Coming Full Circle: Giving Back

Chinle Chapter

My name is Shawna Ann Claw. Yá’át’ééh. Hooghan łaní nishłį́, Tódich’ii’nii bashishchiin, Táchii’nii dashicheii, Kinyaa’áanii dashinalí. I am the council delegate for Chinle, Arizona. It is always a good feeling to come back to my community, especially when I have the opportunity to give back to our students. Being here at Youth Day brought back a lot of memories for me because I was once one of those students.

I grew up here in the Chinle community and graduated as a Chinle Wildcat in the class of 1993. After high school, I went on to become a Lumberjack and later a Diné College Warrior. Coming back now as a lawmaker for the Navajo Nation, a governing board member for the Chinle High School District, and someone who has spent many years working with young people makes me feel like I have come full circle.

For 26 years, I worked with youth as a prevention specialist and strength worker. My work with young people has always been important to me because I believe so much of who we become comes from where we grow up, our roots, our culture, our traditions, and our families.

My passion for working with youth started when I was just 14 years old. I wanted to get a job, so I walked across the Chinle Bridge to go to an interview. I had no idea what I was doing. I remember being scared, but I was also excited. During the interview, they asked me questions like, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” “What do you want to aspire to?” and “What do you want to do with your education?”

At 14, those were not questions I had really thought about. But when someone asked me, it made me stop and think about my future and what I wanted for myself.

Growing up, I also saw some of the struggles that many families in our community face. I experienced poverty, and I was bullied in school. Because of those experiences, I understand that many of our students are carrying things that other people may not see. That is one of the reasons I wanted to work with young people. I wanted them to know that their circumstances do not have to determine their future. I want our students to believe that they can succeed, achieve their goals, and become whatever they want to become.

My heart is still dedicated to our youth today. One of my biggest passions is bringing more resources and opportunities to our community. We need a youth center where our children can have a safe place to go, participate in recreation, spend time with their peers, and simply enjoy being young. I want our kids to have facilities and opportunities that allow them to feel supported and give them something positive to look forward to.

I am also a proud military mom. My son serves in the U.S. Air Force, and I have nephews who have served in the Army, Navy, and Marines. Their courage inspires me. Because of my family’s connection to the military, I also want to see stronger veteran services available for our families who leave home to serve and defend this beautiful land we call Diné Bikéyah.

As a member of the Resources and Development Committee, I continue to advocate for resources throughout the Navajo Nation. I also continue to stand up for our people and our land, including fighting against uranium and the exploitation of our natural resources. These issues affect our families, our communities, and our future generations.

I want our young people to understand that their voices matter. It is important to speak up, take a stand, and not be afraid to be different. We need young people who are willing to ask questions, share their opinions, and believe that they can make a difference.

When I look back on my life, I think about that 14-year-old girl walking across the Chinle Bridge to her first job interview. I didn’t know where life would take me. Today, I have the opportunity to come back to the same community as a lawmaker, a school governing board member, a mother, and someone who has dedicated much of her life to working with youth.

That is what coming full circle means to me.

I want to continue inspiring our young people, helping one another, and giving back to the community that helped raise me. Most importantly, I want our young people to remember that they can do anything they set their minds to.

Keep inspiring one another. Keep helping one another. And always be kind to one another.

— Shawna Ann Claw, Chinle Chapter, August 2026