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ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2010-06-23
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Zah and Iverson discuss various political, economic, and controversial topics. Zah gives

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Zah and Iverson discuss various political, economic, and controversial topics. Zah gives his impressions and thoughts about the Hopi government, including the struggle in trying to find the balance between traditional and progressive ideals. Zah also reflects on his positive relationship with Hopi chairman Ivan Sidney. The changes in Navajo politics, the Tribal Council, and chapter relationships are addressed, especially the 2010 vote for the reduction of the number of Council delegates from 88 to 24. Zah gives his overall assessment of the role of casino gaming in the Navajo economy. He goes into detail about the main issues that concerned and delayed the Navajo Nation in creating casinos. Zah lastly focuses on the Indian Civil Rights Act and the controversial confrontation that took place between Annie Wauneka and Ted Mitchell, which ultimately changed the ongoing leadership of DNA People’s Legal Services.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2008-12-17
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Iverson and Zah dialog on the topics of leadership and the evolution

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Iverson and Zah dialog on the topics of leadership and the evolution of the Navajo Nation. Zah gives his perspective on leadership and the important attributes that a Navajo leader should have in order to be effective. Iverson and Zah discuss past and present influential leaders that have made an impact on the Navajo Nation. Those who were mentioned include the inspirational Chief Manuelito, health issues activist Annie Wauneka, livestock advocate Tom Dodge, and William Morgan, who was a pioneer for the written Navajo language. Zah comments on the leadership role of DNA People's Legal Services and his experience as a leader there. Zah expresses his ideals about individual rights and education and how the hard work of his colleagues and himself has furthered those ideals. Iverson and Zah converse about education and the growing presence of American Indians at Arizona State University. Finally, Zah gives his thoughts about two major challenges that the Navajo Nation face today: trying to keep the Navajo government accountable to the Navajo people and the effective management of resources on the Navajo Nation.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2008-10-14
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

Peterson Zah shares his own perceptions about the Navajo history, issues, and resolutions with the

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

Peterson Zah shares his own perceptions about the Navajo history, issues, and resolutions with the Hopi Nation. He also gives his views on the Navajo-Hopi land dispute and the issues of the government relocation program. During his chairmanship in 1983, Zah worked with Hopi chairman Ivan Sidney to create a cooperative environment that would benefit both nations. Zah focuses on the positive effects of cooperative leadership in terms of Navajo history and in his experiences with Ivan Sidney. He gives examples of his successful experiences cooperating with Ivan Sidney, including remedying the uranium trailing situation in Tuba City, creating the Turquoise Trail, and opening Hopi High School. Zah briefly touches on Navajo history, especially the beginning of the Navajo reservation. A large portion of this interview also focuses on Navajo traditional religion, the freedom of religion, and the Native American Church movement that took place in the late 1930s to the 1950s. Zah also discusses key individuals in the history of Navajo religion such as David S. Clark, who was the president of the Native American Church, and Raymond Nakai, who was responsible for educating people about the freedom of religion.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2008-03-20
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah addresses Navajo history, both past and present. Numerous topics are

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah addresses Navajo history, both past and present. Numerous topics are discussed in this interview such as the beginning stages of the Navajo reservation, language and culture, women in Navajo politics, and old and new Navajo values. Zah commentates on matters pertaining to the Navajo Tribal Government, such as the Indian Reorganization Act, the history and issues of the Navajo Tribal Government, and its future. He mentions key individuals in Navajo history that contributed to the growth and well-being of the community, for example Annie Wauneka and Raymond Nakai. Zah also reflects on some of his greatest achievements while working at DNA People's Legal Services and as Tribal Chairman. Major achievements mentioned include the revamping of Apache County, the rising number of Navajo lawyers, and the creation of new high schools on the Navajo reservation, which ultimately led to the closing down of boarding schools. Zah gives details about significant precedent-setting cases that DNA People's Legal Services handled, such as the McClanahan v. the Arizona Tax Commission case.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2007-12-05
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah reveals personal experiences about his childhood, the struggles of growing

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah reveals personal experiences about his childhood, the struggles of growing up, and how those experiences shaped his life today. Zah reflects on living close to Keams Canyon, trying to keep family traditions, farming, obtaining water, and the hardships of family going to war, scarcity of food and water, and having to relocate multiple times due to the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute. He recounts his personal experiences attending Tuba City Boarding School, Phoenix Indian School, Phoenix College, and finally Arizona State University. Zah recalls various aspects of his education including his class schedules and routine at Tuba City Boarding School and the goal of Phoenix Indian School being more concerned about vocational training than college preparation. He also takes a moment to address his mentors that helped him throughout the different stages of his education.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2007-10-12
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

The experiences Peterson Zah touches on in this interview include his early encounters with traders

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

The experiences Peterson Zah touches on in this interview include his early encounters with traders as a young child in the 1940s, his work at the DNA People’s Legal Services program in the late 1960s, and his involvement in the non-profit organization Southwest Indian Development Inc. in the 1970s and 1980s. Zah focuses on the topic of traders and trading posts on the Navajo Nation. He discusses the growing problems created by unfair traders and how his collaboration with nine Navajo college students to create Southwest Indian Development Inc. allowed for things to change for the better. Zah recalls the dedication of the organization to provide research and compelling reports to the Trading Post Committee of the Navajo tribal council and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in order to amend the trading issues. He also discusses the hearing that the Federal Trade Commission conducted once the Southwest Indian Development Inc. requested their presence after being brushed off by the Navajo tribal council and the BIA. The interview concludes with Zah explaining the role that the DNA People’s Legal Services played in the whole trader controversy and how the actions of the Southwest Indian Development Inc. allowed for shopping centers and post offices to replace shady traders and trading posts.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2007-09-19
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah discusses the important legal impact that the DNA People’s Legal

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah discusses the important legal impact that the DNA People’s Legal Services program had on the Navajo Nation. He gives details from its conception in 1967, to how the program was named, its goals, and the controversies surrounding it. Zah recounts his experiences working in the DNA People’s Legal Services, especially his hand in the construction of the office buildings, recruiting new lawyers, and getting Navajo students excited about pursuing a career in law. The second half of the interview focuses mostly on a few influential, political individuals that gave the Navajo legal council or ran for tribal chairmanship. Zah and Iverson both give insight and historical details about Norman Littell, John Boyden, Raymond Nakai, and Peter MacDonald.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2007-09-12
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah discusses various trust funds and how the settlement from a

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah discusses various trust funds and how the settlement from a 1980’s court case against the Navajo Nation paved the way for greater growth and opportunity. Zah highlights key points in the taxation case, how the settlement money was used, and the issues that arose in trying to allot the funds in a fair way that appeased the whole Navajo community. Some of the trust funds that benefitted from the settlement were the Nation Building Fund, the Navajo Tribal Scholarship program, and the Land Acquisition Fund. Zah goes into detail about the permanent fund, briefly discusses methods of income, such as casinos, and creates a dialog about economic conditions on the reservation. Also brought up in the interview are the changing social conditions of the Navajo, especially as more people move off the reservation. The Navajo lifestyle is also changing, and Zah gives examples of these changes and explains what is creating the change.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2007-06-13
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah expresses his opinions and observations about education during his time

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah expresses his opinions and observations about education during his time at Window Rock High School as a teacher and as a member of the Board of Trustees. He discusses issues concerning boarding schools, bringing public schools onto the Navajo reservation, and creating an efficient educational policy. Zah speaks about the Indian Self Determination Act of 1975, the establishment of the Navajo Community College, and how acquiring the rights to vote allowed the Navajo Nation to play a more pivotal role in elections and educational decisions. The latter half of the interview reflects upon the growing number of Native American students in higher education, retention rates, self-determination, and community pride and support. Zah also addresses the Native American achievement program created by ASU to help with retention rates and the future goals for Native American students in higher education.
ContributorsIverson, Peter (Interviewer) / Zah, Peterson (Interviewee)
Created2007-06-12
Description
From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah reflects on his academic and professional experiences from 1947-1987. Zah's

From 2007 until 2010, Dr. Peterson Zah and Dr. Peter Iverson met in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center to record talks for their new book We Will Secure Our Future: Empowering the Navajo Nation.

In this interview, Peterson Zah reflects on his academic and professional experiences from 1947-1987. Zah's academic experiences range from him first attending boarding school, transferring to Phoenix Indian School's Navajo Special Program, attending public high school, and graduating from Arizona State University in 1963. Professional experiences discussed in this interview include working for ASU's Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) volunteer training program, being employed by DNA People's Legal Services and some of their influential cases, and his greatest accomplishments while serving as Tribal Chairmen from 1983-1987. Zah also addresses the creation of the Navajo education policy and briefly discusses key points in Navajo history, such as relocation and significant treaties.