The Navajo's
Among the 14 Indian tribes of Arizona, the Navajo tribe is the largest. In fact, the Navajo tribe is the largest in the United States, with some 200,000 people occupying the largest land area reserved for Native Americans - 17 million acres in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. The tribe has its own government which works in close relationship with the U.S. government. The Native Americans were once considered "The Vanishing Americans" but their numbers are now rising, even though they face an identity crisis in their own land.
For economic survival, hundreds of Navajos have left the reservation and have gone to Flagstaff and other southwestern cities for employment. However, large numbers remain on the land, seeking to support themselves with their livestock and arts of rug weaving and silversmithing.
Historically, the Navajos never asked the U.S. government for aid, but were allotted land and livestock which they might keep for their sustenance. So they are noted for their sheep herding, doing so in a high desert plateau region where pasture and water are scarce. From the sheep wool, they produce their world renown rugs.
Silversmithing has also become an important means of livelihood. The silver is purchased in large sheets, cut up, and melted to produce their beautiful jewelry inlaid with coral, turquoise, and mother of pearl. All this jewelry was originally hand crafted but lately, machine made jewelry has become common off the reservation. In recent years the price of Navajo arts and crafts has skyrocketed, partly due to the shortage of turquoise, silver, and individuals able to make them.
The Navajo people are proud of their integrity, industry, native talent, and ingenuity. They make excellent artists and craftsmen. When the native soldiers came back from World War II, the curse of alcohol set back many of them but even this curse is being slowly overcome.
FMN has rejoiced to see the fruit of its labor among the Navajos. Many Navajo Christians have become faithful servants of the Lord, filled with zeal to reach their own people with the Gospel and to toil and sacrifice in the "harvest field" for Christ. With its headquarters located in Flagstaff, AZ, FMN has planted and established eight Navajo churches in the western and central portions of the vast 25,000 square mile Navajo Reservation. Each of these eight churches is shepherded by Navajo pastors and leaders.
