BLIND DATE
Chapter V (1976-78)
The Revolt
On a map of N.E. Arizona, readers will see Gallup, NM, just outside the reservation border. Window Rock is 25 miles west of Gallup on Hwy 264 just inside the Navajo Reservation, and is home to tribal government. Continuing on west for 30 miles, we encounter Ganado, our home for the next two years. The village of Chinle ("chin-lee"), is about 50 miles north of Ganado and immediately east of Chinle is the magnificent Canyon de Chelly (de "shey"). Chaco Canyon is to the east in New Mexico. To the west is the large Hopi Reservation with its three majestic mesas.
Window Rock, tribal headquarters
Ganado wash--thunder storm runoff
Beautiful high desert. Note the petrified wood
Established in 1901, the Ganado Compound was supported by the Presbyterian Church and includes a beautiful old church, Sage Memorial Hospital, and the non-denominational College of Ganado. The college began as a nursing school in 1927. The architecture is beautiful quarried stone blocks that are ageless.
Its one weakness was it was never a "tribal" college. Dine College is now the Navajo tribal college and a standout in the tribal college system. It is based in Tsaile and has many branches throughout the reservation
Science classrooms, labs and library
Genetics lab
One of my students produced this drawing for me in one night
As far as I know, the only pic of me in any office
Established in 1878
Beautiful Presbyterian Church
Always a big smile!
Amazing Ganado weavers
The Ganado Trading Post
Cross Canyon Trading Post
Our most willing support staff
Our new fire truck. I'm the one in the door as the default captain.
Our house on the compound. I built the fence to keep out the domestic livestock
Home on the range. The entire reservation was open range, so domestic livestock were common visitors, including cattle, pigs and horses, but rarely sheep
Holli on Coffey with her best friend. Holli would often ride out to visit friends that lived in hogans. They had earthen floors and TVs, and would live nowhere else
Competition for Miss Navajo Nation
Shelly fishing with her best friend
Took 4 Navajo students to Purgatory ski area, near Durango, for their first time skiing (only photo of the trip I still have)
Magnificent velvet dresses and squash-blossom necklesses
Mutton stew feast. A real favorite
Heading for PowWow Grand Entry. Non-Indians were welcome
Traditional Navajo fry bread--to die for
Eagle feather headdress
Drumming and singing
Extraordinary Hopi dancers
Navajo code talker is honorary dance coordinator
Magnificent plain's tribe's double-bustle ragalia
Chaco Canyon
Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon. We had the site completely to ourselves
Look at the doorways extending into the distance
Incredible architecture, built by hand
The architecture included minute bricks as fillers (image taken when visiting my father in Window
Rock in the late 60s)
Sunset at Navajo National Monument
The college family together enjoying a rare photo op
Evening sun at Pueblo Bonito
On our way again
Canyon de Chelly
Sheep herding
Patina common to the 700 ft walls
Pre-historic rock art including hand prints and possible enemies on the canyon walls
A common tourist site with relatively easy access to the canyon floor
Likely a single-family cliff-dwelling we found at the floor of a small isolated canyon on the Reservation.
Moon rise at Canyon de Chelly
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Likely the first, and perhaps only, parachute jump on the reservation. I flew my Stratostar and used my new tandem parachute pack and home-made jump suit.
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Parachute Jump
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(Find the translation in chapter five)
On to a new adventure in Pocatello, Idaho