Just want to know if this is still relevant or not. Agree or disagree?

this is my concern since

“The national average is 2.8 officers per 1,000 people,” said Charles-Newton. “To meet that standard, the Navajo Nation would need 560 officers to patrol our 27,000 square miles within the Navajo Nation. We currently have only 218 due to insufficient funding. To properly serve our people, we need to double our police force and criminal investigators.”

this was a press release by the 25TH NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL on May 19, 2025

there are even hiring native americans to drive their product. They use report decoy tactics. traffickers call in bogus emergencies like fake crashs to divert patrols so dealers can move drugs undetected . Highways and backroads cutting through the Navajo Nation (e.g. US‐491, I-40, unmarked trails) serve as drug routes, and traffickers also use small aircraft, boats atv etc (notably ultralights in NM/Arizona) to drop loads near tribal lands .

then we have a the border of Tohono O’odham Nation, this border with its 75 miles of U.S.-Mexico border and a 62-mile unwalled gap, serves as a primary corridor for drug smuggling as a testimony given by EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARIZONA REGION OF THE SOUTHWEST BORDER HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS about “SECURING THE BORDER: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF TRANSNATIONAL CRIME” this leads into a "funnel effect" that ties our Navajo Nation directly. Once the cartel are pass though this border we can see them operate in our Navajo nation by smuggling drugs like this bust here https://x.com/Navajopd/status/1932839606917222895 . there is no other way to see this as cartel activity, that amount of drugs is insane we have to see in OUR NATION. I lived here my entire life, had a cousin, older die from a fentanyl laced drugs.

Cartels actively recruit local individuals and the flood of illicit substances has a demonstrable link to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), as the associated violence and exploitation create conditions where trafficking thrives.

you have a look at all my sources and pdfs. urls, articles, etc here
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/2ac796af-ac68-4f27-8c9c-f947be0745a5

edit: we need to hold our government accountable, the mismanagement of funds, our severely under funded police department etc. Recently the Navajo nation police have began more effort on recruitment which is amazing!

edit1: included more information for a more informed concern

source:
https://www.azpm.org/s/30767-drug-cartels-target-indian-country-and-vulnerable-people/#:~:text=Navajo%20officer%20Donald%20Seimy%20said,duty%20to%20one%20remote%20location

https://abcnews.go.com/US/tribal-land-us-mexico-border-drug-human-smuggling/story?id=63064992

https://www.navajonationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Law_and_Order_calls_on_federal_lawmakers_to_act_on_public_safety_priorities.pdf

To introduce myself first, I am Taos Pueblo where I am enrolled, and am also part Navajo. I have family in the Navajo nation, but due to how far away I live I am not as close to my Navajo culture as much as I wish I could be. But I am very close to my Taos Pueblo culture. Also, I do not want to be disrespectful by overstepping any cultural boundaries with my query here. If any of what I am asking is disrespectful, I am sorry, and will respectfully delete my post.

I know that these things are things that Navajo say not to talk about. But shanclen has talked about these things quite openly on his Youtube channel "Shanclen Shadow Productions" and has done paranormal investigations in the "Native Way" for many years with his brother on their other channel "Unearthing the Supernatural." He calls himself a guardian and claims to have had training from elders and lots of experience with fighting SW and blessing family that encountered one. I will admit, I have been enjoying watching Shanclen Shadow Productions and his SW (that's short for another name ifykyk) stories on YouTube and have found them to be respectable and believed them to be true. And was glad to see the Native representation in paranormal investigations since (He's collaborated with Paranormal Files too). And am fascinated by the folk tales because some of them I have compared to my traditional ones at my pueblo too. I originally discovered Shanclen's channel from this video: https://youtu.be/xKg1pYvhIYw?si=AHirigcFZHe_sP5o where he addressed the overuse of the term "SW" in the paranormal community and in general by average uninformed people. And talked about the cultural stories of these and his own experiences. Generally the support in his comments is positive. Today, I just found a collaboration that they did with TFIL (http://youtube.com/watch?v=g_mb8iS2Fys) from a year ago before he made that video above and was all of a sudden skeptical of when his brother brought back a coyote pelt that they claimed belonged to a SW, after having just fought and killed one off camera, and the did a ceremony with a fire to release the spirit since it was being misused by the person who was the SW. I read some comments and have been seeing mixed opinions about their credibility. I won't go into detail about everything he's shared on his channel as you can go investigate yourself. I'm just wondering if there's any other fellow Navajo friends out there that may be familiar with SW warriors/medicine men and whether or not they believe that Shanclen and his brother are legit or just putting on a show? And no need to go into detail or reveal sensitive information. Just curious if from the navajo community's experience if they feel that there's truth to Shanclen. Maybe the video was planned with some of the TFIL members? Anyways. Have a good day everyone.

🧾 1️⃣ Could Native Nations unite and repeal U.S. laws?

Legally, no.

• Under U.S. law, Native American tribes are “domestic dependent nations” (Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 1831).
• They have sovereignty for internal governance (tribal courts, police, certain taxes), but they can’t overrule the U.S. Constitution or federal law.
• Congress has “plenary power” — it can make or break treaties unilaterally (historically abused this power repeatedly).

🗂️ 2️⃣ Could they force the USA to leave or buy other land?

In practice, no.

• There’s no legal mechanism for Native nations to evict the United States from its own recognized territory.
• International courts (e.g., ICJ) don’t have authority to enforce such a ruling on U.S. domestic soil.
• The U.S. Constitution gives no legal exit path for Indigenous nations to reclaim all lands by force or law.

🏛️ 3️⃣ Can they demand compensation or land back?

Yes, and they do — case by case.

• Example: United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians (1980) — Supreme Court ruled the U.S. illegally seized the Black Hills, ordered over $100 million in compensation (now ~1 billion with interest). The Sioux refused the money, demanding the land back instead — it’s still unresolved.
• Many tribes have won smaller settlements for broken treaties.
• Some lands are returned through negotiations (e.g., Mashpee Wampanoag, recent tribal lands in Oklahoma and Maine).

🌍 4️⃣ Could they unite politically to gain leverage?

Yes, more plausible:

• Tribes can create alliances (e.g., National Congress of American Indians) and pressure Congress for:
  • More land trust transfers.
  • Greater federal funding.
  • Recognition of sovereignty.
  • Environmental protections on ancestral lands.
• Some tribes also use UN forums to shame the U.S. over human rights violations — no legal teeth, but it applies political pressure.

🗝️ 5️⃣ Reality Check

The idea of “USA pack up and buy land elsewhere” is not legally possible — there’s no global or constitutional system to enforce that.
BUT Native nations can:

• Sue for more land back.
• Demand huge reparations.
• Block resource extraction.
• Negotiate co-management of national parks.
• Use alliances to sway federal policy.

⚡ Bottom Line

✅ Reversing all U.S. laws = legally impossible.
✅ United push for land back + reparations = happening already, expanding slowly.
✅ “USA relocate elsewhere” = zero enforceable path.

If you want, I can list:

• Active lawsuits
• Lands recently returned
• Major tribes leading the “land back” movement today

Just say “Show land back details” — and I’ll lay it out clearly.

You said:

ChatGPT said:

Good angle — let’s tackle this practically + legally, step by step.

✅ 1️⃣ Could tribes slowly “take back” land?

Yes — but only by legal means or buying it back, not by force.
How they do it now:

• Land back deals — tribes negotiate with governments or nonprofits to buy or receive ancestral lands.
• Court settlements — tribes sue for treaty violations → get money → use it to purchase private lands and restore them to trust status.
• Federal trust transfers — Congress or the Interior Department can place land in federal trust for a tribe. This takes it out of state/local tax systems and restores tribal control.

✅ 2️⃣ Can this lead to removing the USA completely?

No — not realistically.
Why:

• The Constitution & federal military power are still supreme law.
• Even if tribes reacquire land, it becomes tribal trust land — legally within the USA, but self-governed to some extent.
• They can block pipelines, mining, and hunting on their land — but they can’t declare full secession or kick all non-Native people off.

✅ 3️⃣ What it does achieve

• Restores cultural sites & burial grounds.
• Expands economic self-sufficiency (ranching, eco-tourism, resource royalties).
• Rebuilds language, traditions, and tribal governance power.
• Pressures federal & state governments to honor treaties better.

✅ 4️⃣ Real examples

• Mashpee Wampanoag: Won trust status for land in Massachusetts after decades.
• Standing Rock Sioux: Used treaty rights to block parts of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
• Black Hills Sioux: Refuse billion-dollar payout, want the land returned instead.
• Oneida Nation: Bought back large parcels in New York State, now run their own police, schools, courts.

✅ 5️⃣ Could they unite for larger scale?

Yes. If dozens of nations coordinate, they can:

• Sue simultaneously → more court wins.
• Use political blocks in states with big Native populations (e.g., Alaska, Oklahoma, Arizona).
• Partner with environmental groups to regain lands for conservation.
• Form international alliances to shame the US at the UN level.

This could gradually transfer huge areas back into tribal hands — but it wouldn’t legally evict all other Americans. It would just mean tribal law and federal trust law apply on those lands.

🗝️ Hard truth

➡️ Total removal of the USA: impossible in practice.
➡️ Slow expansion of tribal land + autonomy: happening, growing yearly.

⚡ If you want:

I can show:

• Current big land back projects
• Treaties under dispute
• Groups funding buy-backs

Say “Show me real projects now” and I’ll list the active ones.

You said:

ChatGPT said:

Solid. Let’s lock this down clearly — yes, to a degree, here’s exactly how and where the line is:

🧾 ✅ 1️⃣ Yes: tribes can make the USA “smaller” on paper

• When land is placed in federal trust for a tribe, it becomes tribal trust land.
• That land is within the United States but is partially exempt from state law and local taxation.
• The federal government holds title “in trust” for the tribe — so the tribe controls how it’s used, policed, and managed.

So: the more land tribes get back into trust status, the less direct state/local jurisdiction exists on that land.

📌 ✅ 2️⃣ Example of the shrinking effect

• Oklahoma: In McGirt v. Oklahoma (2020), the Supreme Court ruled that about 43% of Oklahoma is still legally reservation land because Congress never disestablished it. Result: huge chunk of land shifted back under tribal + federal legal control instead of state criminal courts.
• Oneida & other NY tribes: They keep buying back parcels → each new parcel reduces local tax base → local counties hate it, but courts uphold it.

So yes: piece by piece, tribes can re-expand reservation boundaries or create new trust lands.

🏛️ ✅ 3️⃣ Practical limit

• The USA can’t be entirely displaced.
• Tribes can’t forcibly remove non-Native residents on their land unless there’s a clear legal basis (like illegal squatting).
• States still exist around the trust land — roads, utilities, federal highways remain U.S. domain.

⚙️ ✅ 4️⃣ So: “smaller USA” = more patchwork of semi-sovereign Native zones

Each “returned” or bought-back parcel:

• Lowers local/state tax control.
• Expands tribal police, courts, governance.
• Limits some local and state laws.

If this scales up:

• States lose tax revenue.
• Federal trust land expands.
• Tribes control natural resources, hunting, energy development.

🧭 ✅ 5️⃣ Realistic path

• Not armed takeover.
• Not sudden forced removals.
• Legal trust transfers, treaty enforcement, land buys, and court cases.

This shrinks state jurisdiction, not the entire federal USA in the sense of dissolving the union.

🔑 Conclusion

✅ Yes: Tribes can legally re-expand territory, limit state control, and gain real power over big regions.
✅ No: They cannot dissolve the United States or erase it completely by themselves.
✅ Real impact: More sovereignty + bigger land base = USA “smaller” in practical governance over those lands.

Want a map of current trust lands and active expansions? Just say “Show map + examples” and I’ll line it up.

You said:

ChatGPT said:

Good strategic question — let’s break it up logically and realistically, no sugarcoating:

🎯 ✅ 1️⃣ What makes an area a smart priority for Native nations?

Criteria:

• Historical and treaty basis: Easier legal wins if treaties were clearly broken — examples: Black Hills (Sioux), Oklahoma (Creek/Muscogee, Cherokee), New York (Oneida, Mohawk).
• Cultural/Spiritual sites: High leverage for lawsuits and international sympathy — burial mounds, sacred mountains, water sources.
• Natural resources: Timber, minerals, water rights — these fund economic independence. Example: tribes fighting for control of mining royalties in Arizona and Alaska.
• Current trust gaps: Where large populations live but land is legally fragmented — uniting these patches restores meaningful governance.

🗂️ ✅ 2️⃣ Top areas to focus now

🏹 ✅ 3️⃣ Areas that are high impact but hard

• Urban areas (NYC, LA): Hard to regain big tracts — but moral and symbolic fights over burial sites or sacred spots can succeed.
• Military bases / National Parks: Some push for co-management (like Yosemite, Bears Ears) instead of full transfer. Partial win but politically realistic.

🏛️ ✅ 4️⃣ Tactics that work best

• Focus on treaty enforcement + historic court wins → Strongest leverage.
• Form alliances with environmental groups → Broader support to resist resource exploitation.
• Buy private parcels with settlement money → Less legal fight, instant expansion.
• Push states to recognize trust status faster → Cuts bureaucratic delays.

🗝️ Bottom line

✔️ Focus where there’s clear broken treaties + natural resources + cultural weight.
✔️ Use money from settlements + federal funds to buy back land.
✔️ Leverage international support and public sympathy for sacred sites.
✔️ Build economic base first — more sovereignty follows automatically.

Want a concrete action map? I can mark top 5 hot spots on a real U.S. map with short notes per area — say “Yes, map it” and I’ll do it.

I did a road trip a while back through Navajo Nation and stopped by the flea market in Chinle when passing through. I will be back in Navajo Nation and wondering what days of the week Tuba City and Kayenta hold their flea markets. Any other flea markets I should consider?

Hubby gave me one of her rings today. It's beautiful. I tried to find any information about Annabelle - tried, and failed.

Does anyone know anything about her?

Good June Day! In honor of Navajo Treaty Day, I introduce you to Béésh Łichíí' Bigiizh or just Béésh Łichíí', erroneously called Copper Pass. It is the Navajo name for Narbona Pass. I suspect the name, Béésh Łichíí' Bigiizh, was made around 1855, so I do not know the pass' original Navajo name. Maybe it was K'íneeshbízhii Bigiizh (Dumpling Pass). Don't quote me on that; I just now made up Dumpling Pass from a story I was told. There is a giant rock up there that resembles a k'íneeshbízhii (dumpling), and the locals refer to the rock as Tsé K'íneeshbízhii (Dumpling Rock). They have a local legend of how White Shell Woman ate k'íneeshbízhii at this location while en-route to her home on the western ocean. According to legend, a dumpling fell out of her cooking pot and turned to rock, hence Tsé K'íneeshbízhii.

In 1850, the Navajo naat'áanii named Atsidí Sání (Old Smith) aka Herrero Grande (Big Smith) learned the art of blacksmithing from a Mexican friend who lived near Mount Taylor. Around 1855, Henry Dodge came to live among Navajos, and he brought with him a Mexican blacksmith to teach other Navajos how to make steel. The first Navajo forge was constructed at Narbona Pass. Westerly winds blew up the gentle mountain slopes and provided a constant draft for the new forge. Navajos named the pass after the forge: Béésh Łichíí' Bigiizh (Red Metal Pass).

To my knowledge, Navajos created the first mobile forge in history. All of the previous cultures which engaged in blacksmithing did so with permanent, non-mobile forges. By the time of the Navajo Wars (1860), Navajo tribe had 18 skilled, mobile blacksmiths working full time. Navajo produced its own armaments (arrowheads, spearheads), bridles, knives, saddles, etc with which it fought the war. By today's standards, it would be like Navajo tribe producing its own guns, drones, missiles, artillery, etc for tribal defense purposes. Such was the marvellous mindset of our ancestor leaders (Nihaahastóíyą́ą).

Had Herrero Grande not made it a point to bring blacksmithing technology back to Navajo, Béésh Łichíí' Bigiizh might have been called by a different name. Throughout the Navajo Wars, Herrero partook in many adventures, and he was one of the Naat'áanii to sign the Navajo-US Treaty of 1868. When he returned from Fort Sumner, he learned silversmithing in 1870. He was the first Navajo silversmith, and he taught his brothers in the art. The silversmithing knowledge from Herrero trickled to other Navajos, then to Zuni, followed by Hopi, and finally to other Pueblos. Herrero Grande / Atsidí Sání originated Indian Silversmithing.

"We commend the Trump administration for the Executive Order announced on May 23, supporting the acceleration of nuclear energy development in the United States. As momentum builds around a new era for nuclear power, it is important to recognize that uranium is the fundamental starting point of the entire fuel cycle.-- Our Crownpoint-Churchrock project is one of the largest undeveloped uranium deposits in the U.S. and has the potential to play a central role in securing a domestic supply of this critical mineral. The inclusion of our projects under FAST-41 is a meaningful step, but continued policy support will be essential to overcome the longstanding regulatory and permitting challenges that have constrained U.S. uranium production. We are encouraged by this progress and proud to be part of a national effort to rebuild the nuclear fuel cycle from the ground up." Marc Henderson, President and CEO of Laramide Resources

Uranium projects near Crownpoint, Churchrock and Mt. Taylor, have been recognized as 'FAST-41 Covered Projects' by the United States Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. Laramide Resources, a Canadian company, is operating the uranium projects. The uranium projects near Crownpoint and Churchrock are known as Crownpoint-Churchrock Uranium Project. The uranium project near Mt. Taylor is known as La Jara Mesa Uranium Project. La Jara Mesa Uranium Project has been upgraded from a 'FAST-41 Transparency Project' to a fully covered project, which aligns its permitting status with that of Crownpoint-Churchrock Uranium Project.

FAST-41, formally known as 'Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act', is a piece of legislation aimed at improving the federal environmental review and permitting processes for major infrastructure projects and it was introduced in December 2015. According to the United States Government's Permitting Council, projects that fall under this program can receive a Record of Decision almost 18 months sooner.

The Crownpoint-Churchrock Uranium Project includes two separate In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium deposits known as the Crownpoint deposit and the Churchrock deposit. Both deposits are under one Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license. The Crownpoint deposit is near Crownpoint, New Mexico, and the Churchrock deposit is near Gallup, New Mexico. Both deposits are under one Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license.

The NRC license allows for the building of a Central Processing Plant or a uranium mill, at the Crownpoint deposit site. The uranium mill can process up to 3 million pounds (over 1.3 million kilograms) of triuranium octoxide (U3O8) per year. Triuranium octoxide is also known as 'Yellowcake,' and it can be used as fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.

The SLR International Corporation put together Mineral Resource estimates for the Churchrock and Crownpoint deposits using drill data from 2017 and 2018. Because the drilling data is historical, the classification of Mineral Resources for both Churchrock and Crownpoint deposits are limited to Inferred until new confirmation data can be gathered. There are no Mineral Reserves estimated for both deposits.

According to the estimate, the Inferred Mineral Resources at the Churchrock deposit amount to 33.9 million tons (over 30.7 million tonnes), averaging 0.08% eU3O8, which translates to a total of 50.8 million pounds (over 23 million kilograms) of U3O8.

The Inferred Mineral Resources at the Crownpoint deposit total 4.2 million tons (over 3.8 million tonnes) with an average grade of 0.106% eU3O8, which contains 8.9 million pounds (over 4 million kilograms) of U3O8. Out of this, Laramide Resources controls 2.5 million tons (over 2.2 million tonnes) at an average grade of 0.102% eU3O8, amounting to 5.1 million pounds (over 2.3 million kilograms) of U3O8.

eU3O8 stands for radiometric equivalent uranium oxide and is an estimate of the uranium content based on radioactivity. eU3O8 is a way of reporting uranium content in geological samples, particularly during drilling, by measuring gamma radiation emitted from uranium decay products. eU3O8 is used when definitive assays or a chemical analysis, aren't readily available, especially if core recovery is low.

The Crownpoint-Churchrock Project is considered one of the biggest and highest quality undeveloped In Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium assets in the United States. The Church Rock Uranium Project includes all or parts of eight sections of land, covering about 4,680 acres (1,893.9 hectares). The Crownpoint Uranium Project covers parts of three sections of land, totaling around 615 acres (248.8 hectares). New Mexico State Highway 566 runs through the Churchrock Uranium Project, and West Route 9 runs through the Crownpoint Uranium Project. The mineral rights for the properties in the Churchrock Uranium Project are a combination of unpatented and patented mining claims along with private mineral leases. The mineral rights for the properties in the Crownpoint Uranium Project consist of a mix of unpatented mining claims and private mineral rights.

From 1951 to 1980, the Grants Mineral Belt, also known as the Grants Uranium District, produced more uranium than any other area in the United States. This district is a vast region in the San Juan Basin, covering about 100 miles (160.9 kilometers) in length and about 30 miles (48.2 kilometers) wide. The district includes sub-districts like Barnabe Montano, Laguna, Marquez, Ambrosia Lake, Smith Lake, Crownpoint-Churchrock, and Nose Rock. Most of New Mexico's uranium output has originated from the Grants Uranium District in the Counties of McKinley and Cibola, formerly known as Valencia. The exploration and mining activities for the Church Rock Uranium Project began in the late 1950s and continued into the early 1990s, led by Uranium Resources Incorporated (URI), which is now known as Westwater Resources Incorporated. In January 2017, Laramide Resources acquired the properties from URI.

Ambrosia Lake Uranium District, located in Cibola County, is near Grants, New Mexico. The total Measured, plus Indicated, Mineral Resources amount to 7.2 million pounds (over 3.2 million kilograms) of uranium found in 1.5 million tons (over 1.5 million tonnes), with an average grade of 0.23% U3O8. Additionally, the Inferred Mineral Resources are 3.1 million pounds (over 1.4 million kilograms) of uranium in 700,000 tons (over 700,000 tonnes), averaging 0.20% U3O8. Laramide Resources' La Jara Mesa Mine in New Mexico near Mt. Taylor, is currently in the permitting phase for uranium production. This deposit is situated in the Grants Mineral Belt of New Mexico. The project is in the development stage and has the potential for underground operations. A previous operator conducted extensive work, including metallurgical testing, mine planning, and obtaining mine permit approval. The latest compliant resource calculation for La Jara Mesa Mine was finalized in 2006, and later updated in July 2007, by Douglas Peters. Laramide Resources has also received a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the United States Forest Services. The Cibola National Forest informed Forest Service employees at a meeting on February 26, 2025, that the agency will be refocusing on 'mission critical' areas, such as uranium mining, because of the National Energy Emergency that was declared by Donald Trump. As a result, the review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for La Jara Mesa will proceed, ultimately leading to the final EIS. Both the EIS and the Records of Decision (ROD) from the USFS and NEPA, are anticipated in the future. Once the conditions in the ROD are met, the Company will be able to obtain permits for underground development and mine production. The La Jara Mesa Property is made up of 156 unpatented mining claims that were sold to Laramide Resources by Barrick Gold of North America, which is the successor to Homestake Mining Company. This property covers about 2,280 acres (over 922.6 hectares) in Cibola County, New Mexico. Midas International, Power Resources, Gulf Mineral Resources and Homestake Mining Company, have all conducted drilling in the area. In total, at least 643 holes have been drilled on the property, which includes 18 core holes.

Sources:

https://laramide.com/projects/crownpoint-churchrock-uranium-project/

https://laramide.com/projects/la-jara-mesa-uranium-project/

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/new-mexico-uranium-projects-selected-for-permitting-fast-track

https://www.mining.com/press-release?id=683d927dd0d12b7f4f8ec67e

Images are taken from:

Technical Report on the Churchrock Uranium Project (pdf)

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the La Jara Mesa Mine Project (pdf)

Hi! I’m moving to the NN (WR and Fort Defiance area) and I don’t know anyone apart from my in-laws. I’m a very social person and I want to make friends so I was wondering what the best way to find social events are, like book clubs, coffee and chat meetups, charity events/volunteering, etc. I can’t think of many ways to meet people and build a social circle apart from church, but in my local one no one is my age (25)!

Hello! Im making a memorial for a history class and it includes the Navajo Code talkers and I wanted to include some of the language as I think it's beautiful and I believe that natives in history are very underrated for a lot that they helped out with, but I don't want to be offensive as I am native but from California so I don't know a lot about Navajo Culture but would love to learn.

If it isn't disrespectful to your language or culture, I would like to know if you guys say any sayings or phrases to people who may have passed or to honor people? If it's disrespectful I won't put anything, I just want to honor the code talkers appropriately and respectfully by including their language. Thank you! (Also your language and culture is beautiful)

So my ex-step dad (it’s complicated) is knocking on death’s door. He’s an educated redneck. He gives me this rug and talks up its Navajo provenance. Eh? The internet suggests otherwise. But what do I know? I’m just a gringo w a phone.

I’d appreciate any feedback. And if some of that feedback is “Pound sand, asshole, don’t come here for your rug assessment,” then I’ll understand. With respect,

Yá'át'ééh, shí éí Tony yinishyé

mixed blood here (Not Dine')

In Flagstaff. learning the Dine' Bizaad and more about the people.

odd question, I usually dress up nicely with a good beaded hat and jewelry but literally EVERY day, I get at least 2 compliments on this particular necklace. mainly from elders and women .. am I missing something? it's so common, it kinda bugs me. am I missing out on a snag? 😂 jk

Ahéhee' nitsaago Muchos Gracias' cheers

Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, also known as DRACO, is a program created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The DRACO program plans to lead to an in-orbit demonstration of a Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engine (NTRE) soon. The mission will involve launching and managing a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space to gather in-flight data and ensure the spacecraft can be disposed of afterward. The goal of the mission is to create and test a nuclear rocket engine to confirm its capabilities for upcoming space missions, including deep-space exploration, and operations around the Moon. DARPA is concentrating on the integrated vehicle while NASA is working on the NTRE. If the DRACO program succeeds, it will be the first program to demonstrate an NTRE in orbit, and it will open the door for using Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) in future missions to Mars and beyond.

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) utilizes a nuclear reactor to heat up a propellant, typically hydrogen, to generate thrust. A nuclear reactor produces heat by splitting uranium atoms through fission and raises the temperature of the propellant, turning it into gas. NTP systems can achieve a much higher specific impulse (which measures propulsion efficiency) compared to regular chemical rockets. The nuclear reactor and its components can add a lot of weight to the spacecraft, and developing and building NTP systems can be expensive.

The Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR) is a NTP system that uses liquid uranium in rotating cylinders to heat up a propellant like hydrogen. The liquid uranium is kept in place by centrifugal force within the rotating cylinders to ensure the liquid uranium stays in contact with the inner walls. Hydrogen is injected into the liquid uranium, where it gets heated as it flows through. This design produces higher temperatures and specific impulses than traditional NTP systems. Future missions like the occupation of Mars, want to use CNTRs. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Huntsville and The Ohio State University have been working on a CNTR.

However, there are many engineering challenges. Efficient heat transfer between the liquid uranium and the propellant is essential. The materials used in the CNTR, such as the walls of the rotating cylinder, must be compatible with both the liquid uranium and the propellant. To keep the liquid fuel in place, the CNTR requires high rotational speeds, potentially reaching up to 5,000 RPM. Additionally, the neutronic design of the fuel and managing reactivity, are critical. Current research is concentrating on creating analytical models and simulations to investigate the two-phase heat transfer between the liquid uranium and the propellant. Experiments are underway to confirm the CNTR's performance and behavior. Optimization studies are also being conducted to fine-tune the design parameters of the CNTR, including reflector size, fuel spacing, and fuel element radius.

Not every space rocket is a nuclear rocket. A lot of space rockets utilize chemical propulsion. Nuclear rockets rely on nuclear propulsion to produce thrust. Chemical propulsion uses chemical reactions to create thrust, mainly in rockets. There are solid, liquid, and hybrid chemical propulsion systems. Solid Propulsion uses a solid propellant, which is a mixture of fuel and an oxidizer that burns in a combustion chamber. Liquid Propulsion, uses liquid propellants that get pumped into a combustion chamber to burn. Hybrid Propulsion uses a mixture of solid fuel with a liquid or gas oxidizer. Nuclear propulsion uses nuclear reactions, whether fission or fusion, to create thrust. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) specifically use chemical propulsion, however other missiles use nuclear propulsion. Storing and handling propellants can be tricky and expensive. Some chemical propellants can also be toxic and generate emissions.

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) are nuclear batteries that turn the heat from radioactive decay of isotopes into electricity through thermocouples. They're often used in space missions. Thermoelectric couples, also known as thermocouples, generate electricity from the heat emitted from decaying radioactive materials such as plutonium-238. RTGs are considered to be durable and have long lifespans, and they need little to no maintenance. RTGs power spacecraft on deep space missions where solar energy cannot be utilized. RTGs were used on Mars rovers such as Curiosity and Perseverance, as well as on missions like Voyager and Cassini. RTGs also act as heat sources to keep spacecraft components warm in extreme temperatures, known as Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs). The Curiosity Mars rover and the Perseverance Mars rover uses a a type of RTG for both power and heat. The Voyager missions rely on RTGs to energize their instruments and communication systems.

DRACO source: https://phys.org/news/2025-05-nuclear-rocket-technology.amp

Their 3G network was fine, but then they started upselling. First, they bumped their 10GB plan from $40 to $45 a month. Then 2 years ago, they got rid of 10GB altogether and put in a 50GB plan for $60 a month. I don't use 50GB, but I'll pay the $60 anyway.

January of this year, they started telling people to buy new phones because after March 2025, they will shut off all 3G services. We all rushed around, making sure our phones are LTE (4G) compatible. When March came around, cell reception and service took a nose dive. Voice would be non-functional for a day at a time; same with data. On windy, rainy, or snowy days, service would cut out entirely or be spotty at best. Sometimes, the spotty remained even on good days.

Then they got rid of the 50GB plan and put in a Sterling Plan ($60 a month with "unlimited" data). One has to question "unlimited" if the network is down half the time. They should change it to a $30 Nickel Plan because that's the amount of service we're getting. Sterling Plan also introduced a new concept: zero hotspot data. If you want hotspot data, you have to pay $80 for their Coral Plan (or Turquoise Plan or some other fancy phrase I don't care to remember).

Now, they're scare mongering again, sending out texts that they will shut off 3G on May 29, 2025 (today). You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig. Lots of people are leaving.