Tag Archives: Navajo

‘Navajos’ Weren’t The ONLY WW II ‘Code Talkers’ — There Were Other Tribes Too.

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by Anura Guruge
on September 15, 2023

Click to ENLARGE. Picture is mine. I took it during my last visit.
Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Amazon‘.

I am fairly sure that I have ONLY knew of the ‘Navajo’ ‘Code Talkers‘. I have read ‘the book’ (leftmost in above picture) & I have been to the ‘Code Talker’ Memorial at ‘Window Rock‘, New Mexico. I am sure THE book, THE movie or something else MUST have talked about others but it had never registered with I till this weekend.

On Sunday, at ‘Split Rock‘, at ‘Passamaquoddy Days‘, an elder, a Harvard-trained nurse told me that there have been Passamaquoddy Code Talkers during WWII. That blew me away. I started investigating as soon as I got back, i.e., yesterday.

The Wikipedia ‘Code Talker’ entry was quite insightful. They talk about multiple languages, in addition to Navajo. Interesting.

Passamaquoddy, however, is NOT mentioned.

I have learnt that Passamaquoddy served, with distinction, in WWI & WWII.

I have also seen, fleetingly, that Passamaquoddy may have served ALONGSIDE Navajo. Not sure whether they spoke Navajo. But, the Code Talkers needed helpers to carry the equipment & run messages. So Passamaquoddy could have done that.

But, I will now keep on checking — if & when I have the time. SMILE.

Upset & Annoyed By The Sheer Arrogance Of The U.S. Supreme Court Ruling On Navajo Water Rights.

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by Anura Guruge
on June 22, 2023

Click to ENLARGE. Google for the news.

Just two pictures from my 2019 visit to ‘Canyon de Chelly‘ showing how DRY Navajo country is & how it affects everything, including the poor, feral horses.
Click to ENLARGE.

Starting with my first visit to Arizona in 1980, I have spent a LOT of time on ‘Navajo‘ reservations — including over 5 multi-day stays at ‘Canyon de Chelly‘ (still my favorite place in the WHOLE WORLD).

I have a particular & special affinity with the Navajo — the Diné.

I can relate to them & many of them relate to I. Some even say I look Navajo & could pass as one. I have spent a lot of time with them, trying to get to know them. They are lovely, gentle people. I feel so bad as to how they are downtrodden. This is another, inexcusable, blow. The Supreme Court is so arrogant. Nothing little, insignificant ‘I’ can do.

I will just leave you with. A video I was so fortunate in being able to record. A Navajo Morning Prayer.

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I Think We Better Bone Up On ‘Mucormycosis’ (a.k.a. ‘Black Fungus) ASAP — Before It Blind Sides Us, As Did COVID.

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by Anura Guruge
on June 28, 2021

Click image to access this short but informative primer.
Click to ENLARGE. Coverage you can find on ‘Google News’.

I just happened to hear about this, on today’s 11pm ‘BBC News‘ — albeit in the context of India. They have declared it an epidemic. That is not good.

As far as I can see Mucormycosis is not an issue of concern in the U.S. as yet. But, as you can see above diabetics are particularly susceptible & we have a LOT of diabetics — especially among the non-caucasians (& I am thinking, in particular, about my beloved Navajo).

Well, we don’t want to get blindsided again. So, we better bone up on this ASAP & find how we are going to combat it. I don’t think we can bury our heads in the sand. Like the COVID variants this is likely to find its way to the U.S.

This could be serious. Folks are losing eyes!