I recently watched an episode of Morgan Spurlock’s “30 Days”. For 30 days, he lived on the Navajo reservation and resided with a family to take in the full cultural effect of what it’s like being Navajo and living on the reservation.
Few people know that the Navajo Nation has one of the largest reservations in the country and that the reservation is treated as an independent nation within our borders. Even fewer people know that while the Navajo have rights to the land and live there free from US taxes, the United States owns the rights to the aquifer located directly below the reservation. As a result, 90% of the residents on the reservation live without running water. Unemployment is astronomical reaching the 60% or higher mark on the reservation. While Morgan found a job working at the local tire shop, the monetary gains were less than adequate. The negotiated pay rate for this example was $25 per day; much less than federal minimum wage. This highlights the fact that poverty is more than just a third world problem, it’s happening in our own back yard.
Sadly through watching the show, I felt pain and anguish that we, as a country would turn a blind eye to all the desperation within our own borders. While the Navajo Nation is rich with culture, they are a dying breed. Most Navajos travel outside the reservation for work and send money home to their family because jobs are scarce or undervalued within the confines of the Reservation. Their language, one of the most difficult languages to learn, led the US to victory in the Pacific is now slowly fading. The younger generation is losing their connection with their elders because of a growing language barrier. Some of the Navajo people, afraid of losing their connection to ancient traditions are changing their education system to include the study of their indigenous language. Children are educated in both Navajo and English, with the majority of the lecture taught in Navajo at an early age and English being slowly introduced as the children mature.
After watching this show, I felt sorrow and sadness that we would allow such a beautiful, historic, and truly American culture to fade out of existence. I am comforted by the fact that the Navajo Nation is doing their best to preserve their culture for future generations. These beautiful people may not make it through the next 100 years, but through the hard work and tireless efforts of the people exhibited in the show, we may not lose the culture Navajo Nation to the history books.
