Letters | Beyond gratitude
Beyond gratitude
Editor,
This Veterans Day, I encourage everyone to join me in recognizing the men and women of our community who bravely fought to protect the fundamental rights and liberties we enjoy every day – from living and worshiping as we choose to making our voices heard at the ballot box, as we did last week.
Here in northwest New Mexico, we are fortunate to have a large population of veterans whose service, sacrifice and ongoing contributions are woven into the fabric of our communities. But they deserve much more than one day of gratitude each year. They deserve year-round support, access to quality healthcare and affordable housing, good civilian employment opportunities, and resources that ensure a good quality of life following their service.
As your state representative for House District 9 here in northwest New Mexico, I have worked to advance legislation that uplifts our veterans, honors their service, and addresses the challenges they face.
In recent years, our state legislature has expanded tax exemptions and mental health resources for our military members and veterans, built a new state-of-the-art State Veterans Home, and protected food assistance for the 15,000 veterans across our state who rely on these benefits. Because our responsibility to our service members doesn’t end when they hang up their uniforms.
Along with my colleagues in the Roundhouse, I will continue to fight for the resources and support our veterans and their families deserve.
This Veterans Day, I encourage each of us to take time to thank a local veteran, listen to their stories, and recommit ourselves to serving those who so bravely served us.
State Rep. Patty Lundstrom
House District 9
Gallup, N.M.
Election fallout
Editor,
I listened to a recording of Justin Jones’ speech to his followers after he lost the election for Navajo Nation president. He railed against “corruption.” At the end, he announced that he was raising money for an Enemy Way Ceremony against the Navajo government and presumably against those who voted against him. I am not an expert, but I thought that most Navajos consider it sacrilegious to even voice such a threat against a fellow Navajo. He asked his supporters to lay a blanket on the floor, in the traditional manner, on which to lay contributions.
Jones further continued his “‘ana’í” (war) theme, encouraging people numerous times to “fight.” Jones even pointed out a soldier in the audience whom he said knew how to “fight … to take the next hill.”
Jones sounded like Trump speaking at the infamous Jan. 6 insurrection. He mentioned numerous lawyers’ bar associations from various jurisdictions and asked to rise up against the Navajo government, implying that they agreed with him. Jones might need to be sanctioned for his incendiary and inciting diatribe, from whichever bar association is his.
Justin Jones and Emily Ellison campaigned like they had no respect for the Navajo government. Like Trump and Musk, they promised drastic moves to remake Navajo government. But neither has significant experience working in the Navajo government.
I heard Ellison taking aim at the “three branches.” She seems not to have read or thought much about governance. She does not seem to know about the underlying concept of checks and balances at work in all functioning democracies. It does not have to be three branches, but since the federal and state governments have three branches, it is smart for our nation to interface with a three-branch government.
Calm down, Mr. Jones. Ask for a recount pursuant to Navajo laws and if you lose, run again.
Ms. Ellison, buy a college level textbook on U.S. government, and if you go back to China, leave a copy there.
Michael Benson
Window Rock, Ariz.
Freedom denied
Editor,
Important note for 2026 Veterans Day. Among many Native American veterans, it is an honor to remember my clan brother, Howard Billiman, Navajo Code Talker. His mother, the late Zonnie Billiman, of Buell Park by Sawmill, Arizona, was my aunt.
In 1864, our ancestors were exiled from freedom in their homeland by the U.S. government and held captive at Hwéeldi. They were imprisoned four years at a … place called Bosque Redondo Fort Sumner, New Mexico. About a third of the 7,300 Navajos survived the terrible tyranny military oppression by the U.S. government. They endured sickness, disease, hunger, and worst of all, longing for their homeland amidst the Four Sacred Mountains.
Freedom is the state of being free to act, to move, and use what is rightfully owned without hindrance and liberation from the control of government authority/power. But Native Americans never enjoyed freedom in the true sense of the word. Why?
For over a century since 1868, the Navajos and other tribes continue to be treated as second class citizens in their own country. The intent of the Indian Allotment Act of 1887 was to coerce “Indians” to agree to becoming U.S. citizens as a means to civilize them.
Historically, Native Americans were not recognized as citizens of America until 1924. It was not until 1948, six years after the code talkers enlisted, the state of Arizona finally recognized the Indian Citizenship Act of June 2, 1924.
Worse yet, it was not until mid-1950s that tribes of Utah ended in a Salt Lake City court to prove their right to vote.
So where is freedom, equality, and justice for all? History says code talkers lied about their age when they enlisted in 1942. Why did my brother Howard lie about his age when he enlisted?
Code talkers received some formal education before World War II. Perhaps Howard knew his people never enjoyed freedom as the rest of the dominant society. So it could be the yearning for full independence, freedom and justice for all that compelled Howard to serve. Or perhaps he disagreed with being labeled as Indian, just because some blue-eyed European lost his way thinking he landed in India.
We will never know. Will we?
Nels Roanhorse
Oakridge, Ariz.
Diné data sovereignty
Editor,
The next Navajo Nation administration faces a decision that deserves more public attention than any chatbot demonstration. Who will decide when a computer system can use Diné language, community records and knowledge, and who can tell the system to stop?
In a recent Navajo Times presidential forum report, Crystalyne Curley discussed the Navajo Nation Council’s AI Task Force, questions from students about whether AI can speak Navajo, and protection of the Nation’s data sovereignty. Those concerns belong on the governing agenda regardless of how the contested presidential election is resolved.
The Curley campaign’s published platform also proposed investment in language technology and digital preservation of oral histories with safeguards and permissions. That aspiration raises a practical governance question. If an outside company offers to train an AI model on recordings, texts or documents, who has authority to consent, set restrictions, correct mistakes and withdraw material?
I recommend that tribal leaders adopt a clear permission process before expanding such projects. The relevant Navajo authorities and knowledge holders should determine which materials may be used, the permitted purposes, where the files are stored and who can access the output. Consent for one educational project should not silently become permission for an unrelated commercial use.
The process also needs a test for accuracy. A conversational AI may confidently offer a translation or an explanation that sounds plausible to someone learning the language. An experienced, appropriately authorized Diné speaker or educator should be able to reject it, record why it is incorrect and require a correction. A dashboard that counts only the number of recordings processed or student logins would miss that problem.
There is a related workforce opportunity. Under the Bureau of Indian Affairs job training framework, tribes can administer vocational programs that include apprenticeships and on-the-job instruction. Diné students interested in technology could train alongside qualified language workers, records managers, educators and software specialists. Their work would be assessed through real tasks: checking provenance, finding errors, and protecting the rights attached to information.
A useful first project would be a small, voluntary pilot with a narrowly defined set of materials, written permission, local oversight, and publicly reported quality checks. No one should be pressured to contribute cultural material to make a technology demonstration look successful.
The Navajo Nation can benefit from emerging tools while setting its own standards for acceptable use. The lasting measure of success will be how much authority remains with the people whose knowledge and records give those tools value.
I am a behavioral scientist, the CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts, and the author of “The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results” (Georgetown University Press, 2026). https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/aibook.
My commentary has appeared regularly in The New York Times, The Guardian, Time, Scientific American, and many others (https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/media).
Gleb Tsipursky
Columbus, Ohio
Museum gatherings
Editor,
As we enter the season of giving thanks and gathering to spend time with friends and family, I want to share how grateful we are for your connection to MNA. It means the world to us to see you in the galleries and at our events sharing your favorite parts of the museum with your companions.
November and December are times when we seek special connection with friends, family, or community. The Museum of Northern Arizona is the perfect place to visit at this time of year, whether it be with your friends, with family members, or seeking to connect with a community of people who enjoy shared interests. Our galleries and exhibitions offer special insights into the arts, culture, and science of the Colorado Plateau, and invite you to enjoy, reflect, and learn about this remarkable part of the world.
In (our recent) newsletter you will see a range of special events that magnify that experience – come along and enjoy contemporary Native American art and performance. Visit our gift shop to find a unique gift for that special someone or enjoy a musical performance by the U.S. Navy during Navy week. Above all, be sure to enjoy our newest seasonal experience, the Snowpine Model Railway, new for this year but set to become an annual seasonal favorite in Flagstaff.
Thank you for being part of the MNA community. I look forward to seeing you at the museum.
Mary Kershaw
Executive director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona
Flagstaff, Ariz.
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