I
recently had the extraordinary opportunity to teach a few business etiquette
workshops at Dine'College in Arizona, which is deep in the heart of the Navajo Nation.
Upon hearing about my workshops -- and where -- many contributed their
impressions of what type of people the Navajo would be. Many also shared
stories about driving on the reservation--beware the reservation police. After
spending a few days with the lovely students and staff of Dine', I found most
of what I heard to be untrue. Therefore, I would like to share my experiences
with you.
Navajos Ride Skateboards and Play Hacky Sack Too!
Stereotyping
is common and I found it rampant when others shared what they thought they knew
about who the Navajo are. Many had mentioned that the Navajo are an isolated
people, distant, quiet, and reserved. Some suggested that they do not typically
partake in most things current, like today's music, television shows, and
fashion.
Yes,
it is true that they honor their traditions and are very family-oriented, but
they are still people living in this time period. For example, while walking on
Dine' campus, I found young people playing hacky sack while plugged into their
iPods or cells.
Young
men rode their skateboard to class and young women discussed fashion. Two
students passed me as one was slowly riding a skateboard while the other was
recording him on his cellphone. Most likely, the video is on YouTube right now.
This is not much different from most other campuses I've traversed.
When
approaching students with questions, every one of them was open, helpful, and
most polite.
In fact, politeness is one of the most common characteristics I found
of the Navajo—on and off-campus.
Were my Workshops a Success?
One of my biggest concerns while planning a workshop is if the
audience will "get me". Typically, I intersperse silly little jokes
throughout my presentations. After all, if I'm not having fun, my audience
probably will not enjoy it either. However, my humor is...somewhat quirky. Most
appreciate it, but some do not get it at all. Therefore, understanding my
audience in the planning stage is extremely important and I wasn't quite sure
if this audience would laugh or consider me odd.
Again, the Navajo proved to be just like most audiences. They
laughed at all my quirky jokes, they asked interesting questions, and they appeared
to follow all my material. One difference between these students and some
others is how appreciative they were. They deeply appreciated
me and my lessons...a teacher's dream come true.
Navajo Police and Driving on the Reservation
Countless times, people warned me that the police on the
reservation were sticklers for the speed limit and hand out tickets like a hot
dog vendor at a baseball game. This was not my experience at all. Speeding
wasn't on my agenda, so I didn't press the issue in the first place. However, I
did not witness officers handing out tickets or setting up speed traps. I found
the police to be like all others I've seen. They are there to help.
Summary
My visit with those at Dine' College demonstrates – to me at least
– that none of us are vastly different from each other. We may be separated by
tradition and location, but we are all remarkably similar.
Black &
Women's History: Mary Ellen Pleasant (1812'ish-1904)
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