This month we are honored to have guest speaker, Roy Chavez, join us. Roy is a full- blooded Navajo Indian from New Mexico. He comes from the northeastern part of the Navajo Reservation just over the mountains, west of Taos, New Mexico near a small town of Cuba, New Mexico. He is a registered member of the Ojo Encino Chapter of the Navajo Nation.
Roy is a living testament of the impact of Colonialism. He lived through the days of boarding schools and the Indian foster programs. Roy was raised in Utah by a Mormon family through the LDS Indian Placement Program.
Roy received his Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish through Brigham Young University and also his Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance through Golden Gate University. He lives in Fort Morgan, Colorado where he is a farmer and raises lambs. He has worked as a Mortgage Broker for over 25 years.
Roy served a two-year Mormon Spanish mission to Puerto Rico. He also studied Spanish in Spain under a 6-month study-abroad program. He has traveled extensively throughout the world sharing his culture as a professional performer through various musical and dance groups from Brigham Young University. Roy speaks Navajo, English, Spanish, and some Russian.
During the Covid epidemic years, Roy used his Navajo language to reach out to the remote areas of the Navajo reservation covering New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado to get medical and sanitation supplies as well as food and water to Navajos affected by the disease. Roy still works with the Navajo Nation to help remove barriers so that every Navajo has running water, electricity, and broadband.
Roy is ecstatic to share his story and experience from the Navajo perspective. He hopes that what he shares will be an eye-opener, educational, and enriching.
The evening includes a potluck for those joining in person. Please bring your favorite dish to share. We will also have time for debriefing and discussion at the end of Roy's presentation.
