The Navajo Nation and the Digital World

In preparation for the webinar "Behind the Screen: Grassroots Experiences Accessing Social Services and Education in a Digital World" during the United Nations Commissions for Social Development in February 2021, Erick Sanders from New Mexico shared his thoughts on the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all, based on the experiences of the Navajo Nation.

I would like to talk about Navajo Nation, a Native-American tribe whose vast territory spans 3 states – New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

Most families living in Navajo Nation don't have computers and many don't have electricity. This limits access to the internet. There are possible providers but installing more towers is necessary for this vast territory to be fully covered.

Some families can afford hotspots from phone providers but most cannot. Some use the local chapter house's wifi. Chapter Houses are local gathering places but the distance to the nearest one can be far.

Navajo Nation received funding for its members through the CARES Act's Hardship Assistance Program, as part of the US Government Covid Response. Navajos have to fill out an online application before they can access the support and there are printed versions available at chapter houses but there are no meetings there at this time due to Covid-19. So residents are unable to hear about potential help.

One grandfather in Navajo Nation heard about the funding. He has a hotspot box loaned to his family for his grandchildren’s remote learning. But this grandfather does not know how to access an application on line. Traveling to his local chapter house to get a printed one is difficult: during weekdays, he needs to stay home while his grandchildren attend remote learning classes and during evenings and weekends, there is a curfew due to the pandemic, so he cannot travel.

A Navajo mother also heard of the funding. Her family lost their Certificate of Indian Blood and social security cards some years ago. Those numbers are required for the application. She said they could really use the support, but she felt there were too many obstacles to accessing it. 

With such barriers, how can all Navajos access their rights?

Photo taken by Erick Sanders on his way to visit families

For more insights and experiences on the increased use of digital technology this year, read ATD Fourth World Spring Newsletter: Digital Human Connections.