Navajo times., 1963-04-18
Ne,U concepts pledged ......
By Chet MacRorie

BY Chet MacRorie
The Navaj nation has indeed come long wav in the
past decade, noted by Commissioner of Indian Af-
fairs Phieo Nash during his remarks at the recent
inauguration ceremonies of Chairman Raymond Nakai
andhlS new administration. AS proof of this refer
to the interest all the country in the activities of
the Navajo Tribe emphasized at the inauguration by
presence of many members of the press and other
news dia, well freelance correspondents.
There was even writer from Holland, doing feature
stories on Navajoland and it's people, The press rep
resents popular sentiment so their presence in large
numbers must be taken most seriously.
This has certainly not happened accidentally. True,
the romantic aspects of the o. west stimulated by
novels, movies and more recently teevison, make
the activities of Indians newsworhy. There those
in fact, who would like to the Indians remain
sort of living museum of the past Fortunately, these
not representative of the majority nor do MANY
Indians themselves wish to perpetuate this image.
National and state leaders and responsible sectors
OF the take great interest in the Indian striv
mgs for self improvement and progress. Realizing
the handicaps in language, education and government
treatmentWh1ch has made constructive advances pos
sible only in comparatively recent times, these OBJ
servers applaud the strides taken and programs out
lined.
this time the Navajo Tribe is the largest in the
country and in many ways, establishes the example
for other tribes. Again, could this be accidental?
The records would indicate otherwise. There have
always been the wise men among the Navajo who have
resisted the encroachment of the greedy opportun
1Stc upon Navajo lands Navajo rights and sover-
eighty Many Indian tribes have divided their lands
ana lost their unity and herage the Navajo Tribe has
consolidated, multiplied and retained both lands and
treaty rights Today the Navajo Tribe is only the
largest it probably the most powerful Indian nation
in the country.
Largely, ithas been thefiercey proud, independent
and yieldingly honest Navajo socman who has lead
these councils ofwisdom for preservation of their ma
tion unified whole. The land has been the anchor
OF the Navajo ship Of state The livestock has been the
status and security symbol and their word was given
in the Treaty of 1868, by which they abided and ex-
pected the federal government to abide. local bank
president told the Navajo Times that he has never
had worry about loans to the Navajo stockmen Their
agreement to pay with or without signed papers, was
their bond and as good gold.
1t has been said many times, by many people and
in many ways that the Navajo land base cannot sus-
tain the increasing Navajo population These state
ments are based the prevailing livestock economy
and range available.
The new Tribal Chairman, Raymond Nakai, says
that he rejects" this theory and cites examples of
countries where large populations maintain relatively
high living standards on less land per family This
would seem to call for dynamic approaches, and
4 sharp abandonment Of some previous patterns. It
will require boldness and ingenuity in great amounts