Changing Woman
Page 37
“Aren’t you Rose Destea, the traditionalist who is trying to turn everyone against a tribal nuclear power plant? I read what you said in the newspaper.”
“You are right about my name. And although the newspaper gave a distorted report of my comments, I do have many serious questions and concerns about the NEED project. But people are free to make up their own minds.” Rose spoke calmly.
“My name is Vera Jim.” The woman stepped right up to within a foot of Rose, but Rose didn’t flinch or give ground. “People like you are the tribe’s biggest enemies. You’re so used to living in poverty you can’t see that the opportunity has finally come for the rest of us to break out of this cycle of misery. New Traditionalists provide leaders who can improve our standard of living, but there is always someone like you to stand in our way.”
“I am not an enemy of the tribe,” Rose said sharply. “The only ones who truly undermine who we are as The People are the ones who show no respect for our ways.”
Ella was surprised by how well Rose was handling things, though she could tell her mother was furious with Vera Jim. Vera suddenly pushed Rose hard.
”Your ways suck!” Vera snarled.
As Rose staggered back, Ella steadied her mother quickly, then, in an instant stepped up to Vera, pinning her against the trunk of a cottonwood tree so she couldn’t move.
“You have assaulted a member of our tribe,” Ella said. “I am a witness and a police officer.”
“Daughter, let her go,” Rose said. “There’s enough division among the Dineh as it is.”
“Mom, you can press charges—”
“No. That’s your way, not mine. Common sense and respect for their elders isn’t something you can force into a person. If they haven’t been raised properly, they have to learn it by themselves.”
In the Navajo tradition. Changing Woman represents
life springing up from nothing. She is the ultimate
hope of the world. She is Woman, who embodies
all the mysteries of life.
CHANGING WOMAN
Change surrounds Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah. The father of her child seems ready to be more of a father, though it will alter the rhythm of all their lives and may hurt his political career. Ella’s mother, Rose, has rediscovered her passion for politics and struggles to guide her people on the best way to walk in beauty.
The Dineh seem to be ready to bring casino gambling to the Rez, despite the risk that the character of the Navajo Nation will be forever altered. Speaking eloquently against the proposal, Rose becomes a national celebrity.
Ella has no time to think about how these changes will affect her and her two-year-old daughter. The Navajo Police Force is combating an increasingly violent wave of vandalism, always two steps behind despite their best efforts.
Events come to a head with the terrorist takeover of a coal mine and power plant on the Reservation. Ella must keep the terrorists from blowing up the power plant—but how can she focus on being a cop when her daughter is missing?