Winter Stories

Barb, the Porcupine- Navajo Times photo

Dear Friends,

We’re having a snow day today, reminding us that winter isn’t over yet.  In reality, at  7,000 ft. elevation, we don’t really expect spring until April.

In February, The Window Rock Zoo held its annual winter cultural program called “Serenading our Sacred Animals.” The medicine man, Anderson Hoskie led a small group from animal to animal telling stories and advising them of “do’s” and “don’ts” that should not be ignored. 

At Barb’s, the porcupine, habitat, he explained how the porcupine is a protection animal and is responsible for taking care of the mountain. He warned that the quills are forbidden for usage by the Navajos (even though other tribes might use them in powwows.)

Hoskie shares stories in the hogan.
 Navajo Times photo

The zoo curator said that when they do tours in the spring and summer, it is taboo to talk about certain things; but now that it is winter, stories can be told. In the Navajo tradition certain stories are reserved for the winter when bears and snakes and some other dangerous animals are asleep. The reason is that all animals love stories as much as people do, and it’s best not tell them during a time of year when there’s not danger of attracting the ‘wrong’ crowd.

The elk came up to the group as they approached the fence and Hoskie told them that elk belong to the Navajo deities known in English as Talking God and House God.

Hoskie said that the bears were hibernating and that only bears call one another “shush,” which is the Navajo name for bear. People should address a bear as “my grandchild” or the bear will get offended. Hoskie emphasized the need to pray and give offerings to these sacred animals. He said to pray to the bear for good luck.

He also talked about the taboos concerning the coyote. If one crosses your path, you will receive a bad message. It is your responsibility to make an offering, and then go on. If you can’t make an offering right then by stopping your car, you could visit the zoo and make an offering.

School news: We enrolled two new students this week. My friendly first grader is behind academically, but is an eager learner, so I have hopes of her catching up. The older girl missed most of her first week due to illness.

We’re still praying for more teachers for next year.

Love to all of our faithful prayer and financial supporters.

Blog: https://everettnavajo.blogspot.com

Support: Western Indian Ministries: http://www.westernindian.org/donate2/

P.O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515

February 2017

Dear Friends,

We’ve been fighting the cold/flu/sinus thing for a couple of weeks now, so I’m cheering myself up with third grade history exam answers. I hope you enjoy them also.

Christopher Columbus: He sailed across the ocean and he was’s scard to go acroos the moster ocean.

Miles Standish: He found pimemouth. He had not many friends. He was short.

Ben Franklin: He discovered lighter. If he didn’t we wouldn’t have any lights. He wrote the calendar.

George Washington: He fout in the Civil War.

Thomas Jefferson: He invented the light bulb.

Daniel Boone: He had a dad and a mom.

Robert E. Lee: Was awesome.

Abraham Lincoln: One day Abe was with her, he was watching a car game and he got shot.

Roger also assigned an “If I were President” paragraph, perfect for this Presidents’ Day!

If I were the President, I whould take down all the schools. Becasues kids do not like [them]. And kids can have all the games and internet.

I’ll play video games and go to sleep every day. And sleep in. play foot ball go to new york I will travel.

If I were the President I would help people for doing the right thing. Also and one thing I’ll do If I were President is following the law so I could be a good President. That’s what I’ll do.

If I were the President I would celbrait Jesus for the beatiful world that he made for us. And also stop school. And celbrait me becoming prestent.

If I were the president I would not let people fight. And I would be a good President and I would not let people carry guns around.

If I were the president I would eat candy and eat cookies too. I would help people and play with kids. I would watch TV and eat popcorn. I would do all of my work that I have to do.

If I were the President I would have a place for homeless to stay until they get better. If I were the President I would [stop] the war and help. If I were the President I would stop drugs.

If I were the President I would help people with what ever they need from us.

When I am a President I will be a realy good President to the people of the United States. If I were a President I would tell the people on tv that they would have freedom.

If I were the President I would be helpful to everyone. I would stop people who are doing bad. I would shake peoples’ hands. I would celabrate all the Presidents.

If I were the president I would do the right things. I would never kill people. I would never get mad at anyone. I will eat healthy things.

If I were the President I would order workers to build a bridge from America to Russia. With a border on the bridge And when every baby that are born will get a ID or paper that have track on their lives and what they are going, doing, and their criminal record. And make and average $3.00 hamburger down to 75cents or more and other items. And make cars like 34,000$ cars to 12,000$ cars.

If I were the President I would make everything free. Because people are poor or in debt. And this is a free country. If I were the president I would tell inventors to make a better blood test. Because needles hurt. And its cruel. I would eat chocolate ice cream for a living. Because its so good. And is really sweet.

Around WIM:

We had a fire on our campus that burned down a building where Teen Mission had stored their equipment. Since no one was living in the house, there was no insurance. Fortunately no one was hurt in the fire.

Our prayer need as we look toward next school year is for teachers. We’d like to add a 4^th grade, a Preschool class, and a 7^th grade, but we’ll need teachers.

Support: Western Indian Ministries: http://www.westernindian.org/donate2/

P.O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515