Show The Herald JournalCache Sunday July 20 rasive on a tight budget a the kii convening to rebuildvolun-famiraced mechanic Ervin that he would be gone done probably a couple of ly i peers Ervin does not have a stays busy weekends hymns to her smaller sister or other neighborhood children LDS theology teaches that “Lamanites" which might include many Native Americans tribes (their exact lineage is still a topic of debate) were taught the gospel by Jesus Christ during a visit to the western hemisphere subsequent to his New Testament Lamanites failed to follow those teachings though according to the Book of Mormon and prophesies have indicated that the LDS church will teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Lamanite people While some “religious" Navajos believe that their Christian beliefs exclude traditional Navajo beliefs Bessie said it is not a foregone conclusion “They have different things to offer" she said Music videos are playing on the color television at the Castillo home in Bloomfield The new spic and span suburban tract home purchased last November is a far cry from the the desert cottage at A healthy lawn grows out front next to a pickup A customized license plate carries Bessie and Ervin’s names and their astrological signs The younger girls filter in and out of the house with friends from around the neighborhood The two older daughters are watching rocker David Lee Roth strutting across the televised stage Against the backdrop of music the Navajo being spoken has an exotic ring They make plans to attend a “squaw dance" the following evening where a person suffering physical or emotional ills is treated by a medicine man and people dance traditional dances to support the healer’s efforts Victoria seems happy at home and says she is glad to be back among the Navajo “It just feels like home in a lot of ways" she says Reviews of Victoria’s experience on the Indian Placement Program and its effect on her life are mixed Victoria says it is responsible for her new awareness of her career opportunities and her future She believes she is better prepared to succeed Bessie is not so sure “She was always my good girl” Bessie says “Now she’s more rebellious She can be terrible Maybe she really didn’t want to go and I forced her I don’t know Maybe it’s the age I wasn’t around to see her but maybe if I was embodi-menLT- the with Navajo Bessie said lily spends The Castillos on bringing ir daughters up with a sense have always spoken Navajo at is a Navajo name ular has educated the girls in and religion He and Bessie ng to Navajo custom the girls eir “dans" extended family mds or family re concentrated Mi NING:M PROTECTED BY 1 rOUN 3 NIGHTS GUESS WHICH 3 Dzilth-na-o-dith-- well-maintain- reefs the Castillos' visitors over many decades of the tribe Ervin is a mud clan and Bessie the named for the banana-lik- e ch has the same Navajo name !k of within it re increasingly unique in their vajo ways Candace was the d in her Headstart pre-scho- ol who spoke Navajo Many id Ervin’s age do not speak the k a lot of them wish they did" es Ervina as the of her daughters meaning that rested in Christian religions ttending the Mormon church aught Mormon Sunday school 1 1986—15 he Victoria stands in front of her home in Bloomfield New Mexico (top photo) As a lab assistant Victoria's responsibilities include running blood tests on sophisticated equipment at the medical clinic (photo below) The modern facility contrasts sharpley with the primitive surroundings of northern New Mexico's high Dzilth-nao-dith-h- desert |