Letters to the Editor June 28, 2006

Urges Dine return to traditional ways

Navajo Mountain, the sacred home of the Navajo War God is burning. Looking at the burning mountain from White Mesa/Kaibeto area, the big dark smoke rising from the serene landscape is eerie and even painful, to think many forms of life is being destroyed.

Unable to shake this out of my mind, I consulted a hand trembler. While performing he got all sweaty. Later he said the fire was so intense during his trance.

People who live in the area are concerned and some are scared, he said, The fire is a message to the Navajo people and it is not the first or last message from the holy people, he said.

The Navajos no longer make offerings at sacred sites, on streambeds, on the mountains, the valleys and the wind trails, There are prayers and songs for rain, but there is also too much commotion in other languages so there is no clear message. Prayers and offerings must be made at secluded areas where there are no other noises that would interfere.

At Navajo Mountain, there is only one medicine man but his neighbors don’t join him in his prayers. There has to be a collective will among the people, among the medicine men in order to change the course of the present condition. Otherwise, San Francisco Peaks, Mt. Hesperus would be next.

Now is the time for leadership, to put aside the everyday activities for at least 30 days and just concentrate on what has been neglected for so long; the placing of offerings and the singing of the sacred songs while doing so. No medicine man should ask for a fee, except pollen and tobacco, but the people should provide food and transportation for the medicine people,

We have much to amend for such as the selling of herbs commercially, such as asking for large monetary fees, such as holding night way and mountaintop ceremonies before the frost and many other activities that are in direct violations of our sacred traditions. We are now paying the price with drought, fires, drugs and deadly assaults on each other.

I know our traditional leaders, our elders will respond if properly informed. The offerings by medicine people should be done only after several days of sweat baths and by the young people not yet 12 years of age, then our offerings will be acceptable.

Daniel Peaches

Kayenta, Ariz.

Native runners seek support for Olympics

We are two Native American runners, Arizona born, training for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the Marathon — Alvina Begay, Dine, from Ganado and Kyle Goklish, White Mountain Apache, from Whiteriver.

We are both high profile members of our tribes and volunteer in many areas of the community. It is our intent to present ourselves as positive role models among American Indians in Arizona and our country.

We have the talent and are viable contenders. Currently, we are both ranked in the world for the 25K and improve daily. We both are running twice a day and are at 80 miles a week. As we improve and become nationally recognized, we hope to make any donors, sponsors and our tribes proud to support us.

However, to be able focus our full attention to achieve this dream, we need to pursue it full time in order to be competitive. We need your support to make it happen.

For example, we need to travel to many races, requiring us to spend two to three nights for lodging. Travel expenses are $6,500 a year for each of us, living expenses range about $6,000 a year because we can’t work full time jobs and get to the trials too.

Equipment needs are $3,000 a year per person. For example, we go through six pairs of training shoes a year at $120 a pair, track shoes are $80 a pair but only last through two races, shoes for road races are $140 and last through about four races. Jerseys, shorts, warm-ups and socks are added expenses.

Training/nutritional food supplements run us $7,000 a year.

As you can see, we need your help in terms of sponsorship. If we don’t get financial assistance, we simply can’t stay competitive. We are appealing to Arizona businesses, organizations and individuals so we can represent you, our people and our country in the Olympics.

We ask that potential sponsors contact our manager, Melody Varner, at melstrails@qwest.net or 928-853-3374, for details.

Donations can be sent to Kyle Goklish & Alvina Begay, P.O. Box 30331, Flagstaff, AZ 86003 or directly to our shared savings account at First Credit Union in Flagstaff, Acct. #1489088-8 (928-774-8974).

Alvina Begay

Ganado, Ariz. and 

Kyle Goklish

Whiteriver, Ariz.

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