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Show HOW ••• shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? (Psalm 137) This was the theme of our 20th Anniversary in 1963 and must remain the guiding question for all of this work as w.e now celebrate 25 years at St. Christopher's Mission to the Navajo. At that time some of our guests remarked about the similarity of the Navajo People and Lands to t hose of the Old T estament. It is true that there is a parrallel between the Navajo and the Ancient Hebrew People. Navajo - dine; The People - h erd their flocks of sheep and goats on barren hills and sandy valleys where the coyote waits and the "still waters" very likely contain a lkali. The Canaanites who inhabited their Promised Land were the cave dwellers, whose ruins are s till seen and not much touched, for the Navajos were afraid of those gods and burials who might conflict with the Navajos' own gods and departed ones. Babylon was Fort Sumner (Bosque Redondo), New Mexico, in 1864, when "Nebuchadnezzar" Kit Carson, led the United States Army in a scorched earth and starvation policy to force-march 10,000 Navajos to a four year concentrat ion camp. And t heir " Moses" Manuelito, led them home. The Na vajos have had their Captivity and Languishing for Home, their Exile and Return to the Land, and now their prophets are speaking. Where is the New Promise? It was certainly not the treaty signed June 1, 1868! The Church must bring the New Covenant to "The People". "The People" is noble, proud, reserved, patient. What great fears and fru stra tions must lie behind t his noble pride a fter 1 00 years of living in subjection to the white ma n's government at " Washingdoan" far away! Alcohol can be the answer, and - another problem in the New Promise. At present, a dangerous canyon separates the Navajo cul t ure from the 20th Century American Scene into which they must go forth. More and more cha nges are made da ily. The government has helped many to obtain jobs in larger city areas. The Dispersion is beginning but there is little message to carry - no synagogues wait for The People. Most often the relocatees return to their a lready overcrowded land , h aving been victims of prejudice, loneliness, bewilderment and lack of education. But the Lord 's song must be sung! The Church cannot speak to the Navajo without approaching a oneness through land and history, tongue and temperament, trials and t ribulations. Such an approach is attempted here at St. Christopher's Mission, where we try to be Our Lord's tools to help in the Redemption of dine' through the only real oneness, t he Church , the Living Body of Christ. The Rev. H. B. Liebler founded t his work in July, 1943, and was Vicar until 1962. From 1962 until present, The Rev. Wayne L. Pontious has remained Vicar under the Bishop of Utah. NOW ••• Raymond Nakai, Chairman, Navajo Tribal Council, speaks on the Centennial: "The year, 1968, marks t he 100th anniversary of the s igning of the Treaty of Peace between the Navajo Tribe and the U. S. Government. This Treaty, signed by 29 Navajo headmen and ten officers of the U. S. Army on June 1, 1868, brought to an end a tragic period of suffering, hardship, deprivation and exile at the Bosque Redondo. During the in tervening century, the Navajo People have witnessed substantial population increase and have undergone drastic and far-reaching changes in their economy, self-government, social status, education, and living condi t ions. However, in some areas, the Navajo People have only begun to solve some of the problems of poverty, land depletion, lack of modern utilities, and chronic unemployment. There is much work yet to be done. The Navajo People will pause often during this Centennial Year to honor their heritage, but throughout a ll these events, we will be preparing to make this the start of a bold new era of progress, growth, self-sufficiency, industrial and economic development for our beloved country." leader of Ceremonies - July 25, 1968 - At the Ceremonial Shade ... Sunrise arrival of war party, gifts distributed, fireworks 12 noon -3 p .m. Navajo meal served to all guests 2 p .m. games, races, prizes 11 p.m. fireworks, ceremonial singing, dancing At the Mission . . . 7 a.m. Morning Prayer 9 a.m. judging of arts and crafts 10 a.m. ho'zhcf1zhi blessing of New Church, Sung Concelebrated Mass 11 :30 a.m. cutting of Anniversary Cake 12 noon tribal leaders speak, Navajo Tribal Band Concert 5:30 p .m. Sung Evening Prayer Q) <.> ro p. UJ .!:1 0>:: ·.0.. ., ._ ro ...., > ro oj ..8.., Z UJ Q) ~ b.O .: .~ UJ UJ .: o p. ::l o <.> ..o.., |