Urges unity between tribes

Hello, native readers of the Navajo-Hopi Observer.

I am Navajo and as a reader of your paper, I get a lot of information because I’m caught in between the real world and the world called the rat race.

I live in Phoenix. I had no intention of living in this world—now it’s been 14 years. I can’t even see over my next door neighbor’s place or even our fence. The natives that I meet out here all say the same. We all want to go home for good someday yet it never seems to happen. The white people see it as a failure.

I’m now 43 years old. I have just about everything that a man could want, but I still want to go home soon. Navajo and Hopi are strong people. I grew up with the Hopi people, and some of my best friends are Hopi. We all went to Keams Canyon and yet I see your paper has both tribes’ names on your [masthead]. I do not know if this paper is owned by a white person, but it’s a step towards unity.

I went home not too long ago and was saddened that the hospital was closed and the trailer court and the park were gone. And now I hear that they might be closing the store.

I decided to visit some of my relatives in the Low Mountain area and saw that the roads on the Hopi side were still not paved. I’m sure Hopi ranchers would love that included and all the Navajo grandmothers that sit in the back of their trucks.

If we want unity, we need to come together as one tribe. I saw the same problems in our chapter house when I was a kid. I used to see a lot of disagreement. But as I traveled down that rez road, I realized I’ve met some of the nicest Navajo and Hopi people.

I just wanted to express myself since we all have different views and ideas. Just be proud that you are Indian. And that when we ride our horses or trucks across that rez road, that we could come together and unite as brothers and sisters.

Thank you for taking the time to read what been on my mind.

Preston Ben Nelson

Glendale, Ariz.

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