Article on Chief Manuelito Scholar
by Danelle Woodman,
Student at Pacific University, Stockton, California
August 2016
I've been trying to write this particular blog post for the past three days, and I can't seem
to present what I experienced at the 2016 Chief Manuelito Scholarship Award Ceremony on the
screen. Perhaps it's not meant to be relived again in words; however, I like a challenge and I
have this undaunted urge to tell you about what it means to a Chief Manuelito Scholar.
The idea arose mid-award ceremony when Dr. Tommy Lewis, superintendent of schools
on the Navajo Nation, took the stage. Before I go any further, let me say that Dr. Tommy Lewis
had a major influence on my decision to go into education when I attended the Ivy League
College Fair in Window Rock a year ago. This was at the time I was writing and researching Public
schools in the United States for my senior paper. I became even more interested when Dr.
Tommy Lewis spoke about the political side of education. I was like, "hey I think I might want to
do this. No, I want to be like him." So you can imagine my excitement when he came on stage.
He was speaking with such passion that there was no doubt that it was unscripted. He explained
his expectations of us scholars in the utmost sincerity and reassurance that (1) graduating
college in four years and (2) taking this scholarship seriously with commitment, prayer, and hard
work was indeed possible to accomplish; and according to Dr. Sophina Calderon of Family
Medicine in Tuba City and keynote speaker, we already had the skills to do so.
It was an eye opener to hear these qualities that not Navajo people possess, but what all
Native people possess. Too often do we look at the negative attributes in which our people are
famous for such as alcoholism, suicide, and tipis. By these skills, we are more than just the
negative traits, and that is inspiring.
Despite being at the award ceremony from 8 am to about 3:30 pm, and patiently waiting
for lunch to be served, and standing in line for about 30 minutes to receive my scholarship
plaque (there were over 100 scholars to be called and awarded), I learned something new that
day. Of all the years I've been going to school, it never occurred to me that I was useful to my
tribe. Aaron Yazzie, a mechanical engineer for NASA and guest speaker at the ceremony, put it
into context for me by saying, "There is a universal Navajo Philosophy that we should work and
be useful. The scholarship committee sees that you have potential to help our nation." That was
the reason why we all were receiving the scholarship, why Dr. Calderon and Aaron Yazzie
received the scholarship when they were going to college, and why future Navajo graduates will
receive the scholarship in the coming years.
In all honesty, I never thought the Chief Manuelito Scholarship was a prestigious as they
presented it that day. They praised each scholar for our diligence in our studies and our skills in
which we never knew we had. It was awesome.
Now, I'm not ‘gonna’ be a snob and say that I'm so smart and better than everyone else,
it's not about that. It really was a great honor to receive the scholarship, but I must say that
before entering Twin Arrows Resort and Casino in which the event was held, I thought it wasn't
that big of a deal. From what I've heard from Chief Manuelito Scholars in the past, they refer to
the award as "easy to get". Now that I think about it, it almost seems like they didn't appreciate
it as much as the Department of Diné Education wanted them to.
I'll admit that I thought that the department could give more scholarships, but choose
not to because they would rather embezzle. Yes! I had this opinion about them because of what
others assumed and preached about. After July 22nd, 2016, I came to know that I was wrong. I
was ashamed that I thought of this scholarship as one with no meaning; when in fact it does. The
scholarships they give may not seem that much in quantity, but when I saw ever department
member beaming with proud smiles as I shook their hands with my plaque under my arm, I saw
so much more. (I do apologize to the Department of Diné Education in Window Rock. I know
now that every single one of it's employees are working in our best interest.)
On the ride home east, across the beautiful painted desert, I saw everything in a new
perspective. Now when I look around my home and community in Sanders, and even beyond
the red-ridged mesas to the vast land in which the Navajo people live, and even farther in all
directions across state lines to other reservations, I see poverty, despair, suicide, alcoholism, and
most of all historical trauma. I see native people struggling to survive in the United States with
food stamps and social security benefits. I see young children deprived of a quality education in
which they can be proud of. Furthermore, I see sadness because many Indigenous people
believe that these problems cannot be fixed. However, I also see potential in each native person
and the few students who have the courage to defy the stereotypes held to their ancestry to
become greater than their circumstances. When I think of that, I feel empowered to do the
same.
"You may never stop thinking or dreaming of the future, and if
you think about it, that's a beautiful way to live. "
-
Aaron Yazzie, Mechanical Engineer,
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories
As I continue to look around and evaluate my surroundings on this particular place on earth, I
wonder about how we as Native Americans allow this potential to be downgraded and hidden
from society. There are many scholarships aimed toward providing funds to high achieving
Native Students to help them accomplish their dreams of going into medicine, law, or even
education like myself. Yet, we still see other ethnicities besides native people as our doctors, our
lawyers, and even teachers. Wouldn't you think that we are capable of treating, defending, and
teaching our own children than someone who has no knowledge of our people? I may be
speaking out of turn, but the dream has been thrown around in the wind for years since the days
of white settlement, AIM, and now that more scholarships are available to make it possible; so
my question is, who will catch the dream and hold on to it?
I understand that it is not so easy as to reveal potential as to put it to good use, but
there's still that yearn in the back of my head that wants you, and all those who are at crossroad,
to not be afraid of taking a chance on change.
I asked a fellow scholar what she thought being a Chief Manuelito Scholar meant. Here's
what she said:
..To me it means that I have been given the great opportunity and support from
the Nation and our Diné to further my education. Although, if you would have
told me I would be awarded with this scholarship, I probably would not have
believed you. As I believe that miracles only happen to the luckiest of people.
[Although] feeling at my lowest and no sense of direction of how I am going to
continue college financially, I was awarded two of the biggest scholarships that I
have ever known: The Chief Manuelito Scholarship and the Gates Millennium
Scholarship. Now I look at all the hard work, the dedication, and the faith I put
forth in which has given me so much support to continue my future towards my
career. My determination helped me get to my miracle.
Throughout the award ceremony, the same dream of sovereignty and progression of the
Navajo People were spoken from the heart as if it were a cry for help. I see it now, now that I've
become aware of my place and purpose in the tribe. Now that my Chief Manuelito Scholarship
Plaque is sitting on my cramped shelf, it stands as a reminder that as a recipient of this award, I
have an obligation to help my people. Since receiving the task by the President of the Navajo
Nation to "go get an education", I've never been more afraid to fall short to my expectation. I
mean, come on, it's a lot to take on; but then I remember what Aaron Yazzie said that whenever
he's asked if he ever thought he'd work for NASA, he always responds: "Yes and No." Cue the
chuckles from the crowd. "I had big dreams," he continued. “I dreamed that I wanted to work at
NASA, but it's like saying I wanted to meet Batman or George Strait. You say things that you
want for yourself, but no one actually believes it will happen."
I understood what he met by people not really believing. Who knew that although we
have big dreams, there is no justification that it will happen. On the contrary, as a mechanical
engineer he gave his equation to accomplish your dreams, no matter how big or small.
Small goals + small success get you to the ultimate goal. He explained that they will become
more attainable at every step.
"Dream big, even if you think you may never meet George Strait. Never stop believing."
So as it has become accustomed for me to lend advice in ever blog post, I'll say just as the NASA
engineer said, “Never stop believing.” Never stop believing that you are more than a percent of
minorities in this country. Never stop believing that your family and future family will have a
better life, better financial situation, and better education. There will always be doubters who
will find the excuse that as Natives we can't make a difference because of where we start. Just
as Dr. Calderon stated, “We have strengths and no matter how small, they are our keys to
success. They make us who we are as indigenous people and they'll take us to where we need to
be.”
Okay, you say to yourself, you went through all that, so tell me, what does it mean to be a
Chief Manuelito Scholar? Well, in the simplest terms, it means a future for my family, my
community, and my tribe. Even more so, it means that my future students [I plan to be a
teacher] will be prepared not only for college, but for life as well. I want them to have the same
opportunity to receive a college education if they wish. Most importantly to look forward,
unafraid with no uncertainty that they can't be who they dream to be, just because they grew up
on the ‘rez’. I suppose that it also means a future for me in the sense that I can be like Dr.
Tommy Lewis, passionate and useful to Navajo education. All I have to do is believe and
probably a couple essays and like several hours of studying. You know, the usual college stuff.
To those who think they can't receive the Chief Manuelito Scholarship or any scholarship
for that matter or maybe you think you don't have a duty to your tribe, take these words into
account from my inspiration, Dr. Tommy Lewis: "As you journey through life, I challenge you to
keep in mind the many sacrifices your ancestors made on your behalf so that you could continue
your education and lead a prosperous life."
Have the courage to take on the task to help your people, even if the odds are against
you. I think that from everything I learned from this joyous occasion, I've never been more sure
that native communities can be prosperous and healthy with the guidance of the educated
youth.
I guess the question now is, who's going to believe with me?