I live and own a business in Farmington NM. The first major city just off the Navajo Reservation. I have lived here for 40+ years, There by giving me some insite into the People of this region.
This is my personal opinion, from personal viewing. The "sound bite" of No running water, No electricity, Unpaved roads, we're oppressed by the white man, etc. Is brought up as an excuse for any number of issues as the tribe see's fit to use it on. It's a woe's us catch all that makes good 30 second sound bites......
This is why the Farmington area has been hit with highest percentages of the virus...... During the first part of the "Lockdown" I observed ( probably) about 95% of the Natives going about the daily shopping with out face masks. Walmart was a free for all. I observed the same practices in Lowes and Home Depot, Large extended family birthday gathering of 50-75 people in the park.... Not a face mask in the crowd. In Shiprock I saw 4 masks out of the 100+ people in town. I can only assume that Gallup was very much like Shiprock. Gallup is still out of control.
The Navajo people did not take the corona virus seriously for the first 8-10 weeks. The tribal leadership was not leading but sound biting and demanding the government to send respirators . I personally know the head resporitory nurse at the Shiprock Hospital. We have talked several times, she is appalled at the lack of her people to listen, and follow. The Shiprock hospital ( Largest on the reservation) never even came close to running out of machines, every person that needed one got one. It has only been in the past week - 10 days that I have seen a change in the masking around town.
Our Governor has set policy that makes No communally , in regards to business opening and which ones can't. Don't hold your breath on what she will do next. Maybe trains will run out of Chama,,, maybe not. Anybodys guess, as the State owned 1/2 of the C&T.
Other then that I have no opinion at all.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/2020 10:49PM by dave2-8-0.
