Start living the right way
By Tom Arviso Jr.
Navajo Times
Dec. 29, 2011
In addition we will highlight some of the best editorial illustrations produced by longtime Navajo Times cartoonist/illustrator Jack Ahasteen in these past 12 months. Ahasteen's drawings are sure to generate a few thoughts in your head and bring a big smile to your face.
As I look out my office window, it's hard to believe that we are entering the New Year's holiday. The sun is shining and there's not much snow. In fact, I saw a young man in a blue Red Sox baseball cap walking in our parking lot with no jacket on and wearing shorts.
The weatherman says it's going to be a pretty nice New Year's weekend with relatively warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. That means we will all have plenty of time and good reason to wash our dirty chittis.
Let's all hope for and pray that we do get more snow and moisture in 2012 because Mother Earth needs it. As Diné, we need more snow and rain to help clean up our environment and to bolster the re-generation of plant life and vegetation.
We've been suffering from this longstanding drought for about 20 years now and it does not appear to be getting any better. I have a lot of good, fun memories of sledding and playing football in the big snow in the 1960s and 70s. Then, the spring seasons would bring plenty of rain followed by warm, green summers. The fishing lakes would be full and the streams and arroyos would have flowing water.
My kids grew up in the 80s and early 90s with fond memories of snow and rain as well but that's when the environment began to change and we didn't get the kind of moisture that we were accustomed to here on the Navajo Reservation.
Now, it's difficult for my grandchildren to have a true idea of what the four seasons should be and used to be like, here on Navajoland.
Years ago when the weather pattern started to really change, our Navajo medicine people told us that we were not praying and giving the traditional offerings like we were supposed to be doing. They warned us that the earth would get drier and the people and animals would suffer if we did not practice our traditional ways more regularly.
Today, our Navajo medicine men and women, and medicine people from other tribes, pueblos and bands, are still telling us that we need to return to our traditional ways of prayer and song, and to start living life the right way.
Hating and killing each other is not living the right way nor is polluting Mother Earth. If we don't stop disrespecting one another and we do not take care of our land, air and water, we will suffer and perish.
What the medicine people are telling us is a universal message that should be shared with the whole world and its entire people. The reality though, is it is a message that is being ignored by a majority of the human race, and by you and me as well.
I'm not trying to preach but rather I'm just sharing a heartfelt message that has been told to me many times over the years by men and women I have much respect for. Some of them have passed on from this world but their words still ring true - live life the right way.
It is a simple message yet it has so much meaning if you just take time to really give it thought. It is a message that you can take to heart personally or it is something that you can share and practice as a member of your family, as a community official or as a leader of a nation.
So my friends, in 2012 let's all try to carry on our daily lives with more understanding, patience and compassion. Let us truly care for and love our women and children, and our elderly. Let us quit hating and being angry and instead, give each other the respect we all deserve.
Let us express more appreciation for the simple things in life like a child's smile, a greeting from a fellow worker or a passing wave from a sister or brother. Remember to give thanks in your own special manner and in the traditional way, too, for life on this Mother Earth.
The Navajo Times was voted the No. 1 newspaper in Indian Country by the Native American Journalists Association in July. The Arizona Newspapers Association this past October also honored the Navajo Times as the Best Non-Daily Newspaper in the state of Arizona.
The Navajo Times staff has much to be thankful for starting with our families and friends. We also thank you - our readers - for all of your support since 1960.
Have a joyous and safe New Year's holiday and a blessed and healthy year in 2012.