P.O. Box 2016
Fort Defiance, AZ 86504
NAVAJO CHRISTMAS
Each year, Rez Refuge attempts to provide Christmas for Navajo families who without your generosity would not have a Christmas. Last year, your donations brought Christmas to more than 20 individuals. This year we would like to assist families, but we are going to need your help once again to accomplish this. We attempt to provide a Christmas that will positively influence the family or individuals chosen, so we don't just give out toys. Families or individuals are chosen on the basis of need. Thus far, the families reached would have not had any Christmas at all if not for the gifts provided by Rez Refuge through your support. Families are referred by other Navajo, social workers, and local pastors. Once a family has been selected, we contact the family and get the children's age, grade, shoe and clothing sizes, and a what toy the child would like. Each child will receive school shoes, one set of clothing, school supplies, a toy, and hygiene products. The adults also receive a set of new clothes, shoes, and "grown-up" present! Each year we are also try to provide food boxes as the economic times are making it more difficult for Navajo families to put food on their table. We are looking forward to Christmas this year. See "Donation" page for information on giving.
In 2009, we shifted our focus from solely sponsoring Navajo families to partnering with several local programs. We worked with Shundiin (Navajo for "Morning Sun") Group Home, a program for Native female teens and the Adolescent Care Unit at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital, a treatment center for Native American Youth. These programs are successful in helping Native youth overcome addictions, abuse, and other negative life events. We were very honored to help these programs bring a joyful Christmas to the clients they serve. For some, the Christmas they received through the centers was the first one they had ever had. Our hope is to continue partnering with these worthy programs to bring Christmas to Native teens. (Do to confidentiality photos of the participants in these programs are not allowed)
If you would like to see photos or read stories from past Christmas projects, please see our "Navajo Christmases" page.
928-729-2658
Did You Know? Many wonder if the Navajo celebrate Christmas. They do! And most celebrate all the other Federal Holidays. There is one holiday that is unique to the Navajo Nation and that is Navajo Sovereignty Day. It is celebrated the 4th Monday in April. In 1863, the Navajo were forced from their land and marched to Bosque Redondo, the site of Fort Sumner. From 1863-1868, over 9,000 Navajo and Mescalero Apache people were held against their will at Fort Sumner and the surrounding Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation. During their interment 3,000 Navajos died from disease, exposure, and starvation. The United States government acknowledged Navajo sovereignty in the historic Treaty of 1868 on June 1st. Navajo Sovereignty Day is celebrated each year to commemorate this historic treaty that finally returned them to their beloved homeland.
This page was last updated: May 25, 2010
