♡ ♡ KINSHIP VISIONS
Dear Families,
Thank you for sharing your kinship dreams and visions. We have posted only a few of what was received, as completely as possible, and anonymously. Some of you wrote very long visions, others are shorter. A'hee hee for every single one.
Thank you for sharing your kinship dreams and visions. We have posted only a few of what was received, as completely as possible, and anonymously. Some of you wrote very long visions, others are shorter. A'hee hee for every single one.
We can never forget who we are because then we won't be able to know where we are going
From a Shiprock grandma with seven children who are under her care, teenage nieces, one preteen, one child in kindergarten, and two toddlers, . The kids have many extra healthcare needs, including asthma, feet problems, mental health and self-esteem issues, and slight learning disabilities. Both her nieces never had their biological fathers in an active part of their lives and her husband proudly stands in place as a father figure for them. Her grandson is a preteen who is struggling with virtual learning and staying active. He suffers with a lack of motivation to learn and to be involved with chores and activities on the farm. Her granddaughter had respiratory syncytial virus at just two weeks old and was taken care of in hospital for 3 months and now she is 6 years old and enjoys learning, adventures, school, and being an Indigenous farm girl. Her two toddler grandchildren are both so brand new to this world and she, as a caregiver to them, does her best to teach them all everything she knows. Their mothers and fathers all work as essential workers and go to college.
From a Shiprock grandma with seven children who are under her care, teenage nieces, one preteen, one child in kindergarten, and two toddlers, . The kids have many extra healthcare needs, including asthma, feet problems, mental health and self-esteem issues, and slight learning disabilities. Both her nieces never had their biological fathers in an active part of their lives and her husband proudly stands in place as a father figure for them. Her grandson is a preteen who is struggling with virtual learning and staying active. He suffers with a lack of motivation to learn and to be involved with chores and activities on the farm. Her granddaughter had respiratory syncytial virus at just two weeks old and was taken care of in hospital for 3 months and now she is 6 years old and enjoys learning, adventures, school, and being an Indigenous farm girl. Her two toddler grandchildren are both so brand new to this world and she, as a caregiver to them, does her best to teach them all everything she knows. Their mothers and fathers all work as essential workers and go to college.
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I do have a vision of the ideal kinship family team support for my own family and it is rooted with Indigenous teachings & beliefs, endless support & love, healing, and meaningful education that is grounded with honest content. The Indigenous teachings & beliefs are so crucial for raising happy, healthy, and culturally educated children here on the reservation. The future of Mother Earth is in our youths' hands and a positive and fruitful future is possible if we as parents and caregivers instill the values of our Indigenous cultures in their lives from the very beginning. We can never forget who we are because then we won't be able to know where we are going. Native families should always remember to pass down the knowledge and good character our ancestors carried, to our youth and babies for a better future for them.
A kinship family team support should also be surrounded in endless support and love because of the tender nurturing our little ones require for a healthy and happy home life. It is important for our children to always feel safe and secure when they think of home, especially during this pandemic COVID-19. Caregivers are expected to always offer support in ways of encouragement, great listening skills, showing up, and providing for our children to live life with no barriers. Caregivers are also expected to always offer love in ways of physical and emotional acts, being present in their everyday schooling, allowing the children to explore their feelings and emotions with no judgement, and not being shy or afraid to say "I love you" every day and mean it. The act and mindset of healing is important for a successful and stable childhood because it is a key for a healthy mental state of children and adolescents. Healing from different traumas is so crucial for families, especially for the youth and adolescents because it encourages healthy mental growth, self-acceptance, and understanding of feelings in reaction to life events. It is also true that at their young age, they are most impacted in shaping their personal character and mindset in their childhood. Healing is a sacred part of growing up and transitioning into young ladies and men, so normalizing the process and success of healing is a belief I stand by. The idea of creating a learning space that is embedded in meaningful education by teaching honest content is essential to raising children to be culturally aware and resilient adults. By saying meaningful education, I mean that learning the basic core studies such as math, science, and reading are important but it is demeaning to teach certain content that is deeply rooted in colonization, racism, and toxic masculinity so we need to teach outside of that realm. As caregivers, our youth depend on us to provide them with the most honest and evidence-based knowledge so they are educated in more than just the |
Western way of arithmetic. This can also be referred back to instilling our Indigenous teachings & beliefs within our everyday lives. I know that the ideal kinship family team support for my own family can come into being by having daily conversations with family members about my vision and figuring out as a unit how we can make the necessary changes needed to reach that goal and make it a reality for our family. The ideal kinship family team support can also become a reality for my family by continuing to be the stronghold for my children and by teaching my daughter how to be the matriarch everyone can look up to and ask for anything. My daughter and I are very close and because of COVID-19, we are even closer and I have the honor to stay at home and care for my 2-year-old grandson. I have learned a lot in my life and I learn even more daily from my husband and our immediate family here at the farm. I will teach my daughter and other female family members, that a strong asdzáá is only strong when she is able and willing to learn more and realize that it is okay to not know everything. Family is the number one most important thing in my life and as an Indigenous matriarch, it is my duty to bring my vision to life and live with the ideal kinship family team support for my family. I am positive that with the cooperation and help of my family members, we can achieve it together.
Programs like Navajo Family Voices can support my kinship team vision by always providing me with essential information about COVID-19, special services offered to the Navajo people, special events geared toward familial kinship care, stories from other local families, and news updates pertaining to our Navajo reservation. It is important for families to stay updated with everything that is happening as of lately, and it’s even better those updates are Navajo-related because we are Diné people. I enjoy seeing programs such as this because it is important to stay in community with one another and always work in unity. Programs like Navajo Family Voices can also support my kinship team vision by sharing the Indigenous knowledge and education needed to raise culturally aware and happy children, such as: Indigenous teachings around certain events (like coming-of-age ceremonies), encouragement to keep learning our Diné language, and utilizing our environment in safe and smart ways through plant medicine, personal ceremonies, and prayers. Programs with values in our Native culture truly help with support of my kinship team vision because we all acknowledge and agree upon the fact that sticking together as a family is so important for the safety, wellbeing, and teaching of our children and youth. I always appreciate projects such as Navajo Family Voices because as a parent, grandparent, teacher, and caregiver, I can always trust this as a reliable source and I always feel seen and heard. |
I am an only child, traditionally my cousins are considered my siblings, so I treated them as such. Traditionally speaking, I have six brothers and four sisters
From a traditional Diné mom of a toddler in very large extended family in Shiprock area
From a traditional Diné mom of a toddler in very large extended family in Shiprock area
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As a traditional Navajo, my vision of the ideal family support team begins with the traditional practice of k'é, system of kinship. Traditionally, grandparents would have the utmost respect, because they teach us everything we need to know about our culture, and keep our history alive. Next, but not least, parents should be respected for gifting us with life, and being our very first role models. Then siblings are valued as equals, despite any flaws, because siblings grow & learn together. I was lucky enough to have both my maternal grandparents in my life. My grandmother posed as my mother for the first few years of my life. My grandfather also fulfilled the father figure in my life, after my biological father abandoned our family. My mother had me at a young age, so while I was raised by my grandparents, my mother took some time to get herself established before we could be together. Although, I am an only child, traditionally my cousins are considered my siblings, so I treated them as such. Traditionally speaking, I have six brothers and four sisters. We don't have the same parents, but the effort and sacrifices we make for each other is what makes us siblings. I was blessed to have been raised with a strong foundation of k'é, however my own kids will not have the same experience I had.
Currently, I have a 7-month-old daughter and I'm expecting another baby in December. My babies' grandmothers, maternal and paternal, were eager to hold a new addition to the family, however they could not maintain their excitement. They were easily exhausted by my first baby's needs, and gave up trying to help my daughter and I. Sadly, there is no grandfather for my babies either; my grandfather (my only father figure) passed away due to COVID. My babies' father has also abandoned us. I am ashamed to admit that I learned the hard way that my babies are not safe around their father, however it hurts know they will not have a father figure in their |
lives, nor do they have a grandfather to step in single mom without any help from my babies' immediate family members. But there is still hope for my babies to experience k'é. We now reside with my maternal grandmother, where my aunt, two uncles, and five siblings live also. Even though she is technically a great-grandmother, she helps me raise my daughter with strong enthusiasm. On top of that, I'm confident my babies will learn Navajo teachings from their great-grandmother. Traditionally my aunt would be considered my mom and a grandmother to my babies, and she stepped in as such. She spoils my baby with heirlooms, new and treasured, and she comforts me as a mother should. My uncles are far from perfect, but my daughter has lightened their mood lately. They also step up when it comes to spoiling my baby, and helping me in anyway possible. My siblings are just like me, we are still trying to figure out what's best for my babies. In the mean time, they step in for me when I need rest.
We are currently relying on extended family members to help us through this difficult time. Even though they are making sacrifices for my babies, we could always make ourselves better for a strong sense of k'é. My grandmother loves to help, especially when it comes to children, but, to do so, she fights through her own health problems. Since my grandfather's passing, my aunt has stepped up as head of household. With restrictions on tribal offices, due to COVID, its been hard for her to complete the necessary paperwork for her to assume his responsibilities. My siblings and I don't know much about baby development. We play with her and keep her out of harm's way, but we would like to know if she's developing on track. Both of my uncles struggle with substance abuse. Even though they don't indulge around my daughter, it would be nice to get them some kind of help; we don't have many options for rehab on the reservation. |
Children need to see and feel weaving tools or the difference between store yarn and wool spun yarn used for weaving. Our elderlies are priceless
From a family with two kids in Navajo, NM with kids in 1st and 3rd grade, one with extra hearing healthcare needs who receives special services and really looks forward to her Navajo Culture class each day.
From a family with two kids in Navajo, NM with kids in 1st and 3rd grade, one with extra hearing healthcare needs who receives special services and really looks forward to her Navajo Culture class each day.
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Ya ta taah,
I live with my husband, two children and mother in-law in Navajo, N.M. My husband is the only income coming into our home. He travels across the Navajo Nation (for work). I am a full time stay home mom. Since the pandemic began, I have been instructing my children from home. The only really exposure to our Dine culture and heritage is through their 30-40 minute online instruction 5 days aweek. Most of the time, the instruction is confusing because I'm running back in forth between my 7 year old daughters class and my 9 year old son's class. It's been a challenge but I've download additional resources for them to complete Navajo culture and language assignments or tasks. My mother in-law is 74 years old and tries to support them by explaining the Navajo lessons to her grandchildren. We would like to have bilingual picture dictionaries and symbols or tangible items for a better comprehension for not just my children but all Navajo children. |
For example, students/children need to see and feel weaving tools or the difference between store yarn and wool spun yarn used for weaving. Our elderlies are priceless because my mother in-law tries to show and tell how to weave and what plants is needed to make different colors for the yarn. My children enjoyed weaving a small paper rug instructed from their culture teacher. I can see a difference in actual culture teaching and simplified culture lessons. My children spend a great deal of time with their Nali and I am grateful. She explains so much to them and shares her knowledge of raising livestock, morning prayers, Dine life skills such as raising early and valuing family circle.(K'e). I can only hope other children can have this kind of support.
Your program would provide an excellent support for our vision. It would help to increase Navajo kinship within our home through the use of tangible tools and books. My children are excited to learn. Let's keep our Navajo Kinship and K'e circle continue. |
My dream is to establish more communication within my family. I would like to practice family values and understand what it really takes to be a healthy family
From a mom and dad of a new infant, with mom currently unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but going back to school to San Juan College in May 2021
From a mom and dad of a new infant, with mom currently unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but going back to school to San Juan College in May 2021
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The ideal kinship family team support would be keeping my entire family safe during the pandemic. Since the shutdown, we have been trying our best to stay safe and healthy. Frequent video calls and checkups are an ideal for my family. If anything were to happen to (our baby), I’d hope a great team were to be there to ensure the best medical care is available.
My ideal family dream is to have as much team support as possible from within our family as well as from other resources. My boyfriend and I have made the ultimate decision to get married. We've been together for about three years and have a gorgeous little girl. My dream is to establish more communication within my family. I would like |
to practice family values and understand what it really takes to be a healthy family. This program can benefit and help my little family by supporting my dream of better communication as well as supplying the resources to maintain a stable home. Since my fiance and I are new parents, it would be extra helpful to learn about patience and the skills it takes to raise our little one. I would like to know exactly how to raise a child, especially a three month old baby. As a new mother, I would like support on how to navigate the new paths of motherhood. As a new mother, I believe that any support is better than no support at all. I am excited to see what the future has in store for my family, and I am looking forward to collaborating with your organization(s).
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Navajo Kinship is likely to disappear in a few decades. Teaching Navajo Kinship is important. The dream of Navajo Kinship is not that difficult to learn or want. But to light this dream it would benefit our future leaders and being able to communicate in our own Navajo Language
From a mom of 3 in Red Valley who volunteers in her community and serves on advisory committees, putting into her everyday practice her dream of Kinship in her community, always trying to focus on community elders and children needs.
From a mom of 3 in Red Valley who volunteers in her community and serves on advisory committees, putting into her everyday practice her dream of Kinship in her community, always trying to focus on community elders and children needs.
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I dream of Navajo Kinship for my small community of Red Valley to come together. Coming together to acknowledge one another. Whether it be by clan or blood relations. I lived in Shiprock, NM the majority of my life. I left Shiprock when I met my husband. My husband built us a home in Red Valley. The Kinship I grew with in Shiprock wasn’t quite the same. But I decided to introduce myself at the schools, Red Valley Chapter, and the Red Valley Trading Post. Kinship was flourishing. There was something missing in this little community. I have had a dream for so long of having a meeting place other than the ones we have now. Like the schools and chapter. This dream would be a recreational facility where a library and recreational activities would be held. Also a Navajo class for learning Navajo, clans, weaving, and just having that Kinship to reconnect the community kids and elders.
The Navajo Kinship is likely to disappear in a few decades. Teaching Navajo Kinship is important. The dream of Navajo Kinship is not that difficult to learn or want. But to light this dream it would benefit our future leaders and being able to communicate in our own Navajo Language. I had hope back in February 2021. My daughters male classmate home was burned down in the early cold morning. I was sent a picture of the house on fire and my heart sank. For I knew the family since our kids have been classmates since head start. I immediately began calling all the people I |
knew to please help the family. I contacted the family for permission to rally up people, I was certain who would help. I had it announced on KNDN. To my amazement people from all over the reservation helped. Kinship was very important when I felt helpless to help the family. Reaching out to the them made me believe I can dream that connection can happen. When dreaming and hoping the community will come together becomes a reality.
I envision kinship to families as a way of helping people come together to help better recreational and educational needs. Living on the reservation we encounter hardship on a daily basis. We need outreach programs to be mobile. By having a mobile library, clinic, and recreational team to visit rural areas. Especially to visit young kids 10 and under. We live in Red Valley. and we drive to Farmington NM for the library and parks. Just to keep my 7 yr. old active and educated. I have seen in cities mobile units carrying books medical services and recreational activities. We need this type of service on the reservation. Mobile units could being happiness and hoy to young kids. During this pandemic we are left without a lot. I like to voice my opinion on matters that I feel are truly important. In conclusion I do feel we need an outreach mobile unit to reach is in Red Valley. I know of families here who desperately need services. |
My vision of the ideal kinship family team support would include further resources for my family members to educate themselves about my oldest son
From a mom of a 3 yr old and 6 yr old with extra healthcare needs.
From a mom of a 3 yr old and 6 yr old with extra healthcare needs.
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My vision of the ideal kinship family team support would include further resources for my family members to educate themselves about my oldest son. He was recently diagnosed with Tics (a form of Tourette Syndrome) and it has been a learning lesson. In my research, I have learned that there is limited resources, therapies, and educational information that pertains to Tics here in New Mexico. As a result, I haven't been properly able to educate my family about his condition. I think much of that is attributed to the lack of knowledge on how to properly educate others who are unaware of Tics and also on how to breakdown the medical terminology in simple terms. My ideal vision for this would be to have extra outside help from a professional to
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breakdown the terminology and help me to educate and answer questions that my family may have. Questions in which I am unable to properly answer. Once there is that additional professional support, I think my family can better understand the severity of the situation and help me to support him. Part of my frustration is the fact that I'm still learning about his condition myself, and sometimes I have to stop and assess how to relay my findings of information to my family.
I believe a program like yours can help me to not only gain more knowledge and tools to address these issues, but to also learn more about the resources out there for us. |