Navajo writer's Covid journey signals Hope for Dine

Former reporter Alastair Bitsoie wrote an article for the Navajo Times. ("My COVID journey") He encourages us to value the traditional ways because those ways protect us.

So as long as we stay connected to our cultural identities and the original instructions designated by Changing Woman/White Shell Woman, First Man, First Woman, the Hero Twins, Talking God, Spider Woman, and many other deities like the Air and Fire Peoples, we will get through this as well. As Diné, we know this knowledge, and it must be acknowledged and practiced more than ever, while sheltering in place and following the respective public health orders that help to prevent COVID-19 spread.

Like he says, it is the time to practice these traditions.

He says that Dine values protect us from harm.

As Diné people, our values are what keep us protected from most dangers of the world. Our cultural knowledge, ceremonies, faith and narratives of the natural world are what will help us persevere through this pandemic.

After all, our connection to the fire, air, earth, sky, plants/medicines, water and every living being in our universe, including our animal clan protectors, has helped me heal from COVID-19.

And this knowledge that I acquired comes from you – our Diné people – where I had the pleasure to write for the Navajo Times. You’ve all grounded and taught me the importance of our culture, language, ceremony and lifeways. So, thank you for helping me heal with your stories.

It is wonderful that Bitsoie publicly acknowledges his identity as a Dine. Many of us are Dine, but yet we don't acknowledge our identities. He talks about his clan protectors, something that not very many people talk about.

It sounds like Bitsoie's Covid experience was a life-changing experience that made him realize how vulnerable we are and that we cannot take life for granted. It seems like he obtained a different perspective on life.

Bitsoie most compellingly says: "Having been quarantine/isolated for the last two months as a COVID-19 survivor, I have come to the conclusion that Nature is in control, and she is cleaning up our anthropogenic impacts." It seems like the major religion in America doesn't acknowledge that nature is in control, and instead wrongly instructs the majority to exploit the earth. This causes the majority to adopt an attitude of superiority toward the environment and minorities, some of whom value the world. As a result of this misconception of superiority, our world is being ruined. I've heard a profound statement about Corona, it says "Corona is not the virus, it is the vaccine. We are the virus." The corona pandemic has momentarily stopped our daily life activities on earth. But really, the earth is taking a break from us. Go Mother Earth!

Overall Bistsoi's article was very interesting and good, especially to encourage other Corona survivors to be transparent about their recovery and experience, and writing about it from a traditional perspective. In doing so, he integrates traditional principles like Siihasin into his journalism. This gives me, us, hope as Dine in terms of our people surviving the current pandemic, and our language and culture surviving the current colonization.

Finally, a Navajo government statement from the Dine perspective

Instead of putting pastors in the Townhall press conferences, our leadership needs to acknowledge the Dine perspective. The Peacemaking Department put out a statement about the Corona virus. It is from the Dine perspective. Thank you Peacemaking Program and the Judicial Branch for acknowling the Dine.

  

PEACEMAKING STATEMENT ABOUT COVID 19

When the Twins slayed the Naayéé, certain things were spared for a reason. Cold, poverty, old age, lice—these things were left in the world to teach the Diné to take responsibility and to solve problems.

Now, we are facing a Naayéé that is a monster that kills through invisibility. It hides in cold places and in the dark and harms us when we don’t take responsibility for our hygiene and prayer. The medicine people say this Naayéé will invade us and linger on, building its strength until it can kill many of us.

This was foretold. Our medicine people know of the warnings of the Holy People, that the invisible body would come onto Diné Bikéyah to harm us. We would know it was coming when the dawn and the dusk were red, and when there were meteor showers.

These things have happened, but we were not vigilant. Our ancestors would have recognized the warning signs of danger and fearsome coming, the Yikáí Yiichii’ Red Dawn and Nihootsooi Biyi’ji’ Ni’halchíí Red Sunset, which would cause us to perform protection prayers.

The government has named this disease Big Cough áį Dikos Nitsaa’ígíí- áį , but we know its true names are Invisible Body, Bits’íís Dooyit’íinii and Air that Gives Evil Spell, Níłch’i Bi’iiníziinii. These come to attack the Diné when we are weakened in our spirit. Our weakness comes from losing the strength that is our language and our Diné Fundamental Law. We must coexist with nature by getting up early in the morning to make an offering of white ground corn, at noon making an offering of corn pollen, and making our evening offering of yellow ground corn.

Many people are storing away their Native American Church and traditional paraphernalia, or their Christian Bibles and prayer materials. These things must be brought out of our closets and drawers, from under our beds and used in the open, in the light. Not only is it significant to bring out traditional paraphernalia but also utilize the honeeshgish, fire poker, arrowheads, stirring sticks, with prayers and protection songs.

This disease exists in darkness and cold. Our strength is brought against it when we pray in the light. When we fail to follow our traditions of prayer in the home and performing our ceremonies as they were given to us, these are the things that cause us to be vulnerable.

Some Diné are worsening our vulnerability. Some people who are infected with the virus are still out in the community and among their families, exposing others. This behavior is against the dignity and worth of all individuals, and our responsibility to protect each other. Others ridicule the Diné who are being diligent in their hygiene with masks, hand washing, and social isolation. When these responsible behaviors are ridiculed or not followed, we are not respecting the teachings that were given to us by our ancestors.

Former Attorney General rejected by Gospel Nez

Isn't it appalling that the Nez-Lizer Administration won't let former Attorney General Ethel Branch's group give supplies to Dine families in need throughout the reservation?  Former President Russell Begay did say that Jonathan Nez can't handle difficult situations. (Begaye endorses Shirley)  Branch raised over one million dollars on GoFundMe to help Dine families in need who don't have easy access to food and supplies during this pandemic.  But the Navajo President is willing to make an exception for the church group to meet while the President's curfew and social distancing order is in effect.  Branch applied for an exception twice and was rejected twice by Jonathan Nez saying he received public backlash for the church organization's exception.  I think this is the real Nez we're seeing, without his advisors, since he is in isolation (quarantine).  But that's what the People voted for in 2018 in a landslide.  I  believe the People were misled.  Here is Branch's petition to the gospel president.

Don’t sell your soul and try to destroy your nation like Nez

Navajo President Jonathan Nez kissing  the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel in 2020, the year of the Covid Pandemic

Many Dine are beginning to realize just how brainwashed our Navajo President is. The Christian Church has brainwashed President Nez to such an extent that he is telling us Dine that we are protected by "the blood of Jesus Christ." This past weekend, a lot of Dine people were upset that President Nez lied about allowing a church group to meet while he ordered all Dine to stay at home, and to practice social distancing.  A lot of people complained about a church gathering in Ganado, Arizona. Initially, President Nez ignored the complaints. Then President Nez stated that there was no gathering that occurred. Then later, he said that a gathering did in fact occur, but that he did not give permission for such a gathering to occur. But there was a letter, with the presidential letterhead, that permitted the Church gathering in Ganado.  Our president straight up lied to the Dine. We Dine need to demand that he, President Nez, come clean with us, the people. He needs to tell the Dine that he favors his Christian groups politically because those same groups put him in Navajo office by paying for his campaign, and for the purpose of continuing the Church's historical destruction of the Dine Way of Life. I don't think many people knew what they were voting for when they voted for Nez in a landslide election against former President Joe Shirley Jr.  By voting for Nez, the Dine People blindly voted against the traditional Dine Way of Life which defines the Navajo identity. Nez is starting to put pastors in his Townhall Updates. Unlike Nez, the Vice-President is less discreet by starting to conduct his sermons on the updates. The picture of President Nez kissing the Western Wall in Jerusalem is an insult to the traditional Dine and the Diyin Dine'e. We Dine need to be educated about the role of the church in the genocide against Native America. We also need education about how some traditional Dine that practice the dark side hide behind the Christian church. These are the reasons the virus has come to the Navajo, starting with the church rallies. I say if we remain silent about the President’s conduct and act like nothing is happening, we’ll be going down that cliff up ahead.

President Nez authorized Church gathering while ordering Dine to social distance and stay home

Bordertown Businesses Depend on Dine - Curfew Realization

The streets of Gallup, NM were empty this weekend due to the weekend curfew

Dine usually race to the bordertowns for the weekend. But this weekend, the Dine were told to stay at home. There was a weekend curfew that lasted from Friday evening to Monday morning. There were some pictures being passed around of eerie empty streets in Gallup and Farmington. Over the next few days and weeks, we will undoubtedly hear about how much this has affected major bordertown businesses such as Walmart, Sam's Club and other money-makers. We will hear about how much these businesses have loss money due to the Dine not being allowed to go to town. This is the reason bordertown businesses will not shut down their operations for a few days even though more and more people are infecting each other with the virus and some are dying. This has made many of us realize our power as a Dine nation, how much the bordertown businesses depend upon the Dine people for their survival. If the bordertown businesses closed down, the Dine People can probably survive without them. Dine are survivors. I truly believe that. The liquor stores such as Sage Brush Liquor store was also forced by the Governor to close down. Yay! The same is true for the State Championship Basketball Games - our Dine support those valley businesses even though our Dine get discriminated against. *SMH* We need to capitalize on our power and make the bordertown businesses cator to our needs, not the other way around. We need to demand better services, products, and to get rid of the racism, or else we'll boycott them. The curfew may be seen as a sort of boycott on these businesses.

Wild Dine arrested for stealing tribal police vehicle

They say that Pinon is where the wild west starts. In the early hours this morning, two wild Dine in Whipporwill, Jessie Nez and Harold Lee Jr., stole a Navajo police vehicle and weapon while they were arrested. ("Suspects drive off with police vehicle") The radio quickly put out a public alert about the incident, to look out for the stolen police vehicle, and that there were armed and dangerous men in the Pinon-Whipporwill area. This may have led to the quick arrest of these men. Around 11 A.M., the Navajo Police Department announced that these men were caught and arrested. I would suggest to Jessie Nez and Harold Lee Jr. if they want some adrenaline-rushing typing of excitement, then they should join the police department or the military. There they can brandish automatic weapons for a good cause.  These organizations have minimum entrance requirements such as having a high school diploma.

Page man arrested for racist Facebook post

There was a man from Page, Arizona who posted on social media to use "lethal force" against Navajos because they have Corona virus. The Page Police Department posted:'

Facebook Post Leads to Arrest

On April 6, 2020, at 7:53pm, the Page Police Department was made aware of a volatile Facebook post that appeared to have been published by a Page resident. The post was threatening in nature and directed toward Navajo community members due to the suspect’s stated belief that all “Navajo” are infected with COVID-19. An investigation was immediately opened, and the suspect was identified as 34-year-old Daniel Franzen of Page, AZ. Franzen was arrested shortly after having made the unlawful social media post and booked into the Coconino County Jail for attempting to incite an act of terrorism, a class 3 felony.

The Page Police Department recognizes the alarming nature of this incident and shares the justified concern this behavior has caused the Navajo community, and others. The police department wishes to remind community members that unlawful hate speech, especially that which singles out protected classes (race, religion, gender, etc.), will be aggressively investigated and violations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. Additionally, threats toward Franzen, as well as other retaliatory measures will be investigated in a like manner.

34-year-old Daniel Frazen was arrested and charged with Attempting to Incite Terrorism, a Class 3 Felony.

Shi Dine'e, be aware of your surroundings.  There are many racist people in our bordertowns who want to harm and destroy the Navajo People and destroy the Navajo way of life. I hope Frazen gets the max.  There's no room for racism in Page.

Know your Dine Identity because Trump is starting to eliminate Indian Reservations

The Wampanoag Tribal Chairman just issued a statement that his tribe is under attack by the federal government.  His tribe is the ‘People of the Light’, the Mashpee Tribe of Massachusetts.  Apparently, he received a letter from the federal government that the Department of Interior will be taking away the tribe’s trust status.  This means the tribal land is not being recognized as an Indian Reservation.  In short, the tribe’s reservation is being eliminated.  It could be fake news but I don’t think this is fake news.  Here’s the Notice from the chairman.

Folks, these are scary times.  I said it before and I’ll say it again:

The fearing time has returned.  Our grandparents dealt with it successfully, as a result, we are here. We need to do what they did and use our traditional teachings, methods, and practices.  This is why it is important to know your language and culture.  This is why it is important that our government and people uphold the traditional Dine ways.  Without these Dine ways, we are no longer Dine.  The 2015 elections involved a language vote which voted down the language, and it was not a good thing.  This virus might be the result, a sort of teaching.

I hope this encourages the Dine to start relearning our traditional Dine language, culture, and way of life.

Can the Navajo Church Rally organizers be charged for murder?

President Nez's Weekly Devotional Prayer Meeting - February 18, 2019

Can the church organizers who held the Chilchinbito revival be charged with murder for causing the death of two members of  the Navajo Nation?  Experts are tracing the outbreak on Navajo to the church rally where many people were infected. The news reports that two people died that attended the rally, but they are not designated as deaths caused by Corona because they were not tested before they died.  However, they died of "respiratory symptoms" after returning from the church rally.  One person was from Chilchinbito and the other was from Lechee. 

The people who caused the Navajo deaths and the Navajo reservation outbreak need to be held accountable and responsible.

President Nez's February 28, 2020 Facebook Post says that there were no known cases of Corona virus on the Navajo reservation at that time. However, the post says:

The World Health Organization encourages people to avoid close contact with others showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing and sneezing, and to wash your hands with warm water and soap often, stay home if you are sick, and to minimize long-distance travel. The coronavirus has the potential to become severe. Severe cases can also lead to pneumonia, kidney failure, and in some cases, death. The most vulnerable are the elders, young children, and those with compromised immune systems.

Despite this warning, the church organizers held a revival on March 3, 2020 in Chilchinbito where many people from throughout the reservation attended. I heard that the pastor was coughing on everyone in attendance. Thereafter, the participants dispersed back to their homes all throughout the Navajo reservation. Aside from the two deaths and 29 confirmed positive cases out of Chilchinbito, we don't know the extent of harm the Church organizers caused. There could be more people who die.

I heard that there were more revivals held in Western Navajo and in New Mexico. The Christian church is causing too much harm to our people.

I am disappointed that our leadership is not addressing the reckless and harmful behavior displayed by the Christian church. I am disappointed that President Nez, Vice President Lizer, and Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown (Kayenta, Chilchinbito, Dennehotso) are taking no action to make the Church people responsible and accountable.  All President Nez says is he meets with his Christian people for weekly devotional prayer meetings.  But he is not willing to make them accountable for causing the death of Navajo people.  Where is the rest of our leadership?  Hopefully, the Navajo Nation Prosecutor would have more sense.

Navajo Nation Chief Justice Joann Jayne's declaration says that the courts may entertain "violations of quarantines and enforcement of precautionary measures". If people are outside their homes or driving around communities, it is possible that police may enforce the shelter in place order. But can the church rally organizers be charged for murder? We need to demand accountability for harm caused.

(Update:  What I am talking about is not out of the ordinary.  A doctor in Connecticut was charged criminally for intentionally coughing on other health care staff.  ‘Doctor facing charges’.  Also, a third person from Navajo Mountain who attended a church revival has died.)

Averting the First of the Month Disaster

Does the Navajo Nation have a plan for the influx of people, including elders, that will be going to the bordertowns on the first of the month? The people need groceries and supplies. Many Dine get goverment payments on the 1st of the month. These Dine will be flocking to the bordertowns to buy groceries and supplies. There will be many people including elders that go to places like Walmart and T & R. There will be congestion. This is a recipe for disaster. What can we do now to prevent a lot of people getting sick and maybe die? We want to prevent that spike in death. Some American leaders have stated that it's okay for the elders to die because it's better for the economy.  ("Coronavirus has Donald Trump and Dan Patrick ready to sacrifice older people")  

Dine care for their elders.  Our leadership and people can:

• Start radio announcements requiring people to send minimal people to get groceries in the bordertowns, and if possible, urge elders to stay at home.
• Set up roadblocks at the outlets (like Window Rock, Shiprock, Leupp, Dilkon, Cameron) and turn away people who have excess people in the vehicle. 
• Make agreements with bordertown businesses (like Walmart) to limit the number of people that go into the store, to periodically wipe down inventory, to require workers to wear gloves and masks, establish a numbering system at the door, urge people to not bunch up at the entrances, provided hand sanitizing or washing stations at the entrances, and refusing people with fevers from entering by checking their temperature using an electric wand thermometer.  
• If there is a shortage of police officers to man the roadblocks, then enlist citizen volunteers to assist at the roadblocks.  

Stay alive - Stay inside. 

Navajo Traditional Teachings about Epidemics

This is some very good information about epidemics in the past.  Elder Wally Brown does a good job talking about Navajo terms involving epidemics.  Great Job Wally!  Nizhoniyee'!

The innovative Jini underwear mask

This is some funny practical advice for making a mask.  I would suggest adding a filter.  Someone said use a coffee filter.  I suggest using one or two fabric sheets or dried-out wipes.  Whatever your method, protect yourself and others.  Nizhoni.

Protect yourself at the Grocery Store - Corona Advice

Yuhauca Knowledge Distribution

The Navajo Nation President has issued a Stay-At-Home order, but a lot of people are complaining that there’s still alot of people at the stores. They ask for a complete lock down. On the other hand, the people at the stores are saying that they need to buy food and groceries and other necessities.

Here’s some Corona Tips:

Stay at home. Don’t let your kids walk around the community. Don’t endanger the lives of others.

If you need groceries or other necessities, send one person to the store. Get as much supplies as possible, but don't hoard all the supplies, to decrease the number of trips to the store.  Since the store will limit your purchases, vary your purchases.  Instead of buying two Orange Juices, get 1 OJ and 1 lemonade.  The less trips to the store, the less risk of exposure to the virus.

When going to the store, take protective and precautionary measures:

• Wear a mask - If there's no mask, use a scarf or bandana to cover your mouth and nose. To make a filter, place one or two dryer sheets between the folds of the scarf. This is better than nothing. It protects you if others are sick, and it protects others if you are sick. Preferably, wash after every use. 
• Wear gloves - If there's no gloves, use wipes or hand sanitizer. If there's none, wash your hands immediately after visiting the store, preferable before returning back to your vehicle. 
• Wipe down the purchased goods - Use wipes. If there's none, use a cloth dipped in hot water with dish detergent and a cap of bleach. Keep this cloth handy, soaked in detergent to wipe your hands when you get back to the vehicle, the door handles, steering wheel, gear shift, your cell phone, your credit card, your keys, and other things you touch. 
• Wash your body - Immediately after visiting the store, take a hot shower and scrub your body down with soap and water, especially the exposed parts of your body, such as your face and hair. This is what the nurses in the front lines practice. 
• Wash your clothes - Immediately after visiting the store, wash your clothes.

I have heard that the virus is composed of very small particles. The small particles have an outer protective layer of fat (lipid) protecting the center. Soap breaks down that grease and is able to destroy the center. I have heard that heat also destroys the virus at 130 degrees. This may be true because the heat melts the fat and exposes the center of the virus particle, destroying the virus. Some people recommend standing next to the fire, taking a sweat bath, and drinking hot tea. I have also heard that drinking Ts'ah raises your immunity.

If you have to go to the  store for food, these practices will help increase your chances of staying alive for your loved ones.  They say that most people who get the virus survive, but why risk it?

Traditional medicine for the elders

The Lakota are supplying Native herbs to their elders during this corona pandemic.  (“Volunteers supplying elders with plant-based Lakota remedies”)  For the Dine, that plant seems to be ts’ah that increases elder immunity.

Surgeon General: "It's going to get bad"

The Surgeon General of the United States says this week is going to get bad.  Here on Navajo, we need to keep reverent and stay inside.  I just wonder why we need to donate blood for this respiratory illness?  Something doesn't smell right.

This is what happens at Revivals

The recent Corona outbreak occurred at a revival like this one, but in Chilchinbito (the Chilchinbeto Church of the Nazarene Zone Rally on March 7).  Pretty crazy.  I wonder how many traditional people are in this video (traditional people who use Christianity as a disguise).  Reminds me of a mosh pit.  President Nez needs to discourage these harmful gatherings.  I heard the pastor from Cameron is nowhere to be found.  (COVID comes to Cameron)

Council Delegate Freeland on Corona

Finally, our leadership is urging us to protect ourselves.  Nizhoni!

Some Corona prevention suggestions for our leaders

Right now, everybody is inside.  People are going out only for groceries and gas.  Here are some tips to implement for our reservation.

Grocery stores and other frequently attended buildings

• Require masks - Don't let people in unless they are wearing masks
• Thermometer check using wand - Don't let anybody in who has a fever
• Handsanitizer stations at the front - Require everybody to use handsanitizer before entering
• No bunching up when the store or building opens - A clerk announces to people to spread apart
• Require workers to use gloves and masks.  

Gas stations

• Somebody pumps gas for people so that there  is no contact with gas pumps.  
• Payment by card which gets wiped.  

These measures requires mass distribution of masks and handsanitizers, but this will create a dent in the spread of the disease. A particularly strong leader can make this happen.

First two deaths from Corona on Navajo, 26 positive, Church revival outbreak

The Navajo Times has reported that two untested people have died of respiratory symptoms.  We can conclude that "respiratory symptoms" means "Covid 19".  Most definitely we will be hearing more from Western Navajo.

Shi Dine'e, this is serious.  Please listen to the instructions to stay in.  The disease is deadly, it spreads easy, and it is very hard  to track it because of lack of resources.  The IHS may be turning people away if they exhaust their resources.  The newspapers reports that Kayenta IHS is turning people away.  Stay alive, stay inside.

What can we do to help?

People who have skills and technical expertise can help to address the hospital shortages.  Now is a time we need to work together to try to help people survive.   Some businesses are stepping up like Harbor Freights who donated all its masks to the hospitals.  The businesses need to step up and help the Navajo people since we give them a lot of money.

We need hospitals for the sick.  The hospitals say they are short of the following  supplies:

• Face masks - (How to make a face mask tutorial on Youtube).  Don't forget to use  the right filter that filters out the virus particles  (3 microns)
• Gloves - Urge your Council Delegate to make a law for Navajo Nation to mass produce rubber gloves at its glove factory.
• Gowns - Purchase and donate large trash bags to the hospital.
• Ventilators - One group of doctors and engineers in Phoenix are trying  to make homemade ventilators using vacuum cleaners. (Picture on right)  People who know 3D printing can also create respirators. (Meet The Italian Engineers 3D-Printing Respirator Parts For Free To Help Keep Coronavirus Patients Alive)

• Beds

These are suggestions to help the hospital.

But we also need to prepare for the situation where hospitals start rejecting sick people.  We have to take care of sick patients ourselves.  Nursing students would be helpful here.

In doing these activities, be sure to practice safe protective measure to avoid getting sick.