Twin Lakes, NM
I grew up in Twin Lakes with my mom. We lived with her boyfriend and his family, and we did not have running water. Growing up in that environment was difficult, especially because there were alcohol problems around us. It created challenges and instability, and I had to learn at a young age how to navigate those situations. When someone in our community needed help or had a medical emergency, everyone would go to my mom. She was the one people relied on. My mom took care of everyone, and after she passed, that responsibility shifted more toward my grandmother. Both of them were seen as strong caregivers who helped others even when resources were limited.
When we lived in Twin Lakes, there was no nearby hospital. The closest one was in Gallup, which is about 20 minutes away. If anyone needed emergency services, they had to rely on transportation to Gallup, which was not always easy or fast. Now we live in Shiprock with my grandmother, and we are closer to a hospital, which makes things more convenient. However, even though we are physically closer, the emergency services still seem to be lacking. When you call for an ambulance, it can take hours for them to arrive, or sometimes they do not show up at all. This creates a lot of fear and uncertainty for families who need immediate help.
For example, one time we called the police and ambulance for our neighbors. A girl was saying she was being trafficked, and we were worried for her safety. Despite calling for help, neither the police nor the ambulance showed up. It felt like there was no urgency and that our concerns were not taken seriously. Situations like this make it hard to trust emergency services. People begin to feel like they are on their own and must rely on family or neighbors instead of professional responders.
I would want to see faster response times for ambulances and police so they can reach emergencies more quickly. There also needs to be better communication and more effective planning for emergency services, especially in rural and reservation communities. Right now, it feels like there is no clear structure or urgency when emergencies happen. If you live on the reservation, you often have to accept that help may not arrive in time. Because of this, many families prepare themselves to drive loved ones to the hospital if something serious happens, since waiting for an ambulance may not be an option.
In the future, I hope there will be better communication systems, not only for emergencies but also for leadership, job opportunities, and resources for the community. It seems like for many years there has been a lack of structure and improvement. Even with modern technology, services in these areas have not improved the way they should. Communities deserve better access to emergency response, communication, and support.
I believe it is important to take care of your community and not expect anything in return. Helping others out of kindness and looking out for future generations is something we should all focus on. Even when services are limited, communities can stay strong by supporting one another. By continuing to help neighbors and family members, we can build a sense of unity and responsibility that will benefit future generations and keep our communities safe.
— Julian Franklin, April 2026, Twin Lakes, NM