The Navajo Nation, spanning over the states of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, is the largest Tribal reservation in the United States, with one of the largest populations of tribal members residing on reservation lands. The Navajo people have maintained their traditional ways despite the encroachments of colonialism and Christianity into their culture, but it’s … Continue reading Navajo Transgender Women’s Journey of Acceptance in Society
I’m a Navajo living in Los Angeles, yet my culture, my identity is invisible.
When I began sharing that I was Diné (Navajo), most folks didn’t know what that meant, so I had to say American Indian or Native American. Then I would get a slew of different responses like, “Oh, I thought all Indians were dead.” Or, “You mean like Pocahontas?”
It wasn’t until I left the Navajo Reservation that I understood my purpose as a Navajo storyteller.
Leaving was the beginning, but eventually I came to understand that it wasn’t enough. I needed to go back to school. This may seem obvious, but to me it wasn’t. Higher education was never a value instilled in me—my parents only told me to find a job and not depend on others.
Pamela J. Peters 
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