Stories from Frank Mitchell's life spoken in Navajo - See notes for description, recorded June 1963
File — CD: 5
Scope and Contents
Grew up in Tsaile. One incident of falling asleep during a ceremony—his uncle woke him up. Moved to Black Mountains. No permanent home. Traded lambs with the Hopi. Started farming. Axes were scace. Tsaile built a trading post. Indian Boarding School. Schooling began at Fort Defiance, Arizona. Children were forced to attend school. He would hide when the police arrived at the house. He was about 12 or 13 years old. The parents had a meeting about the schooling. Parents were against schooling. The school agent created problems in the community. Rumors: a school representative liked to steal children. One guy got a horse to take a letter to the police. When he got to an open area, other men saw him and tried to kill his horse but they never caught up with him. They all went home. A family took the agent to the trading post. He made an announcement that it was the order of the President of the United States to bring children to school. Ever since, parents released their children to go to school. He was told to go to school. He was taken away by wagon. At school, he received new clothes. He went home at the end of school year. His parents were disappointed that the school shaved his head. The following school year, he stayed home because his parents wanted him to. Three years later he returned to school. While at school, he and a friend ran away to find work. In the meantime, back home people were looking for them. They worked and moved along with the company. During this period, a squaw dance was held once in a great while and many people did not travel. Chinle trading post opened. He became a dishwasher and would work late at night. He watched men play cards and gamble. The lady he stayed with was weaving. He touched her and she hit him. He left the house and stayed at the church.
Dates
- recorded June 1963
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 box (23 CDs)
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451