to cripple the Navajos. Evangline Parsons-Yazzie, a professor at Northern Arizona University stated, “That the Navajo language has been declared an endangered language, which means that the children are no longer speaking the language. I think Chris Deschene represents many of those young people who speak very little but understand quite a bit, not necessarily is one of them. The people that have brought this dispute against him have shut out all other young Navajos who would have liked to have him represent their people” (Teng). I do have to agree with this statement because almost half of the Navajo Nation is unable to speak Navajo; western society crippled the Navajo Nation by setting up language barriers. “John Collier was the Commissionaire of Indian Affairs in 1933 he established the Indian Reorganization Act passed by Congress simply said: to give back religion to the Navajos, give back the language, land, culture and funding for education and entrepreneurship” (Chicag). Since this act was passed the Navajo people were supposed to be allowed their “freedom” back. “About 5,000 Navajos were not in school due to the lack of available facilities. It was not until the 1960’s that bilingual education was coming back to the reservation” (Acrey). Bilingual education was to be taught back to the Navajos but it was never enforced. The struggle of keeping the Navajo culture alive when our Navajo elders were forced to learn the white man’s way from 1846 to now is one of the barrier reasons that is used today for the Navajos losing their language. Today many Navajo youth are encouraged to get a higher education for themselves and their people. The youth are pushed to learn the White Man’s education to become successful in today’s society. A lot of youth have this in mind when venturing out into the pool of Universities and Colleges that are available to them to achieve Chief Manuelito’s, “Climbing the Ladder” dream. Like young college, student Heiliry Benally who stated, “Parents put children in school that don’t acknowledge Navajo culture, and most parents don’t understand the Navajo culture, parents are not teaching their kids that (Navajo language).” They sacrifice time away from the Navajo culture and language to become successful for themselves and their people. Knowing that they are sacrificing important culture/language inheritance from their daily lives with their families, they come back to the Navajo Nation joyful that they are going to be employed with the Navajo Nation. When the educated Navajos return to the reservation there is a lack of jobs available and the ones that are available may require knowing how to speak the Navajo language. According to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy-Navajo Nation 2009-2010 Report there were a total of 26,306 Navajos employed, with 4,584 of non-Navajos working for the Navajo Nation. About 50% of people on the Navajo Nation are unemployed. With the Navajo Nation having over 800 employers on the Navajo Nation we are still having at least half of the total population not employed (Begay). When the youth come back from college with a degree, they apply for employment and many of them are denied. As elder Bonnie Yazzie stated, “No I have not been denied a job with Navajo Nation because I speak Navajo, but my son has with Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency. His job required translation at local chapter house meetings. So he decided to go back to school to get higher level of employment that doesn’t work with locals.” According to Allen Begay, the number of students enrolled at college level on the Navajo Nation is 14.70%. The percentage of high school graduates or higher is at 63.50% and the percent with a Bachelor’s degree or higher is at 8.60% on the Navajo Nation. Bonnie Yazzie’s son has a higher education and tried to apply with Navajo Nation but was denied because he is over qualified; it was over a year ago. Now he works off the Navajo Nation. Not to mention Mr. Chris Deschene who was denied employment with the Navajo Nation as President, he is a well-educated, high-ranking military man, but yet he was denied. In the Navajo Times, there is an article regarding the same situation for Danielle Lunch, she states that she has been advised to “leave the reservation, get your degree, and bring that back to help the reservation.” She stated, “It is sad to see such qualified individuals be told that they are not qualified…” Many educated youth get their higher education can’t find employment on the Navajo Nation, so they are forced to find employment off the Navajo Nation. With this dilemma, the youth are sent out for a higher education and the history of the Navajo, people is being forgotten. The youth are discouraged to speak Navajo let alone write it and it takes practice to learn. Mr. Goossen clearly stated, “Until a person has learned a fairly large vocabulary, he does not always use the “best” words for every environment” and, “to laugh with the new learner to encourage them and be patient to direct them with the correct knowledge to speak the language, and that elders are the best teachers because most of them are patient and understanding with a beginner in the Navajo language.” Learning the history of the Navajo people is very important because if you don’t know where you come from then you don’t know who you are as a Navajo. The history of the Navajo People is circled by the language. The language is sacred and many Navajos were punished for speaking their native tongue. A statement made by a middle age college student, Candice Craig, “Navajo is more than just a language, it tells you who the person is, where they are from (dialect) and has their history carried through them with language.” The Navajo language has a holiness that connects the people to their gods. It connects the people with their songs, prayers, stories, ceremonies and teachings. Lupita Chicag said it very clear, “the deities passed the songs and prayers in Navajo, not English. If we were to lose it, we will be a thing of the past, like the Aztecs or Romans. The language is the only reason why we are well structured and established because of our songs and prayers. The day we lose our language, were done. Keeping the language will keep us protected. The songs and prayers in Navajo are made for continuance saying them in Navajo is most important.” It is very important to the Navajos compared to the past. At a time when the Navajos’ were being forced to get a White Man’s education, the philosophy of Captain Pratt who stated; “To civilize the Indian, put him in the midst civilization. To keep him civilized, keep him there.” The Navajo Nation is still in the midst of civilization and it’s costing the Navajo way of life. According to Acrey he states, “A new program was started on the reservation during the early war years to introduce Navajo as a written language to the People. Some controversy arose because of those who felt that learning English was more important to Navajo progress than learning to read or write the Navajo Language.” The Navajo people have been drilled that their language is no good, to forget it and “catch” up with society. Some of the people who were sent out of state to boarding schools saw a different path, which required no Navajo language only English to be successful. Now that’s all everyone teaches because we want what the white man wants. Was the Navajo language a target from the beginning when we first encountered western society? During that time many Navajos agreed that the government wanted to take the Navajo language. Mitchel Blackhorse said, “They wanted us to be like them [Anglo] blue eyes, skin white, and want you to think like them. Navajo can’t change. We try but I don’t think speaking English changes our views and don’t change us, were that same Navajo and we are going to die Navajo whether were white or not.” Navajo were forced to forget the Navajo language and throughout history the language still was utilized. Now we have all the freedom to speak, say and do whatever we want compared to back then, but yet majority of the Navajo Nation is unable to speak Navajo. The Navajo Language has not only influenced the Navajo Nation, but it has helped the United States win World War II.
A lot of changes were made after WWII because of the Code Talkers; even today it is not forgotten by the Federal Government and the Navajo people. A lot of the Navajo men signed up for the war. “About 80% of Navajos were drafted for the army and most were rejected because of their inability to read/write in English. This brought about an increase in demand for more schools for Navajos” (Acrey).The Navajo language has been tested several times throughout history from our enemies. The Navajo Code Talkers were the main men behind the scenes that learned to translate information within a code of a code. For example, “Navy” was the message so the code used [tsah (Needle), wol-la-chee (Ant), ah-keh-di-glini (Victor), tsah-ah-dzoh (Yucca).] Using the first letter of the translation word, then combined together to get the message. Many other Navajo words were used to describe military objects such as “besh-lo” (iron fish) which meant “submarine”. The Navajo Code Talkers kept the code a secret until Sept. 17, 1992 when they were finally recognized at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. (Naval History & Heritage). Many of the interviews I conducted all mention the highly respect for the Navajo Code Talkers mentioning that Navajo language is powerful, there is no other language like Navajo. Even though the United States abused the Navajos and tried to dehumanize them, they still fought for their land. With this valor history of the Navajo language, it is needed to be kept and passed on for the future generations. It was also mentioned by Mitchell Blackhorse that if we were to be involved in another war that needed the Navajo Language, then it could be done because a lot of the available translation and “software” is not complete. We are still capable of using other words that are not
shared.
to be carried out through time for our future generations to come. Many Navajo generations have been influenced by western society through the years, by leaving the reservation to obtain a degree; the people are leaving behind valuable knowledge and beliefs that saved the Navajos from their horrible past to receive a higher education. Western Society’s plan for the Navajos to be civilized has engulfed the Navajo Nation by storm. It is the year 2014 and the Navajo Nation is still here in America, supposedly was not part of western society’s genocide plan for the Navajos. Are the Navajos suffering still from past events that happened in the 1920’s, because they were forced to be “civilized”? When western civilization came to the Navajo Nation, they were trying to cripple the Navajos. Evangline Parsons-Yazzie, a professor at Northern Arizona University stated, “That the Navajo language has been declared an endangered language, which means that the children are no longer speaking the language. I think Chris Deschene represents many of those young people who speak very little but understand quite a bit, not necessarily is one of them. The people that have brought this dispute against him have shut out all other young Navajos who would have liked to have him represent their people” (Teng). I do have to agree with this statement because almost half of the Navajo Nation is unable to speak Navajo; western society crippled the Navajo Nation by setting up language barriers. “John Collier was the Commissionaire of Indian Affairs in 1933 he established the Indian Reorganization Act passed by Congress simply said: to give back religion to the Navajos, give back the language, land, culture and funding for education and entrepreneurship” (Chicag). Since this act was passed the Navajo people were supposed to be allowed their “freedom” back. “About 5,000 Navajos were not in school due to the lack of available facilities. It was not until the 1960’s that bilingual education was coming back to the reservation” (Acrey). Bilingual education was to be taught back to the Navajos but it was never enforced. The struggle of keeping the Navajo culture alive when our Navajo elders were forced to learn the white man’s way from 1846 to now is one of the barrier reasons that is used today for the Navajos losing their language. Today many Navajo youth are encouraged to get a higher education for themselves and their people. The youth are pushed to learn the White Man’s education to become successful in today’s society. A lot of youth have this in mind when venturing out into the pool of Universities and Colleges that are available to them to achieve Chief Manuelito’s, “Climbing the Ladder” dream. Like young college, student Heiliry Benally who stated, “Parents put children in school that don’t acknowledge Navajo culture, and most parents don’t understand the Navajo culture, parents are not teaching their kids that (Navajo language).” They sacrifice time away from the Navajo culture and language to become successful for themselves and their people. Knowing that they are sacrificing important culture/language inheritance from their daily lives with their families, they come back to the Navajo Nation joyful that they are going to be employed with the Navajo Nation. When the educated Navajos return to the reservation there is a lack of jobs available and the ones that are available may require knowing how to speak the Navajo language. According to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy-Navajo Nation 2009-2010 Report there were a total of 26,306 Navajos employed, with 4,584 of non-Navajos working for the Navajo Nation. About 50% of people on the Navajo Nation are unemployed. With the Navajo Nation having over 800 employers on the Navajo Nation we are still having at least half of the total population not employed (Begay). When the youth come back from college with a degree, they apply for employment and many of them are denied. As elder Bonnie Yazzie stated, “No I have not been denied a job with Navajo Nation because I speak Navajo, but my son has with Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency. His job required translation at local chapter house meetings. So he decided to go back to school to get higher level of employment that doesn’t work with locals.” According to Allen Begay, the number of students enrolled at college level on the Navajo Nation is 14.70%. The percentage of high school graduates or higher is at 63.50% and the percent with a Bachelor’s degree or higher is at 8.60% on the Navajo Nation. Bonnie Yazzie’s son has a higher education and tried to apply with Navajo Nation but was denied because he is over qualified; it was over a year ago. Now he works off the Navajo Nation. Not to mention Mr. Chris Deschene who was denied employment with the Navajo Nation as President, he is a well-educated, high-ranking military man, but yet he was denied. In the Navajo Times, there is an article regarding the same situation for Danielle Lunch, she states that she has been advised to “leave the reservation, get your degree, and bring that back to help the reservation.” She stated, “It is sad to see such qualified individuals be told that they are not qualified…” Many educated youth get their higher education can’t find employment on the Navajo Nation, so they are forced to find employment off the Navajo Nation. With this dilemma, the youth are sent out for a higher education and the history of the Navajo, people is being forgotten. The youth are discouraged to speak Navajo let alone write it and it takes practice to learn. Mr. Goossen clearly stated, “Until a person has learned a fairly large vocabulary, he does not always use the “best” words for every environment” and, “to laugh with the new learner to encourage them and be patient to direct them with the correct knowledge to speak the language, and that elders are the best teachers because most of them are patient and understanding with a beginner in the Navajo language.” Learning the history of the Navajo people is very important because if you don’t know where you come from then you don’t know who you are as a Navajo. The history of the Navajo People is circled by the language. The language is sacred and many Navajos were punished for speaking their native tongue. A statement made by a middle age college student, Candice Craig, “Navajo is more than just a language, it tells you who the person is, where they are from (dialect) and has their history carried through them with language.” The Navajo language has a holiness that connects the people to their gods. It connects the people with their songs, prayers, stories, ceremonies and teachings. Lupita Chicag said it very clear, “the deities passed the songs and prayers in Navajo, not English. If we were to lose it, we will be a thing of the past, like the Aztecs or Romans. The language is the only reason why we are well structured and established because of our songs and prayers. The day we lose our language, were done. Keeping the language will keep us protected. The songs and prayers in Navajo are made for continuance saying them in Navajo is most important.” It is very important to the Navajos compared to the past. At a time when the Navajos’ were being forced to get a White Man’s education, the philosophy of Captain Pratt who stated; “To civilize the Indian, put him in the midst civilization. To keep him civilized, keep him there.” The Navajo Nation is still in the midst of civilization and it’s costing the Navajo way of life. According to Acrey he states, “A new program was started on the reservation during the early war years to introduce Navajo as a written language to the People. Some controversy arose because of those who felt that learning English was more important to Navajo progress than learning to read or write the Navajo Language.” The Navajo people have been drilled that their language is no good, to forget it and “catch” up with society. Some of the people who were sent out of state to boarding schools saw a different path, which required no Navajo language only English to be successful. Now that’s all everyone teaches because we want what the white man wants. Was the Navajo language a target from the beginning when we first encountered western society? During that time many Navajos agreed that the government wanted to take the Navajo language. Mitchel Blackhorse said, “They wanted us to be like them [Anglo] blue eyes, skin white, and want you to think like them. Navajo can’t change. We try but I don’t think speaking English changes our views and don’t change us, were that same Navajo and we are going to die Navajo whether were white or not.” Navajo were forced to forget the Navajo language and throughout history the language still was utilized. Now we have all the freedom to speak, say and do whatever we want compared to back then, but yet majority of the Navajo Nation is unable to speak Navajo. The Navajo Language has not only influenced the Navajo Nation, but it has helped the United States win World War II.
A lot of changes were made after WWII because of the Code Talkers; even today it is not forgotten by the Federal Government and the Navajo people. A lot of the Navajo men signed up for the war. “About 80% of Navajos were drafted for the army and most were rejected because of their inability to read/write in English. This brought about an increase in demand for more schools for Navajos” (Acrey).The Navajo language has been tested several times throughout history from our enemies. The Navajo Code Talkers were the main men behind the scenes that learned to translate information within a code of a code. For example, “Navy” was the message so the code used [tsah (Needle), wol-la-chee (Ant), ah-keh-di-glini (Victor), tsah-ah-dzoh (Yucca).] Using the first letter of the translation word, then combined together to get the message. Many other Navajo words were used to describe military objects such as “besh-lo” (iron fish) which meant “submarine”. The Navajo Code Talkers kept the code a secret until Sept. 17, 1992 when they were finally recognized at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. (Naval History & Heritage). Many of the interviews I conducted all mention the highly respect for the Navajo Code Talkers mentioning that Navajo language is powerful, there is no other language like Navajo. Even though the United States abused the Navajos and tried to dehumanize them, they still fought for their land. With this valor history of the Navajo language, it is needed to be kept and passed on for the future generations. It was also mentioned by Mitchell Blackhorse that if we were to be involved in another war that needed the Navajo Language, then it could be done because a lot of the available translation and “software” is not complete. We are still capable of using other words that are not
shared.