The Navajo times. [volume], November 01, 1959, Page Page 2, Image 2

About The Navajo times. [volume] (Window Rock, Ariz.) 1959-1960

Image provided by: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ

                
Page 2
EDITORIAL
THE NAVAJO TIMES ....
The idea of a Navajo newspaper was
conceived in joint meetings of the 11 i
ha 1 Education Committee an d the
Branch of Education. I he primary pui
pose of the newspaper is to serve the
6.000 Navajo children who are attend
ing off-reservation schools. It is hoped
that this paper will keep them informed
about what is happening on their Res
ervation.
It is also hoped that ibis is a step
toward supplying the Navajo people
with an ever-increasing flow of intor
mation. Ihe lack of communication in
the past with students and the folks at
home has been deplored by Navajo
leaders. Many have urged the publica
tion of this paper.
As the opportunity presents itself
to study the effects of the paper, it
will no doubt be expanded.
The Navajo Tribal Council has pro
vided the money to make the paper
possible. As a starter, the "Navajo
Times” will be published on a monthly
basis.
Letters Needed
There will be a special "Letters to
the Editor” section in each issue of the
Navajo News. Ssince this is the lirst
issue, there is no possibility of publish
ing any letters. We sincerely urge our
readers to give us opinions for publi
cation. The editor hopes each issue will
contain a full page of letters.
DILLON PLATERO
Editor
THE GREATEST NEED
One of the great challenges of mod
em American Education is Indian Ed
ucation. The “vanishing American is
no longer vanishing: rather the Indian
population is increasing more rapidly
than the non-Indian.
Today there are over 60,000 Indian
school age children residing in Arizona
and adjacent states. It is estimated that
by 1975 there will be over 160,000 such
children.
No group of Americans can be con
sidered first class citizens unless their
educational level is equal to that of the
United States. Today the average edu
cational level of the Indian child is the
fifth grade while for the total United
States population the average educa
tional level is the tenth grade.
Today, as never before. Indian Edu
cation requires teachers who are cog
nizant of the needs of these children,
who recognize the necessity for under
standing the Indian c h i Id, and who
have been trained to teach in this vi
tal area. It is only with such under
standing that Indian children will re
ceive education which encourages their
greatest development.
THE NAVAJO TIMES
HHjdj
A MESSAGE FROM
CHAIRMAN JONES
1 am honored to be invited to send
greetings to our Navajo students whei
ever they may be through the medium
of the first issue of the Navajo I imes.
News from home should satisfy your
hunger for knowledge of events on the
Reservation. Your Tribal leaders have
long recognized that the lack of ade
qu a t e communitcations is a serious
drawback to our progress. I am hopeful
that this monthly publication will bring
you interesting reviews of all phases ol
Tribal government and other activities.
If the Navajo dimes is successfully
received and is published long enough
to assure us that it is meeting a need,
we may consider enlarging the publi
cation so that it will reach and will be
eagerly re a d by all Navajos every
where.
Good luck to The Navajo Times!
PAUL JONES, Chairman
The Navajo Tribal Council
TO THE PEOPLE
The Navajo Tribe has my congratu
lations. The publication of The Navajo
Times shows a real effort to keep the
people informed of matters concerning
them. This is seen as part of a trend
which has been watched with interest
and appreciation for the past six years.
This has been the attempt of the Nav
ajo to get tribal government closer to
the people. A democratic form of gov
ernment tries to do this. The construc
tion of new chapter houses a n d the
placing of more responsibility upon
chapter officers has helped. I sincerely
feel that the publication of “'The Nav
ajo Times ” will be another important
step in this direction.
W. WADE HEAD
Area Director
“As Coyote Sees It
LOOKING AHEAD
Did you know that the Navajo Res
ervation is rapidly becoming a “must
see’ to traveling tourists from all cor
ners of the world? Did you know that
very little lias been done in the past
years to “roll out the welcome carpet?
And did you know that the Navajo
Tribe has lost millions of dollars, direct
ly and indirectly because we had not
realized the importance of tourist trade?
Well, that was before now.
Now, we are happy to tell you we
are “looking ahead” to the future for
the benefit of our people. Yes, we are
also looking ahead for a prosperous
future for all our Navajo students.
How is this all going to come about?
Well it is this way — two years ago
the Navajo Tribal Council established
a Tribal Parks Commission to protect,
g u ar d and promote all the natural
scenic wonders, man made, and fish
and wildlife on Navajo land so that all
these resources will not be destroyed
by people.
In a future issue 1 will outline the
plans of your Parks Commission in
preserving your land and how' your
land with its scenic wealth will benefit
you . SAM DAY 111
Chairman. Parks Commission
FROM SUPERINTENDENT
It was with considerable interest that
I learned of the general plan of the
Tribal Education Committee to publish
a small newspaper of some kind.
There is an ever increasing need for
the devising of ways and methods by
which information can more readily
reach greater n umbers of Navajo
people.
It is my opinion that this is a very
worth-while project and it is my hope
that it will be successful.
GLENN R. LANDBLOOM
General Superintendent
November —1959