September 25, 2020

 We recently discovered that we have a staff member at CMS with American Indian Heritage, our Athletic Trainer, Mrs. Miller! Mrs. Miller was kind enough to answer some questions we have about what is was like growing up with American Indian Heritage. 

1. Could you share some information about your family with us?

1. I am half Navajo, which is the biggest Native American Tribe in the United States.  My mom is full blooded Navajo.  She grew up on the Navajo Reservation in northwest New Mexico.  The Navajo Reservation spans over New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.  Most of my grandmas, aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mom’s side of the family still reside on the Navajo Reservation.  One of my aunts lives in a Hogan which is a traditional Navajo home.  It has 8 sides and the door always faces east to see the sun rise.  

2. What experiences do you have that could be different from out students? 

I grew up in Albuquerque which is about 2 and a half hours away from Gallup, NM.  Gallup is in the middle of the Navajo Reservation on the historical Route 66.  I would visit family when I was little and would help with herding sheep and taking care of the land.  In Navajo, we respect all things that were made by the Creator.  This includes the land, the sea, the sky, the animals, and the people to name a few.  So we would be very busy with tending to the house, the land that the sheep, horses and cattle grazed, and cook a feast to feed our families.  

3. What do you think is the most important thing you learned growing up about Navajo Indians? 

One of the most important things about the Navajo are the Code Talkers.  This is a special group of Navajo that joined the US Marines and helped the United States win WWII by using the Navajo language.  It is an unwritten language, therefore, it was unbreakable by the enemy.  The Navajo would send messages and codes to other Marines at various stations and areas to alert them of the enemy approaching or what have you.

4. Did you have to overcome any obstacles? If so, explain. 

I, personally, did not have any obstacles to overcome, however, the Navajo people did in 1864 during “The Long Walk of the Navajo”.  During this time, thousands of Navajo were forced to walk 250-450 miles to a reservation.  This was an attempt by the US Federal Government to force the Navajo to become more Anglo and get rid of their Navajo heritage.  This meant for them to talk English instead of their native language, and do things like the Anglo instead of the traditional Navajo way.  

5. Did you have a mentor or teacher who inspired you? 

My mom, aunts, and grandmas were my mentors of the Navajo traditions.  We abide by many of them and I now teach them to my kids. 

6. What advice do you have for students at CMS?

My advice from a Navajo perspective would be:  respect everything.  Yourself, your family, where you live, where you go to school, your friends & teachers, what you get to eat, what activities you get to do, and so on.  If you can do that and spread kindness for everything, things will be a lot better.  Be thankful, be gracious, be kind, and respectful.