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42
QuESTION:
Chairman MacDon–
a ld, do you believe that most
people uoderstand the American
Jndians?
ANSWER:
Definitely not! ff more
people take the time to study and
evaluate the American Indian,
J
think there is a very good chance
for understanding. But heretofore,
and still today, people think In–
dian people live on a small one–
acre place with a fence around it, a
teepee and wear feathers, and the
government pays them checks
every month. This is the concept
among the majority.
Q .
Js this concept true, that In–
dians
Ji
ve off welfare?
A.
On the Navajo reservation,
about 20% of the population re–
ceives welfare checks of
60
to
160
dollars a month. But probably
50%
of the population lives off tha t 20%
who receive welfare. Out of a
$160
11
lndians have be–
come somewhat
confused as to
where we really
are, what we
really are, and
where we are
really going."
check, there may be as many as
three families living off that check
received by one grandmother be–
cause the rest of them don't have
jobs.
Q .
Why a re the social problems on
the r eserva tion - a lcoholism, sui–
cide and many others - higher here
tban elsewbere?
A.
1 think much of it can be at–
tributed to the economic condition
on the reservation and secondly, to
the changing nature of the culture.
When an alien nation with its cul–
ture and language enters, it neces–
sitates a transition period. During
this period, Tndians have become
somewhat confused as to what we
really are and where we are really
going.
Q .
How does the boa rding scbool
concept affect the younger cbildren
when they ar e taken away from
their families?
Chairman
Peter MacDonald,
the Nava¡o Tribe
A.
Between three and five thou–
sand of our children are off the res–
ervation going to school. I'm sure
this affects them, but the fact re–
mains that classroom space here
on the reservation is inadequate to
take care of all the Navajos. There–
fore , we have many of them going
to school in Utah, California,
Oklahoma and many other areas.
Q .
As far as jobs go, do you envi–
sion that livestock and farming will
cont inue to
be
a major part of the
economy?
A.
Yes.
lt
will probably remain for
a long time.
Q .
Looking into the future, what
would you say is the destiny of the
Navajo tribe and tbe American
In–
dian in general?
A.
1
see that in the future lndians
will take their rightful place in
American society, if given the kind
PLAIN TRUTH February 1973