Article on Chief Manuelito Scholar by Danelle Woodman, Student at Pacific University, Stockton, California August 2016 I've been trying to write this particular blog post for the past three days, and I can't seem to present what I experienced at the 2016 Chief Manuelito Scholarship Award Ceremony on the screen. Perhaps it's not meant to be relived again in words; however, I like a challenge and I have this undaunted urge to tell you about what it means to a Chief Manuelito Scholar. The idea arose mid-award ceremony when Dr. Tommy Lewis, superintendent of schools on the Navajo Nation, took the stage. Before I go any further, let me say that Dr. Tommy Lewis had a major influence on my decision to go into education when I attended the Ivy League College Fair in Window Rock a year ago. This was at the time I was writing and researching Public schools in the United States for my senior paper. I became even more interested when Dr. Tommy Lewis spoke about the political side of education. I was like, "hey I think I might want to do this. No, I want to be like him." So you can imagine my excitement when he came on stage. He was speaking with such passion that there was no doubt that it was unscripted. He explained his expectations of us scholars in the utmost sincerity and reassurance that (1) graduating college in four years and (2) taking this scholarship seriously with commitment, prayer, and hard work was indeed possible to accomplish; and according to Dr. Sophina Calderon of Family Medicine in Tuba City and keynote speaker, we already had the skills to do so. It was an eye opener to hear these qualities that not Navajo people possess, but what all Native people possess. Too often do we look at the negative attributes in which our people are famous for such as alcoholism, suicide, and tipis. By these skills, we are more than just the negative traits, and that is inspiring. Despite being at the award ceremony from 8 am to about 3:30 pm, and patiently waiting for lunch to be served, and standing in line for about 30 minutes to receive my scholarship plaque (there were over 100 scholars to be called and awarded), I learned something new that day. Of all the years I've been going to school, it never occurred to me that I was useful to my tribe. Aaron Yazzie, a mechanical engineer for NASA and guest speaker at the ceremony, put it into context for me by saying, "There is a universal Navajo Philosophy that we should work and
be useful. The scholarship committee sees that you have potential to help our nation." That was the reason why we all were receiving the scholarship, why Dr. Calderon and Aaron Yazzie received the scholarship when they were going to college, and why future Navajo graduates will receive the scholarship in the coming years. In all honesty, I never thought the Chief Manuelito Scholarship was a prestigious as they presented it that day. They praised each scholar for our diligence in our studies and our skills in which we never knew we had. It was awesome. Now, I'm not gonna be a snob and say that I'm so smart and better than everyone else, it's not about that. It really was a great honor to receive the scholarship, but I must say that before entering Twin Arrows Resort and Casino in which the event was held, I thought it wasn't that big of a deal. From what I've heard from Chief Manuelito Scholars in the past, they refer to the award as "easy to get". Now that I think about it, it almost seems like they didn't appreciate it as much as the Department of Diné Education wanted them to. I'll admit that I thought that the department could give more scholarships, but choose not to because they would rather embezzle. Yes! I had this opinion about them because of what others assumed and preached about. After July 22 nd, 2016, I came to know that I was wrong. I was ashamed that I thought of this scholarship as one with no meaning; when in fact it does. The scholarships they give may not seem that much in quantity, but when I saw ever department member beaming with proud smiles as I shook their hands with my plaque under my arm, I saw so much more. (I do apologize to the Department of Diné Education in Window Rock. I know now that every single one of it's employees are working in our best interest.) On the ride home east, across the beautiful painted desert, I saw everything in a new perspective. Now when I look around my home and community in Sanders, and even beyond the red-ridged mesas to the vast land in which the Navajo people live, and even farther in all directions across state lines to other reservations, I see poverty, despair, suicide, alcoholism, and most of all historical trauma. I see native people struggling to survive in the United States with food stamps and social security benefits. I see young children deprived of a quality education in which they can be proud of. Furthermore, I see sadness because many Indigenous people believe that these problems cannot be fixed. However, I also see potential in each native person and the few students who have the courage to defy the stereotypes held to their ancestry to
become greater than their circumstances. When I think of that, I feel empowered to do the same. "You may never stop thinking or dreaming of the future, and if you think about it, that's a beautiful way to live. " - Aaron Yazzie, Mechanical Engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories As I continue to look around and evaluate my surroundings on this particular place on earth, I wonder about how we as Native Americans allow this potential to be downgraded and hidden from society. There are many scholarships aimed toward providing funds to high achieving Native Students to help them accomplish their dreams of going into medicine, law, or even education like myself. Yet, we still see other ethnicities besides native people as our doctors, our lawyers, and even teachers. Wouldn't you think that we are capable of treating, defending, and teaching our own children than someone who has no knowledge of our people? I may be speaking out of turn, but the dream has been thrown around in the wind for years since the days of white settlement, AIM, and now that more scholarships are available to make it possible; so my question is, who will catch the dream and hold on to it? I understand that it is not so easy as to reveal potential as to put it to good use, but there's still that yearn in the back of my head that wants you, and all those who are at crossroad, to not be afraid of taking a chance on change. what she said: I asked a fellow scholar what she thought being a Chief Manuelito Scholar meant. Here's..To me it means that I have been given the great opportunity and support from the Nation and our Diné to further my education. Although, if you would have told me I would be awarded with this scholarship, I probably would not have believed you. As I believe that miracles only happen to the luckiest of people. [Although] feeling at my lowest and no sense of direction of how I am going to continue college financially, I was awarded two of the biggest scholarships that I have ever known: The Chief Manuelito Scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Now I look at all the hard work, the dedication, and the faith I put forth in which has given me so much support to continue my future towards my career. My determination helped me get to my miracle.
Throughout the award ceremony, the same dream of sovereignty and progression of the Navajo People were spoken from the heart as if it were a cry for help. I see it now, now that I've become aware of my place and purpose in the tribe. Now that my Chief Manuelito Scholarship Plaque is sitting on my cramped shelf, it stands as a reminder that as a recipient of this award, I have an obligation to help my people. Since receiving the task by the President of the Navajo Nation to "go get an education", I've never been more afraid to fall short to my expectation. I mean, come on, it's a lot to take on; but then I remember what Aaron Yazzie said that whenever he's asked if he ever thought he'd work for NASA, he always responds: "Yes and No." Cue the chuckles from the crowd. "I had big dreams," he continued. I dreamed that I wanted to work at NASA, but it's like saying I wanted to meet Batman or George Strait. You say things that you want for yourself, but no one actually believes it will happen." I understood what he met by people not really believing. Who knew that although we have big dreams, there is no justification that it will happen. On the contrary, as a mechanical engineer he gave his equation to accomplish your dreams, no matter how big or small. Small goals + small success get you to the ultimate goal. He explained that they will become more attainable at every step. "Dream big, even if you think you may never meet George Strait. Never stop believing." So as it has become accustomed for me to lend advice in ever blog post, I'll say just as the NASA engineer said, Never stop believing. Never stop believing that you are more than a percent of minorities in this country. Never stop believing that your family and future family will have a better life, better financial situation, and better education. There will always be doubters who will find the excuse that as Natives we can't make a difference because of where we start. Just as Dr. Calderon stated, We have strengths and no matter how small, they are our keys to success. They make us who we are as indigenous people and they'll take us to where we need to be. Okay, you say to yourself, you went through all that, so tell me, what does it mean to be a Chief Manuelito Scholar? Well, in the simplest terms, it means a future for my family, my community, and my tribe. Even more so, it means that my future students [I plan to be a teacher] will be prepared not only for college, but for life as well. I want them to have the same opportunity to receive a college education if they wish. Most importantly to look forward,
unafraid with no uncertainty that they can't be who they dream to be, just because they grew up on the rez. I suppose that it also means a future for me in the sense that I can be like Dr. Tommy Lewis, passionate and useful to Navajo education. All I have to do is believe and probably a couple essays and like several hours of studying. You know, the usual college stuff. To those who think they can't receive the Chief Manuelito Scholarship or any scholarship for that matter or maybe you think you don't have a duty to your tribe, take these words into account from my inspiration, Dr. Tommy Lewis: "As you journey through life, I challenge you to keep in mind the many sacrifices your ancestors made on your behalf so that you could continue your education and lead a prosperous life." Have the courage to take on the task to help your people, even if the odds are against you. I think that from everything I learned from this joyous occasion, I've never been more sure that native communities can be prosperous and healthy with the guidance of the educated youth. I guess the question now is, who's going to believe with me?