Fort defiance area (Mesa, Kayenta, Window Rock: housing, rent, lease)

[pendor21]

Can anyone tell me about the Fort defiance area? I am being considered for a position at Window Rock Unified School District and am having the worst luck finding websites.
Thanks! ASAP Please

[Cassandra]

I'm going to guess that you have not been there. You really should visit before you decide.

I used to teach at the High School, so I can probably answer any questions you have. Window Rock Unified HS is on the Navajo Reservation. Obviously almost all of the kids are Navajo. A majority of the skilled professionals, like teachers are not.

The Rez is the Third World. Most people from the East Coast are amazed when they visit the Rez. A common comment is "I didn't know people lived like this".

Some tips:

1) If you live there you will almost have to accept the housing the school provides, otherwise you will need to commute from Gallup NM. If you accept housing insist on an appartment, do not accept a trailer. You're much less likely to be robbed that way.

2) Count on having you home robbed. It might not happen, but when it does you'll much better off if you are prepare.

3) If you are not Navajo, you will have no protection from the police or the courts. That is unless your raped or murdered. Major cirmes are investigated by the FBI.

4) The Rez is Soveregn (sp). The State of Arizona (or New Mexico) will not help you. You can't file a civil case in state courts, they don't have juridiction.

5) Contracts are one sided. They will serve to bind you only. Any attemps that you make to have the school enforce the contract will be ignored.

6) Driving at night is very dangerous. Assume everyone is drunk, and that a cow will be standing in the road as you crest the hill. Everyone hits a cow eventually. It's open range and there are no fences.

7) About one person in 10 that is new to the Rez disappears after they see what they have gotten themselves into. They don't bother to resign, they just go away.

6) If you're not used to the environment you will likely get sick - usually a severe flu/cold. There is basically no medical care. Sage Memorial in Ganado is a private hospital that was highly recommend, but never had the priviledge to visit. DO NOT GO TO AN INS CLINIC/HOPITAL.

8) Don't have any expectations.


Some additional sources of info:

http://azcentral.greatschools.net/modperl/go/AZ
www.navajotimes.com

Sorry to be so negative. Some folks love the Rez - but often these are social misfits. I'll be happy to answer any questions so please ask.

[Nicole]

I personally wouldn't live in that area. It's too far from any "normal" city. I myself haven't lived there, but I have heard that things are very different there and that it's not a modern day society.

http://www.lapahie.com/FAQ.cfm

[oopsydaisy6]

know about kayenta? (besides the bleak, on the rez,waitin' for the govt chek baseline) me and my husband might be moving there from west tx (aka armpit of tx).im an rn and actually prefer working with derilicts and the generally disenfranchised.we will definately keep our home insurance up. i used to live in a trailer park during the "austin ice explosion" so i have learned to anticipate gettin robbed. anyhoo,you seem to know what's up and don't mind sharing common sense advice.

[Cassandra]

An RN that "actually prefer working withderilicts and the generally disenfranchised"!

Then the Rez is for you! You're going to be in Hog Heaven!

You'll see more alcohol related injuries in a week than you would in a life time elsewhere. Also expect to see a bunch of very young girls with babies. Interestingly, there was big public health campain against FAS a few years back that was pretty successful.

Seriously though, Kayenta is probably the largest and most civilized place on the the Rez. The Black Mesa mine is nearby, so there is some money there. Kayenta is sort of the gateway to Monument Valley, so there is a fair amount of tourist traffic (all things relative). As such there are a few restaurants, a decent grocery store and such.

Leadership there is the most sophisticated of any community on the Rez. There was a movement a few years ago to incorporate so that there would be a city government that could tax and provide basic services, but I don't know if that ever actually happened.

I have not spent much time in Kayenta. That said, I suspect that in general, it suffers from much of the same problems as Ft Defiance/Window Rock. One particular problem with Kayenta is that it is a long way off the Rez. Not too far from S. Utah, but there aint much in that part of S. Utah. Blanding is aptly named.

All said and done I guess I would rate Kayenta at the top of the Rez. But remember the bar isn't set very high.