The Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation covers areas
of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, with 250,000 registered
tribal members. The vast expanse of land includes Monument Valley,
Canyon de Chelly and other spectacular sights on the high desert
terrain.
It is estimated that 60% of the population on the reservation is 24 years of age or younger. The teen suicide rate is approximately 4-5 times the national average in the United States. The Navajo people face problems of unemployment (46%), issues of drug and alcohol abuse and teen pregnancies. Of 1796 births in 2003, 1316 of them were to unwed mothers. The average age of death for any Native American residing within the borders of Arizona is 54.7 years.
There are 5000 miles of roads on the reservation, with only 1000 miles being paved. Many of the areas our students live are isolated and have no running water or electricity.
The Navajo people continue to speak their own language, which until recently, was unwritten. The Navajo language is extremely complex with no alphabet or symbols and the words can change meaning with the pitch of one’s voice.
The Navajo language was used during WWII as a secret code that the Japanese were never able to break. The Navajo Code Talkers have only recently been recognized and honored by our country for their contributions to the war effort.
A couple of links to learn more about the Navajo Nation:
The Official Navajo Nation web page
