Church Rock, NM
I grew up in Church Rock surrounded by family, culture, and the teachings that continue to shape who I am today. Even though life on the reservation came with challenges, I was raised to value connection, responsibility, and community.
Both sides of my family had a strong influence on me growing up. My father’s family lived throughout places like Dennehotso, Blanding, Farmington, and Monticello, while my mother’s family lived in Pine Dale and Oak Springs. Because of that, I spent a lot of time traveling with my family across different communities throughout the Southwest.
Those experiences taught me a lot. My father believed it was important for his children to see more than just one place. Traveling allowed me to experience different communities and ways of life while still staying grounded in my Navajo identity. Looking back, I realize those experiences broadened my perspective and strengthened my appreciation for family and culture.
Today, my family still lives on the Navajo Nation, and my father purchased land in James Town NM where we continue working toward building something for the future. To me, land is more than property. Land is connection. It brings people together through family, culture, gathering resources, ceremonies, and everyday life. The land teaches us how to live and how to stay connected to one another.
I also believe nature carries teachings within it. Trees, plants, water, and the environment around us all hold meaning in Navajo life. Our identity is rooted in our relationship with the land.
At the same time, I see many challenges facing Native communities today. One of the biggest is the lack of mental health and substance use resources available on the reservation. Even when services exist, many people struggle to understand complicated healthcare systems, insurance paperwork, Medicaid, or Arizona access programs. A lot of our people, especially elders, feel overwhelmed trying to navigate systems that were never explained in ways that are easy to understand.
I believe information needs to be shared in simpler ways and in the Navajo language so people feel more comfortable accessing services and asking for help.
I also think younger generations are struggling with disconnection. Technology and social media have benefits, but they can also pull people away from the world around them. Many young people spend so much time online that they lose connection to community, culture, and even themselves.
But despite all the challenges, I believe Navajo people carry many strengths that outsiders often overlook.
One of those strengths is faith. Spirituality continues to help many people stay strong through difficult times. Another strength is resilience. Even living in rural areas where families travel long distances just to get groceries, healthcare, or services, our people continue working hard and supporting one another.
And one thing I think is especially powerful in Native communities is humor.
Even during difficult times, our people still find ways to laugh together, make jokes, and lift each other up. That ability to bring joy into hard moments is a form of strength and healing.
When I reflect on my life, I see both the beauty and the challenges of growing up on the Navajo Nation. My experiences taught me the importance of family, culture, faith, and connection to the land. They also showed me the gaps that still exist in mental health care, substance use resources, and accessible healthcare education.
But more than anything, my story reflects the resilience of Native communities and the strength that still exists within our people today.
Tyrone, Church Rock Chapter, June, 2026