Minority Report

Reaching a New Generation

When Ted and Susan Fadler moved to the Navajo Nation, where Ted was to become the principal of the primary school, they noticed many unhealthy, malnourished stray dogs and cats. So the couple developed RUFF (Reservation's Unwanted Four-footed Friends) and gathered a group of teachers, students, vets, and volunteers who established a shelter for homeless animals and raised funds to provide spay/neuter services.

The program was so successful that others have adopted the model, and some humane workers have now formed web groups to expand its reach. While the original purpose was to find homes for the strays, it quickly grew into a full humane education program in the school.

Children began keeping journals of their experiences with animals. They were taught to write letters to their local newspaper and politicians on issues affecting animals, and their creative writing assignments often had animal themes. The curriculum was taught in their native Navajo language, and when instructors were in doubt, they called on traditional medicine men and women for assistance. Beginning with the Navajo philosophy that all life is sacred made it easy to segue into a discussion of what animals need and what care they require. As with most things, success often lies in the approach.

"Some older Navajo people are tolerant of animal welfare," says Ortiz, "when they see the benefits of cutting down on the number of stray dogs, who sometimes roam in packs. Other work, such as vaccinating, is also seen as okay since it really doesn't hurt the animal. Many also are used to taking their cows, goats, sheep, and horses to vets, but for some of them, it is a new idea to do the same thing with dogs and cats.

"I think that as a younger generation comes along , animal welfare people will receive more understanding. It will take a while, and you can waste your time trying to convince older Native American people to change long-held and ingrained beliefs. Preaching doesn't work - especially if you are white. You're just one more example of a white person telling Native Americans what to do. Many of them, particularly the older ones, experienced prejudice, and it still exists, so if they put up with it at work or school and then are told in a private setting what they are doing wrong with animals, well, you will never make any change in their beliefs."

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