Unraveling Colonialism - HOW COLONIALISM IMPACTS ME AS A NAVAJO INDIAN

Dinner and Dialogue: Unraveling Colonialism

June 13, 2023

6:30 - 8:30 pm

In person or Zoom

Unraveling Colonialism

Studying the Native American Experience 

Theme: "Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story." Mark Twain

This month we are honored to have guest speaker, Roy Chavez, join us. Roy is a full- blooded Navajo Indian from New Mexico. He comes from the northeastern part of the Navajo Reservation just over the mountains, west of Taos, New Mexico near a small town of Cuba, New Mexico. He is a registered member of the Ojo Encino Chapter of the Navajo Nation.

Roy is a living testament of the impact of Colonialism. He lived through the days of boarding schools and the Indian foster programs. Roy was raised in Utah by a Mormon family through the LDS Indian Placement Program.

Roy received his Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish through Brigham Young University and also his Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance through Golden Gate University. He lives in Fort Morgan, Colorado where he is a farmer and raises lambs. He has worked as a Mortgage Broker for over 25 years.

Roy served a two-year Mormon Spanish mission to Puerto Rico. He also studied Spanish in Spain under a 6-month study-abroad program. He has traveled extensively throughout the world sharing his culture as a professional performer through various musical and dance groups from Brigham Young University. Roy speaks Navajo, English, Spanish, and some Russian.

During the Covid epidemic years, Roy used his Navajo language to reach out to the remote areas of the Navajo reservation covering New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado to get medical and sanitation supplies as well as food and water to Navajos affected by the disease. Roy still works with the Navajo Nation to help remove barriers so that every Navajo has running water, electricity, and broadband.

Roy is ecstatic to share his story and experience from the Navajo perspective. He hopes that what he shares will be an eye-opener, educational, and enriching.

The evening includes a potluck for those joining in person.  Please bring your favorite dish to share.  We will also have time for debriefing and discussion at the end of Roy's presentation.

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Awareness, education, action.  During the six-month series:  Unraveling Colonialism - Studying the Native American Experience,  we introduce ways to be more aware of the impact of colonialism on our socialization culturally, and, very specifically, the atrocious way colonialism supports acts of land theft, laws that violate indigenous culture, methodical genocide, and other stories left out of traditional history.

The series provides opportunities for education beyond traditional history and ways to become more aware of the truth hidden behind the "good story" in order to humanize stories of individuals, and bring to life - and celebrate - the Spirit of the peoples who initially stewarded the land now called the United States of America.

This year we ask you to consider a monetary contribution to help us honor our guest speakers and to cover our operating expenses.  With your support, we continue to offer programs that help us all become more aware of social justice issues and become better educated about our roles, and the barriers still in place to change.  All with the intention of making better choices on how we act in our individual, interpersonal, institutional, and ideological interactions.

You may join in person or via ZOOM. If you join in person, you may bring your favorite dish to share and please arrive by 6:15 so that we may begin the meal at 6:30.

Host or Publisher The Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Council of Brighton, Colorado