Education on NL

8/3/2019 Education on NL

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Education on NavajoLand: A Paradox of Place,Kelly Gneiting

To borrow a line from the 2003 Hollywood production The Last Samurai My ancestors have

ruled Japan for 2,000 years. Now we have railroads and cannons and Western clothingstill, wecannot forget who we are, or where we come from. The Emperor of Japan

It can be argued that the Navajo Indian Tribe is the most indigenous and culturally well-preserved Native American group in the United States. This is evidenced in part by comparing

the racial proportion of entries in the Census Long-Form collected for the 2000 Census. In theU.S., the percentage of Navajo Alone population (which combines with Navajo in

combination with one or more races) exceeds 90% (see figure 1).

Figure 1: Twelve Largest Indian Tribes Comparison of Alone Population

In addition, a glance at the 2006 Statistical Abstract of the United States (U.S. Census) revealsthat of 38 tribes represented in the report, Navajos not only rank 1st in percentage of NativePopulation who live on the reservation (versus off) at 62%, they also rank 1 st in Percentage of

Native Americans (versus population of non-native Americans) who live on Tribal Reservationland (Navajo Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land in AZ-NM-UT) at 96.4%,

(see figures 2 and 3).

Twelve Largest Indian Tribes

Census 2000 Population

39%

90.3%

56%

71% 71% 55%

80%59%

89.7%56% 32%56%

-

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

Chero

kee

Nava

jo

Cana

dian

&La

tin

American

Sioux

Chippewa

Choc

taw

Pue

blo

Apac

he

Lum

bee

Iroquo

is

Cree

k

Blac

kfee

t

Population

American Indian

and

Alaska Native

alone

American Indian

and Alaska Native

tribe in any

combination

Source: U.S. Census


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Year 2000 Year 2000 Living

ON & OFF REZ ON & OFF REZ % RANK ON REZ RANK

American Indian

and Alaska Native

tribe alone or inany combination

American Indian

and AlaskaNative alone

Alone

Percent ofTotal Pop

Alone

Percent ofTotal Pop

American Indian


American Indian


Total persons 2,549,590 1,522,227 59.7% 39%

Alaskan Athabascan 18,838 14,520 77.1% 9 28% 25

Aleut 10,548 6,606 62.6% 21 2% 35

Apache 96,833 57,060 58.9% 25 45% 14

Blackfeet 85,750 27,104 31.6% 38 27% 27

Cherokee 729,533 281,069 38.5% 36 33% 21

Cheyenne 18,204 11,191 61.5% 23 37% 18

Chickasaw 38,351 20,887 54.5% 30 48% 9

Chippewa 149,669 105,907 70.8% 13 28% 26

Choctaw 158,774 87,349 55.0% 29 46% 11

Colville 9,393 7,833 83.4% 4 48% 10

Comanche 19,376 10,120 52.2% 31 32% 23

Cree 7,734 2,488 32.2% 37 0% 36

Creek 71,310 40,223 56.4% 27 46% 12

Crow 13,394 9,117 68.1% 17 52% 7

Delaware 16,341 8,304 50.8% 32 19% 31

Iroquois 80,822 45,212 55.9% 28 22% 29

Kiowa 12,242 8,559 69.9% 16 45% 13

Canadian and Latin American 192,770 108,802 56.4% 26 0% 36

Lumbee 57,868 51,913 89.7% 2 53% 6

Menominee 9,840 7,883 80.1% 7 29% 24

Navajo 298,197 269,202 90.3% 1 62% 1

Osage 15,897 7,658 48.2% 33 36% 19

Ottawa 10,677 6,432 60.2% 24 0% 36

Paiute 13,532 9,705 71.7% 12 32% 22

Pima 11,493 8,519 74.1% 11 35% 20

Potawatomi 25,595 15,817 61.8% 22 19% 30

Pueblo 74,085 59,533 80.4% 6 61% 3

Puget Sound Salish 14,631 11,034 75.4% 10 43% 16

Seminole 27,431 12,431 45.3% 34 42% 17

Shoshone 12,026 7,739 64.4% 20 27% 28

Sioux 153,360 108,272 70.6% 14 44% 15

TlingitHaida 22,365 14,825 66.3% 19 18% 32

Tohono OOdham 20,087 17,466 87.0% 3 56% 5

Ut e 10,385 7,309 70.4% 15 58% 4

Yakama 10,851 8,481 78.2% 8 61% 2

Yaqui 22,412 15,224 67.9% 18 18% 33

Yuman 8,976 7,295 81.3% 5 52% 8

Eskimo 54,761 23,138 42.3% 35 16% 34

Figure 2: Population Comparison of Major Indian Tribes on the Reservation 1 of 2

Source: U.S. Census


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Percent RANKAmerican Indian RANK of Native OF

and Alaska Native OF Indian Percent

Ameri can Indian populat ion al one or Amer ican Ind ian Popu la tion of Nati ve

Total and Alaska Nati ve i n combinati on w ith and Alaska Native alone or in Indian

RESERVATION, TRUST LAND or OTHER AREA Populat ion populat ion alone one or more races populat ion alone combination Populat ion

Arctic Slope ANRC, AK 7,385 5,050 5,453 38 73.8% 18

Bering Straits ANRC, AK 9,196 6,915 7,274 25 79.1% 15

Blackfeet Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MT 10,100 8,507 8,684 19 86.0% 12

Bristol Bay ANRC, AK 7,892 5,336 5,749 35 72.8% 20

Calista ANRC, AK 23,032 19,617 20,353 8 88.4% 10

Cherokee OTSA, OK 462,327 76,041 104,482 2 22.6% 25

Cheyenne River Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, SD 8,470 6,249 6,346 32 74.9% 17

Cheyenne-Arapaho OTSA, OK 157,869 7,402 10,310 23 6.5% 37

Chickasaw OTSA, OK 277,416 22,946 32,372 7 11.7% 32

Choctaw OTSA, OK 224,472 29,521 39,984 5 17.8% 28

Citizen Potawatomi Nation-Absentee Shawnee OTSA, OK 106,624 6,733 10,617 26 10.0% 34

Cook Inlet ANRC, AK 364,205 24,923 35,972 6 9.9% 35

Creek OTSA, OK 704,565 51,296 77,253 4 11.0% 33

Crow Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, MT 6,894 5,165 5,275 37 76.5% 16

Doyon ANRC, AK 97,190 11,182 14,128 12 14.5% 29

Eastern Cherokee Reservation, NC 8,092 6,665 6,898 27 85.2% 14

Flathead Reservation, MT 26,172 6,999 7,883 24 30.1% 22

Fort Apache Reservation, AZ 12,429 11,702 11,854 10 95.4% 6

Fort Peck Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, MT 10,321 6,391 6,577 31 63.7% 21

Gila River Reservation, AZ 11,257 10,353 10,578 14 94.0% 7

Hopi Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, AZ 6,946 6,573 6,633 28 95.5% 5

Kiowa-Comanche-Apache-Fort Sill Apache OTSA, OK 193,260 9,675 13,045 16 6.7% 36

Lumbee SDAISA, NC 474,100 58,238 62,327 3 13.1% 30

NANAANRC,AK 7,208 5,944 6,181 34 85.8% 13

Navajo Nation Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, AZ-NM-UT 180,462 173,987 175,228 1 97.1% 1

Osage Reservation, OK 44,437 6,410 9,209 30 20.7% 27Pine Ridge Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, SD-NE 15,521 14,304 14,484 9 93.3% 8

Rosebud Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, SD 10,469 9,040 9,165 17 87.5% 11

Sac and Fox OTSA, OK 55,690 5,334 7,232 36 13.0% 31

San Carlos Reservation, AZ 9,385 8,921 9,065 18 96.6% 2

Sealaska ANRC, AK 71,507 11,320 15,059 11 21.1% 26

Standing Rock Reservation, SD-ND 8,250 5,964 6,054 33 73.4% 19

Tohono O'odham Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, AZ 10,787 9,718 9,794 15 90.8% 9

Turtle Mountain Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MT-ND-S 8,331 8,009 8,043 20 96.5% 3

United Houma Nation SDAISA, LA 839,880 11,019 15,305 13 1.8% 38

Wind River Reservation and Of-Reservation Trust Land, WY 23,250 6,544 6,864 29 29.5% 23

Yakama Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, WA 31,799 7,411 8,193 22 25.8% 24

Zuni Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, NM-AZ 7,758 7,426 7,466 21 96.2% 4

Figure 3: Population Comparison of Major Indian Tribes on the Reservation 2 of 2

Source: U.S. Census, 2006 Statistical Abstract of the United States


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Education Attainment Among 10 Tribes & 4 Ethnic Groups

How Navajo's Compare (14 Total Ethnicities)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

110%

120%

Less than 9th

grade

9th to 12th

grade, no dipl.

(or less)

High school

graduate

(or less)

Some college,

no degree

(or less)

Associate

degree

(or less)

Bachelor's

degree

(or less)

Graduate or

prof. Degree

(or less)

PercentofPopulation,

Age18andOlder Black

Asian

Apache

Blackfeet

Cherokee

Chippewa

Choctaw

Creek

Latin American Indian

Lumbee

Navajo

Sioux

Hispanic or Latino

White

12 th 12 th 12 th 13 th 14 th 14 th

Navajo Ranking (of 14 Tribes/Races)

Another perhaps unfortunate indicator of indigenous is that Navajos are the least educated

among all other tribes and ethnicities (see figures 4 and 5). Hence, from a Navajo perspective anegative correlation exists between two favorable objectivesthat of maintaining deep-seeded

cultures and values, and high levels of education attainmentsomething that would empowerNavajos with heightened ability to co-exist with other ethnicities and cultures socially and

economically. The fact that Navajos do not compromise culture, yet still pursue education isbrought out on a billboard outside Gallup, NM which quotes the legendary Navajo ChiefManuelito: My grandchild, education is the ladder. Tell our people to take it.

Figure 4: Education Attainment among Various Ethnicities & Tribes 1 of 2

Theres good news for Chief Manuelito. Our research indicates that higher education levels are

being obtained without compromising Navajo cultural and spatial integrity, and that Navajosare finding solutions to the paradox that exists within the Navajo culture in that Navajos are

drawn to, and are healthier living in, their homeland, a region where relatively few resources areavailable to gain an education in the traditional American sense.

Education and achievement to a Navajo has been primarily maintaining culture and language,from songs and ceremonies, to healing, sheep-herding, and living off the land. However, based

on recent trends in undergraduate and graduate degrees, Navajos are adding to this and slowlybroadening their views to include more seculartypes of knowledge (see figure 16).

Source: U.S. Census


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PERCENT of Navajos living on Navajo Nation Reservation by AGE

40%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

1 5 913

17

21

25

29

33

37

41

45

49

53

57

61

65andAbove

Age

PercentofNavajo

Population

How Educated are Indians?

U.S. Census Data: Reported American Indian Alone, Persons over 25

American Indian data is Decennial Census 2000, all other ethnicities is 2004 Census current population survey data

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

NonN

NUnite

dState

sIndia

ns

NonN

NArizo

naInd

ians

NonN

NNew

Mexico

Indian

s

NonN

NUtah

Indian

s

Navaj

oNatio

n

United

State

sTota

l

U.S.Hisp

anics

U.S.W

hites(a

lone)

U.S.Blac

ks(alo

ne)

U.S.A

sians

(alone)

Doctorate/Prof School Degree

Masters Degree

Bachelors Degree

Associates Degree

> 0 years of College (no degree)

High School Graduate

9th through 12th Grades (no diploma)

1st through 8th Grades

No Schooling Completed

42.1% 41.5%

8.2%12.1%

Figure 5: Education Attainment among Various Ethnicities & Tribes 2 of 2

Navajo Are Drawn to Their Homeland

The chart below shows that beginning at age 27, Navajos who have been away from the

reservation begin to come back at an increasing rate with age (see figures 6 and 7). In addition,Navajo Nation migration rates are the lowest in the Country2.5 times lower than the nationalaverage, and 3 times lower than the AZ, NM, UT regional average (see figure 8).

Figure 6: Percent of Navajos living on Navajo Nation Reserv. by AGE

Source: U.S. Census, NN = Navajo Nation


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U.S. Arizona

New

Mexico Utah

White alone 20.4% 25.4% 23.4% 22.6%

Black or African American alone 17.9% 27.2% 33.5% 41.9%

American Indian and Alaska Native alone 23.0% 15.4% 14.2% 26.0%

Asian alone 31.5% 39.6% 39.7% 37.0%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 27.5% 37.9% 40.7% 29.1%

Some other race alone 24.0% 23.5% 17.1% 41.4%

TOTAL 20.9% 25.1% 21.9% 24.1%

Navajo Nation Indians alone 8.3% 8.6% 8.0% 7.4%

Navajo Nation Indians alone Percentage of Total 40% 34% 36% 31%

Percent of Population Who Have Moved: 1995 - 2000

Both Out-migrants & In-migrants

PERCENT of Navajos living on Navajo Nation Reservation by AGE RANGE

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

1 5 913

17

21

25

29

33

37

41

45

49

53

57

61

65an

dAbove

Age Range Lower Limit

(Upper Limit = 104 years)

PercentofNavajoPopulation

Figure 7: Percent of Navajos living on Navajo Nation Reservation by AGERANGE

Figure 8: Percent of Population Who Have Moved from 1995 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census

Navajo Are Healthier Living in Their Homeland

2002 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) suicide data indicates that while suiciderates are the highest in the Country in NavajoLand for school-age youth (based on McKinley

County, NM and Apache County, AZ approximations), ratesfor the same region are the lowestin the Country for the middle-to-old-age cohortand astonishing change of humanistic

Source: U.S. Census


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Ages 5-19 Ages 45-84 Other Ages

United States 15% 20% 65%

New Mexico + Arizona 19% 11% 70%

Navajo Language Survey "YES" Percentage Response by Age

71%65%

90% 87%90%

95% 94% 95%100%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

3-6 7-18 19-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89

Navajo "Yes" Resposes

PercentResponse

Suicide Suicide Suicide Suicide

County Rank Rank Rank Rank

Lower Limit # of Apache Co. McKinley Co. Apache Co. McKinley Co.

Population Counties Arizona New Mexico Average Arizona New Mexico Average

Cut-Off in Analysis TOTAL5-19 TOTAL5-19 Percentile TOTAL45-89 TOTAL45-89 Percentile

7,000 2,642 8 15 0.4% 2,603 2,597 98%

10,000 2,384 6 10 0.3% 2,354 2,348 99%

15,000 2,031 2 5 0.2% 2,010 2,006 99%

20,000 1,729 2 4 0.2% 1,711 1,708 99%

25,000 1,507 2 4 0.2% 1,492 1,489 99%

behavioral, with only time as the variable of change (see figures 9 and 10). As well, survey dataperformed by our division indicates that Navajo involvement in traditional language & cultural

practices increases with age beginning in ones twenties (see figure 11).

Figure 9: Suicide Ranks for McKinley County, NM and Apache County, AZusing 2002 National Suicide Rates by AGE and ETHNICITY

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 2002 Nationwide Data

Figure 10: Percent of Native American Suicides by Age Range for Two

Regions

Source: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 2002 Nationwide Data

Figure 11: Navajo Concern for Their Culture by AGE

A Yes Response indicated involvement or a high

level of concern for Language & Culture Activities

Source: Navajo Language & Culture Office, Department of Dine Education,

601 persons interviewed in Shiprock, Tuba City, & Window Rock


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Economic Employees Employment

Population Establishments Hired Per Pop.

United States 281,421,906 7,254,745 114,064,976 41%

Gallup 26,997 879 12,021 45%

Flagstaff 69,419 2,452 27,666 40%

Farmington 48,389 1,730 24,737 51%

Navajo Nation 169,911 957 16,927 10%

Navajo Nation '03 856 16,749

Navajo

Nation AZ NM UT USA

Median Family Income 22,392$ 46,723$ 39,425$ 51,022$ 50,046$

Per Capita Income 7,269$ 20,275$ 17,261$ 18,185$ 21,587$

Median Household Income 20,005$ 40,558$ 34,133$ 45,726$ 41,994$

The 20 (of 3,140) Most Impoverished Counties in America

Census 2000 Figures

McKinley Co, NM

75% Indian Apache Co, AZ

77% Indian

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

% of Population Under the Poverty Level

(U.S. Census Defined)

NativeAmericanPopulation

In the 20 poorest Counties in

America,

American Indian Population

accounts for 45%

The conscious decision by Navajos to both come back to, and remain in their homeland isincreasingly remarkable given the fact that the region is among the poorest in America, and

Navajos are poorer than any other ethnicity or Native American tribe (see figures 12 & 13).

Figure 12: Scatterplot of Native American Population and Impoverishmentby 20 Poorest Counties in the U.S.

Figure 13: NN Comparison of Economic Indicators by State/U.S.

The Navajo Nation Reservation has an economy that is barely alive, yet the region maintains avery high populationa population that shows minimal outside commuting to neighboring

economic hubs such as Gallup, NM, Farmington, NM, and Flagstaff, AZ. Furthermore, sinceyear 2000, job growth on the Navajo Nation Reservation has been slightly negative (see figures14 & 15).

Figure 14: NN Comparison of Economic Indicators by City/U.S.

Source: Population is Census ZCTA, Economic Establishments and EmployeesHired is Census Zip-Code Business Patterns approximations. For this figure over 41%

(the U.S. Employment per population) would suggest in-commuting from outside the area.


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Figure 15: NN Comparison of Population & Employment

Figure 15a: Population Comparison (based on area of circle) based on Flagstaff proportions

Figure 15b: Employment Comparison (based on area of circle) based on Flagstaff proportions


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On the reservation, the employment per population is more than 4-times lower (10%) than thenational ratio (41%), and the minute amount of commuting to places outside the reservation

suggests that Navajos simply live on far less resources than othersall others.

The most representative Navajo Nation counties of Apache, AZ and McKinley, NM are two ofthe three poorest counties in America that have a population of over 50,000, and the NavajoNation has over 50% of children under 5 years old living in poverty (Census 2000), versus 18%

for the U.S average. Many Navajos still live without running water or electricity (examples tofollow).

Still, when a decision is to be made between education and place of residence, more Navajoschoose to live in the land of their ancestryat almost twice the rate of most other Indian Tribes

(see figure 2). The majority of Navajos simply prioritize what geographers call sense of placeover education and the financial gains derived, a decision that has perpetuated the academicachievement gap as the term is known within the 270 elementary and high schools that serve

Navajo students on or near the reservation.

Despite these facts, Navajos living on the Navajo Nation Reservation have shown the mostimprovement in education levels of any race or tribe from 1990 to 2000 (see figure 16). Figuresindicate an astonishing 10% increase in college and above levels of education, 66% higher

than the national rate. As well, a 3.3% increase in college degrees show a reciprocalimprovement over the rest of Native America, where the proportion of college degrees has

decreased2.1% within the decade (see figure 16).

As well, it is no secret that Navajos living off the Reservation are more educated (see figure 17).

And yet, in many occasions these people come back to the Navajo Nation when a suitable

position of employment becomes available to themfor the purpose of helping the people oftheir homelanda region that, according to Navajo belief, is protected by the 4 sacredmountains (examples to follow).

The ratio of Navajos (combined) living on the reservation (versus outside the rez) hasmaintained 65% for both 1990 and 2000 Census years, leaving 9% of Navajos living in the

border-town off-the-rez locations of Flagstaff, Winslow, Holbrook (in AZ), Gallup andFarmington (in NM). The Majority of the remaining 26% of Navajos reside in or near the 5major cities of Albuquerque, Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles.

All this is evidence that Navajos are finding ways to educate themselves andstay on the

reservation. How are they getting this done? By improving education on the reservation, andby taking the best of what outside educators and education centers offer and bringing it to thereservationa pattern of educating that will likely increase. Will economic opportunities

follow?


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Figure 16: NN Comparison of Education Attainment

Year > > > 1990 2000 1990 2000 1990 2000

Education Level

NN

Indians

NN

Indians Whites Whites Blacks Blacks< 9th 37% 25% 9% 6% 14% 8%

9th - 12th, No Degree 22% 20% 13% 11% 23% 20%

HS Graduate 24% 27% 31% 30% 28% 30%

Some College, No Degree 10% 17% 19% 22% 19% 22%

Asso. Degree 4% 5% 6% 7% 5% 6%Bachelors 2% 3% 14% 17% 8% 9%

Graduate 1% 1% 8% 9% 4% 5%

Less than HS Graduate 83% 73% 53% 46% 65% 57%

College Degree 7% 10% 28% 33% 17% 20%

Less than HS Graduate

Percent Decrease

College DegreePercent Increase

Year > > > 1990 2000 1990 2000 2000 2000 2000

Education Level

Asians

or PI

Asians

or PI

Non-NN

Indians

Non-NN

Indians

Hispanic/

Latino

Nav Less

NN

Non NN I's

less Nav

< 9th 13% 11% 12% 10% 28% 8% 10%9th - 12th, No Degree 10% 9% 19% 18% 20% 15% 18%

HS Graduate 19% 16% 28% 29% 22% 29% 29%

Some College, No Degree 15% 14% 20% 24% 16% 29% 24%

Asso. Degree 8% 7% 6% 7% 4% 8% 7%Bachelors 23% 26% 6% 8% 7% 7% 8%

Graduate 14% 17% 8% 4% 4% 3% 4%

Less than HS Graduate 41% 36% 59% 57% 70% 53% 58%

College Degree 44% 50% 21% 18.6% 15% 18.7% 19%

Less than HS Graduate

Percent DecreaseNA NA NA

College Degree

Percent IncreaseNA NA NA-2.1% NA

1.7% NA

7.3%

3.4%

10.0%

3.3%

7.1%

4.7%

5.0%

5.4%

1.7%

-2.1%

Source: U.S. Census 1990 & 2000 Figures


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Figure 17: Year 2000, Education Levels of Navajos both On and Off theReservation

1-2 paragraph description of the purpose and content of the session

As youve noticed, the Navajo Nation Reservation is a land of extremes (indigenous,education levels/increases, suicide rates, migration rates, poverty etc.). The purpose of thispresentation is to portray the paradox cited and then show that Navajos are bridging the gap

by becoming a more educated people while living on the Navajo Nation Reservation, in an areawhere poverty runs rampant, and where few opportunities exist in the traditional American

sense.

The majority of Navajos are insisting that high levels of education need not come at the

expense of culture, language, and place. It is a tall order, but Navajos are proving steadyprogression can be made.

50 word abstract describing the education research topic to be discussed

The indigenous Navajo culture has lacked a traditional education, yet time has shown that the

majority of Navajos do not compromise their cultural identity in a quest to achieve learning.

Instead they have made steady progress in bringing learning to themselves, in a way that

doesnt compromise their proud lifestyle.

Education Level of Navajos Both On and Off the Reservation

0 %

5 %

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

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omple

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Bache

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Maste

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Profes

siona

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ree

Docto

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PercentofNavajoPopulation

Navajo's Outside the NN

Navajo's Inside the NN

Education on NL

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