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Stories from Frank Mitchell's life spoken in Navajo, conclusion, recorded June 1963

 File — CD: 7

Scope and Contents

He was forced to get up early in the morning. When it snowed, he had to go outside and roll in the snow. He was not allowed to sleep late or you get old at an early age. Talks about becoming a medicine man. Talks about tribal government at the chapter level. Public schools were built. Prior to this, only B.I.A. schools existed. Children had a choice to stay at the Indian Boarding School or be a day student. Education. The younger generation is ignoring their culture. If they continue to ignore it, our culture will be lost. He says that the people would rather help a white person than help their own relatives. Loss of culture. Modern houses are being built, funded by the tribe. Hospitals are built. Now, people can go to the hospital when they get sick. They would rather go to the hospital than to see a medicine man. Long time ago, the people used to help built something or try to do something so that other people would remember you after you die. Navajo dialogue ends. He speaks in English. [question:] when was he born? He was born 1895. [He is 82 years old.] Navajo dialogue. Grandmother had sheep which she regularly migrated to Black Mountain to let her sheep graze. His grandfather never went with her to Black Mountain. The grand children would ask their grandmother why she always went by herself. She would say that if she dragged him along he would die. A donkey would always come at night and eat the corn. One morning, the donkey was there. He captured it and cut its ears off and the donkey never came back. Later, he went to his grandfather to borrow a horse. His grandfather told him that he can take the one with the chopped ears. At one previous job, they camped for the night. Nearby, there was a liquor establishment. Everybody got drunk. Next day, they started traveling again. They traveled and made another camp for the night. End

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