Documentary - St. Bonaventure

Across the Eastern Navajo Nation, countless families face daily challenges—scarce water, long distances to food, unsafe housing, and limited opportunities. For 50 years, Saint Bonaventure Indian Mission and School has stood as a beacon of hope, walking alongside the Diné people with compassion and faith. From clean water and food distribution to safe housing, education, and community programs, the Mission works hand in hand with Navajo families to build brighter futures. “A Legacy of Hope” tells their story—of resilience, dignity, and the life-changing power of generosity.

Chapter 1: “A Legacy of Hope” (Introduction)

Chapter 1 Video Transcript

“A Legacy of Hope” (introduction)

NARRATOR: MORNING SUN BREAKS OVER THE MESAS OF THOREAU, A SMALL TOWN IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

Cecil Joe, Bus Driver: “Good morning.”

NARRATOR: ON THIS PART OF THE EASTERN NAVAJO RESERVATION…

A SCHOOL BUS RIDES ON SMALL ROADS ALONG THESE BEAUTIFUL RED ROCK CLIFFS.

Cecil Joe, Bus Driver: “I have the most kids on this bus here, which takes me about an hour and a half to go around and back.”

NARRATOR: AS THEY ARRIVE… SCHOOL STAFFERS WARMLY WELCOME THESE YOUNG STUDENTS…

NATSOT/School teachers greeting children: “Good morning.”

NARRATOR: CHILDREN AND ADULTS GATHER FOR A MORNING PRAYER.

NATSOT/Morning prayers: “Our Father who in heaven follow thy by kingdom. Come. I will be done best heaven give us trespass and lead us mind to … Amen.”

NARRATOR: AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE.

NATSOT/The Pledge: “Kéyah… da’ ahiiniita.”

NARRATOR: BUT, BEYOND THE HECTIC MORNING – LIKE ANY OTHER IN AMERICA – THERE IS A SOUND PURPOSE HERE.

Teacher 3rd Grade teacher: “You guys can learn a lot and make a lot of money. Okay. Knowledge is power, right? Okay.”

NARRATOR: KNOWLEDGE, POWER AND A PROMISE.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “If you can change the life of young people, then you can start to change the community to have a better, brighter future.”

NATSOT/Teacher: “So, friends, stop and listen.”

NARRATOR: THIS IS HOW THE DAY BEGINS IN THIS QUIET AND HIGH DESERT SMALL COMMUNITY.

NATSOT/Damarco Pierce: “The scenery, the mountains…”

NARRATOR: AT THE HEART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE IS SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL.

FOR MANY, THIS MISSION IS A LIFELINE FOR THOUSANDS OF NAVAJO “DINÉ’ FAMILIES SPREADING ACROSS THESE VAST AND RUGGED LANDS.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “I believe that these people are worthy and deserving of an opportunity, a better future. And because of the goodness of you as donors, you’re able to help us to help them take that next step.”

NARRATOR: IN THESE RESERVATIONS, ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES IS THAT VERY FIRST STEP.

Darlene Arviso – The Water Lady: “My name is Darlene Arviso. I’m the water truck lady, and we’re going out to Baca to deliver water in this in this snowy weather.”

NARRATOR: DARLENE ARVISO SYMBOLIZES THE MISSION’S COMMITMENT… AND DRIVES HOPE STRAIGHT TO THE DOORSTEPS OF MANY PEOPLE… FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR LIVESTOCK AND OTHER ANIMALS.

Chris Halter: “The federal government is not able to provide that water. And so, St. Bonaventure has seen it as a necessity over the last 40 years to provide as much water as possible.”

NARRATOR: BUT THE MISSION’S OUTREACH GOES BEYOND PROVIDING WATER AND EDUCATION.

Benjamin Harry: “Well, here have it. There’s the ramp for now. We still have to do the siderails.”

NARRATOR: FREE HOME REPAIRS AND VOCATIONAL HAND-ON TRAINING…

Jeremy Loley: “I wanted to do something new, learn something new, and always wanted to do a job like this with helping others.”

NARRATOR: FOOD AND CLOTHING…

Darlene Vandever: “We give them everything that we have, for the family, beans, whatever, each of each vegetable or whatever we have.”

NARRATOR: AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MANY LOW-INCOME NATIVE AMERICANS AS WELL THOSE SERVING THE MISSION.

Amara Sherman, School Counselor: “The housing is a huge, huge benefit and huge support. Just being able to live in close proximity to the school, it makes it easier for me to care for the students and the community as a whole.”

NARRATOR: AND MANY CHANCES TO UNWIND AND STAY FIT AND HEALTHY… THROUGH THE SCHOOL PROGRAM…

NATSOT/Sports official 1: “Clear the line.”

NATSOT/Sports official 2: “Clear the track.”

NATSOT/Sports official 2: “Go, Go, Go.”

Shynelle Yazzie: “The kids really enjoy track and field, they do very well, especially our throwers. And I’m excited.”

NATSOT/Student: “We’re going to win.”

NARRATOR: OR THROUGH UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY… INCLUDING THIS VITAL FITNESS CENTER.

Brittany Morales, Gym Member: “It is my therapy, my me time. It keeps me healthy, keeps me grounded. Everybody here is so supportive and so nice. It’s convenient and it’s just probably my favorite place to be other than home.”

NARRATOR: AND WHEN GRIEF DESCENDS, SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION HELPS CARRY THOSE HEAVY BURDENS.

Justina Gibson: Funeral arrangements are, it’s a lot of work. It takes a toll in your time. It’s a lot of financial burden against, upon a family and St. Bonaventure, without asking questions or without turning their heads, they were open arms to us.”

NARRATOR: THE GIBSON FAMILY, LIKE MANY NATIVE AMERICANS ACROSS THE NAVAJO NATION, IS FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY AND BETTERMENT OF THEIR LIVES.

HOWEVER, UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FACE DEEP SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

IN THESE LANDS… THE IMAGES TELL THE STORY.

BUT DESPITE THEIR DEEPLY ROOTED RESILIENCE, THE NAVAJO PEOPLE NEED VITAL SUPPORT —BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL.

WITH THAT MISSION IN MIND, SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL BEGAN IN 19-70S.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “It started off basically from a Catholic priest who saw a need for kids to learn how to read and write. And so it was a very small process of just getting three or four kids together and helping them in reading and writing.”

NARRATOR: THE MISSION’S HISTORY HANDBOOK SAYS THE DIOCESE OF GALLUP – ALMOST THIRTY MILES FROM THOREAU — BLESSED THE MOVE OF JUMP STARTING A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE FOR THE DIOCESE.

THE DIOCESE RECOGNIZED MANY NEEDS IN THE HEART OF THE DESERT AND EMBRACED THE CHALLENGE… ONE PARISHIONER AT A TIME.

WITH DEEP COMMITMENT AND SOME MODEST MEANS AND SUPPORT… SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL WAS BORN.

IT ALL STARTED WITH ONE SMALL CHURCH AND A CLASSROOM.

TODAY, THERE ARE MANY CHURCHES ACROSS THESE LANDS AND MANY MORE CLASSROOMS…

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “They’re excited for their religion lesson, and they’re also excited about the sacraments that they get to experience.”

NARRATOR: LIFELONG EXPERIENCES STARTING ON THESE GROUNDS… ONE CHILD AT A TIME… INSIDE THESE CLASSROOMS.

== (Montage of the classrooms named after Catholic Saints) ==

NARRATOR: CLASSROOMS WITH COMMONS THEMES AND A SCHOOL CURRICULUM DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “And if they go into becoming fully initiated into the Catholic faith, that’s an additional blessing for us too, for our teachers.”

NARRATOR: WHILE THE MISSION HAS EVOLVED IN MANY WAYS FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS…

SAINT BONAVENTURE REMAINS A BEACON OF HOPE NOT ONLY IN THOREAU, BUT ACROSS A COMPLEX NETWORK OF FEDERAL, STATE, PRIVATE, AND TRIBAL LANDS IN NEW MEXICO.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “I’m always telling our students, I need to see you guys flourish and to succeed so that they can replace us because we’re not always going to be here.”

NARRATOR: DESPITE THESE OPPORTUNITIES… DEEP INSIDE THEIR RESERVATIONS, MANY NAVAJO FAMILIES STILL LACK BASIC NECESSITIES: CLEAN WATER, ELECTRICITY, EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND SO ON.

AND THE FIGHT GOES ON.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “When I was given the opportunity to work at St. Bonaventure, I remember driving from Seattle to Thoreau New Mexico, and I was amazed at how remote it actually was. And then once I got to the mission and kind of looked out the back door of my house, I realized that I am living in third world conditions in the most wealthy country in the world. And that’s what drives me. That’s what gets me up every morning, is to say that this should not be happening.”

NARRATOR: IN THIS PROGRAM WE WILL SHOW YOU WAYS SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL IS FULFILLING ITS COMMITMENT TO WALK WITH THE NAVAJO PEOPLE IN FAITH, DIGNITY, AND HUMANITY.

AND THIS LONG ROAD IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN SUPPORTING THEIR VITAL NECESSITIES FOR EDUCATION, WATER, HOUSING, AMONG OTHER DAILY BURDENS.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “Your support for the Navajo people is about allowing people to live with dignity and to have an opportunity for a brighter and better future.”

NARRATOR: CHRISTOPHER HALTER IS SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

SINCE 2006, MR. HALTER HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING THE MISSION’S EFFORTS FOR A BRIGHTER AND BETTER TOMORROW FOR THIS EASTERN PART OF THE NAVAJO NATION, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS DINÉ BIKÉYAH, OR SIMPLY “LAND OF THE PEOPLE.”

== (NATSOUND/Native Americans Music & dance) ==

NARRATOR: WHILE THE NAVAJOLAND SPREADS ACROSS THE STATES OF NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, AND UTAH – SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL IS FOCUSED ON HELPING POVERTY-STRICKEN IN THOREAU AND AROUND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL – A LEGACY OF HOPE.

PLEASE VISIT www.stbonaventuremission.org AND DONATE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

Chapter 2: “The Water Lady”

Chapter 2 Video Transcript

“The Water Lady” – Delivering Clean Water to the Navajo community

NARRATOR: THIS IS SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL…

THE NAME COMES TO REPRESENT A VITAL “LIFELINE” TO THOUSANDS OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “We’re putting in 4 thousand gallons to take it out to Bluewater Lake.”

NARRATOR: PEOPLE LIKE DARLENE ARVISO ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS BATTLE TO HELP NATIVE AMERICANS SURVIVE (and thrive) WITH DIGNITY.

NATS/Darlene starts the engine

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “Hi. My name is Darlene Arviso. I’m the water truck lady, and we’re going out to Bucha to deliver water in this in this snowy weather.”

NARRATOR: IN THIS PLACE, ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER IS THE VERY FIRST PRIORITY, AS MANY NAVAJO FAMILIES LIVE IN REMOTE TRIBAL AREAS WITHOUT PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “There was a guarantee when the reservation was set up back in the very late 18 hundreds, but there was no guarantee for water. The Navajo Nation is not able to provide that water. 0:06:56 The federal government is not able to provide that water. And so, St. Bonaventure has seen it as a necessity over the last 40 years to provide as much water as possible.”

NARRATOR: DARLENE ARVISO IS AMONG THOSE WHO CARRY AND FULFILL THAT MISSION’S LONG-TERM COMMITMENT.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “It’s just that I’m happy that I’m still working and delivering water to my people, so they’re in need of water, and so they’ll be happy to see me.”

NARRATOR: AS SHE DELIVERS THE MOST PRECIOUS PRIZE STRAIGHT TO THE DOORSTEPS OF MANY PEOPLE…

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “Water’s very precious and without water, many of these families could not survive.”

NARRATOR: WATER FOR FAMILIES, THEIR LIVESTOCK AND OTHER ANIMALS.

EVEN WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT COME OUT TO WELCOME HER…

DARLENE CARRIES ON WITH HER DAILY MISSION –

A DAILY ROUTINE SHE REPEATED FOR OVER TWO DECADES.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “It’s been 16 years that I’ve been driving the water truck delivering water.”

NARRATOR: ROAD AFTER ROAD…

HOME AFTER HOME…

WATER BARREL AFTER WATER BARREL…

AND NOW, WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH DIG DEEP, CISTERN TANK AFTER CISTERN TANK…

OFTEN DOING IT ALONE AND SOMETIMES FINDING SOME HELPING HANDS.

NARRATOR: IN THIS HIGH-ELEVATION HOT DESERT LAND, THIS IS WHAT THIRSTY LOOKS LIKE.

THIS WENT ON FOR ALMOST TWO MINUTES.
DARLENE’S HEROIC STORY HAS MADE LOCAL AND NATIONAL HEADLINES BEYOND THE NAVAJO NATION.

(CLIP – KOB 4 – Heart of New Mexico: The Water Train): “Reporter’s track: Out here for every challenge… there are others. Darlene: I love my job… Reporter’s track: who overcome every day. Darlene: I have different areas to go to. Reporter’s track: For nearly two decades, Darlene Arviso has been delivering a lifeline. Darlene: They’ll be happy to see me. Reporter’s track: And people are grateful. MOS: Oh, I jump, I flip. I flip, man (laughter)

NARRATOR: IN THESE TRIBAL LANDS, DARLENE IS NOT ONLY A HIGH-PROFILE FIGURE BUT A FAMILY MEMBER… EVERYONE’S FAVORITE.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “Everybody’s sister, mom, grandma, yeah, I’m related to everybody.”

NARRATOR: HER STORY HAS BECOME A CHILDREN’S BOOK.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “It’s called the water truck lady. The story says, where I deliver water and where, when the kids, they’ll be running through the water truck.”

NARRATOR: THE WATER LADY BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Victoria Long, School Librarian: The water lady. Does everybody know who the water lady is? Kids: Yeah. Victoria Long: Yeah. Well, sometimes we see her on the road. What does she deliver? Does she deliver food? Kids: Water. Victoria Long: She delivers water.”

NARRATOR: AT THE MISSION’S LIBRARY AND CLASSROOMS, DARLENE’S STORY IS WORTH READING AND CELEBRATING.

Kids reading “The Water Lady” book: “Sunshine gleams on the big yellow tanker truck as Darlene climbs up, up, up its ladder and opens the hatch on top. Then she reaches for a long pipe attached to the water tower above her and positions it over the hatch. After she flips a switch, water rushes, gushes, through the pipe until the truck’s empty belly is full.”

NARRATOR: NOW… DARLENE DRIVES MOSTLY A WHITE-PAINTED TRUCK – A BRAND NEW ONE.

A CHALLENGING BUT FULFILLING JOURNEY.

Kids reading “The Water Lady” book: “Darlene guides the big yellow truck, heavy with water, up and down steep hills. She winds between mesas and rolls across valleys dotted with sun-baked shrubs. While she rolls along, waving to other drivers on her way, the Navajo radio station plays softly.”

(NATS Darlene listening to KGAK radio station) – Radio Host: “You’re listening to KGAK… also heard in the Gallup…”

NARRATOR: IN COMMUNITIES WHERE WELLS RUN DRY, DARLENE’S PRESENCE IS A WELCOMING SIGN… AS RIGHTFULLY DEPICTED IN THE BOOK.

Kids reading “The Water Lady” book: “Cody hears the rumble of heavy wheels, then sees the big yellow truck. “The Water Lady!” he cheers. “The Water Lady is here!”

NARRATOR: THE WATER LADY IN DRY LANDS.

AND PEOPLE HERE ARE MORE THAN GRATEFUL.

WITHOUT THE MISSION’S WORK THEY COULD NOT PROBABLY LIVE HERE.

Water Beneficiary: “St. Bonaventure has been delivering water over 10 years and still yet they’re doing it. If it wasn’t for St. Bonaventure, I wouldn’t have water.”

NARRATOR: IN TOTAL, THE MISSION HAULS CLEAN WATER TO MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY HOMES PER MONTH… ROUGHLY OVER 10 HOMES DAILY.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady “I am going that way. I’ll go this way… I am waving at them for them to go reverse.”

NARRATOR: A TASK REQUIRING MULTIPLE TRIPS AND ROUTES.

UNMARKED, TOUGH, AND BUMPY ROADS THAT ONLY DARLENE KNOWS WELL.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “The roads on the reservation are primarily dirt. They’re undeveloped and very bumpy, so there’s a lot of wear and tear on the vehicles.”

NARRATOR: BUT THE COMMITMENT TO REACH EVERY HOME IN NEED IS A CONSTANT PROMISE.

Bluewater Resident: “It works pretty good. That way you can use it. They’re pretty good help.”

NARRATOR: IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT MOST OF THESE RESIDENTS LACK MOBILITY DUE TO MANY FACTORS… ADVANCED AGE, HEALTH ISSUES, AND LACK OF TRANSPORTATION ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES HARD TO OVERCOME.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA, ALMOST 40 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATIONS LACK RUNNING WATER.

…A STARK DIFFERENCE WITH THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “The average US household uses approximately 150 to 200 gallons of water a day. The Navajo that we serve have to live on 1200 gallons of water for an entire month.”

NARRATOR: IN THIS PART OF TRIBAL LANDS, DARLENE DELIVERS ALMOST 4-THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER DAILY ACROSS THIRTEEN COMMUNITIES WITHIN A 50-MILE RADIUS.

(GRAPHIC)

[Baca, Oakling Pond, Bluewater, Haystack, Mariano Lake, Littlewater, Whitehorse, Casamero Lake, Woodview, South Chavez, Old Windmill Trail, Smith Lake, Thoreau]

NARRATOR: WHEN WATER IS VERY LOW IN THEIR HOMES, THOSE WITH MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION CAN USE SOME OF THE OUTDOOR WATER SPIGOTS INSTALLED AT THE MISSION’S HEADQUARTERS.

FAMILIES ARE OFTEN STREAMING TO THE LOCAL TO FILL UP CONTAINERS, BUCKETS, AND ANYTHING ELSE THEY CAN BRING WITH THEM.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “It is pumping from the tank into the well.”

NARRATOR: HERE, EVERY DROP OF WATER COUNTS… PARTICULARLY WHEN THIS PRECIOUS LIQUID COMES FROM A 200-FEET DEEP WELL.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “The Navajo Nation sits at a very high elevation, approximately over 7,000 feet. Thru is actually at about 7,500 feet right off the Continental divide, so it’s very high. The desert water table is very, very deep, and it’s been almost not impossible, but very, very difficult to locate where there might be underwater veins to drill.”

NARRATOR: BUT SAINT BONAVENTURE MISSION’S COLLABORATION WITH DIG DEEP HAS MADE ACCESS TO THOSE POCKETS OF WATER POSSIBLE.

FROM THE DEEP WELL SEVERAL FEET AWAY TO THE WATER TOWER AND ITS CONSEQUENT TREATMENT… THE MISSION MAKES SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THAT THEY DESERVE – CLEAN WATER FOR DRINKING, COOKING, CLEANING, BATHING, AND MUCH MORE.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN FULFILLING THIS SOCIAL CONTRACT IS MUCH HARDER.

WHEN SAINT BONAVENTURE’S OWN WELLS ARE UNABLE TO MEET DEMAND OR IN MAINTENANCE… OTHER INNOVATIVE BUT EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS KICK IN.

(CLIP – KOB 4 – Heart of New Mexico: The Water Train):

0:00:26: “Thoreau, New Mexico… there are hurdles for anyone calling this place home. The wind and trains are constant along with people in need of water. They come here every two or three weeks. Yeah, filling every sunny D jug and old milk gallon with life out here for every challenge.” (butt to 0:01:48) “But what happens when the water stops coming? There’s an existential crisis for water out here.” (butt to 0:02:09 “Last year, their well in water tank had to come offline for mandatory maintenance and upgrades, stopping the main source of water for miles around.”

NARRATOR: THE WATER TRAIN…

TRANSPORTING THE LIFE-SAVING LIQUID BY RAIL ALL THE WAY FROM THE US EAST COAST TO NEW MEXICO.

NOWADAYS, THAT PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE IS PART OF THE ROUTINE.

A FEW MILES FROM THE MISSION, RAILROAD TANKER CARS FULL OF DRINKING WATER ARE READY FOR ANY SETBACK.

PERSONIFYING THE WATER LADY’S SPIRIT, THE SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL IS FOCUSED ON CONTINUING TO SUPPLY WATER TO THE COMMUNITY AS A VITAL STEP IN BUILDING THE NAVAJO NATION’S OVERALL RESILIENCE AND WELFARE.

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL – A SOURCE OF WATER FOR THE EASTERN NAVAJO COMMUNITY AND A BEACON OF HOPE.

PLEASE, VISIT www.stbonaventuremission.org AND DONATE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

Chapter 3: “Knowledge is Power”

Chapter 3 Video Transcript

“Knowledge Is Power” (School)

Cecil Joe Jr., School Bus Driver: “Good morning.”

NARRATOR: FOR BUS DRIVERS LIKE CECIL JOE JR., THE SCHOOL DAY BEGINS LONG BEFORE THE FIRST BELL RINGS.

HE IS ONE OF THE FIVE BUS DRIVERS SUPPORTING SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL.

EACH MORNING, YELLOW BUSES LIKE THIS ONE TRAVEL ACROSS MILES OF RUGGED ROADS—MOST OF THE STUDENTS COMING FROM HOMES DEEP IN THE HEART OF THE EASTERN NAVAJO NATION—WHERE THE LAND STRETCHES FAR, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS NON-EXISTING, AND CHALLENGES ABOUND.

JUST LIKE CECIL, FOR THESE CHILDREN, THE SCHOOL DAY ALSO BEGINS LONG BEFORE THE SUNRISE.

WHEN THEY FINALLY ARRIVE AT SCHOOL… THEY ARE GREETED WITH WARMTH.

(School staffers greeting kids)

NARRATOR: AND A PROMISE TO UPLIFT AND EMPOWER THROUGH FAITH AND EDUCATION.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “They’re excited just to be here. And we want so much for our students to leave feeling fulfilled in any of their needs that we are trying to address.”

NARRATOR: THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, THE SCHOOL HAS STOOD AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR THOUSANDS OF DINÉ PEOPLE ACROSS THESE LANDS.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “The mission of our St. Bonaventure School is to help grow our entire student, whether it be academically, spiritually, emotionally, and I would say economically because we all know that our students as our primary stakeholders in our school, they need a strong and solid foundation in order to go forth into their communities, into wherever they want to flourish, that they need this educational background so that they can be effective in leading their community.”

(Morning prayers): “Our Father who in heaven follow thy by kingdom…”

NARRATOR: FAITH IS LIVED EVERY MORNING…

AS MANY KIDS NOURISH THEIR SOULS WITH THEIR FIRST MEAL.

(Breakfast) ==

“Good morning” / “you’re welcome”

NARRATOR: THE DAY BEGINS IN REVERENCE—WITH MORNING PRAYERS AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN NAVAJO.

Pledge in the Navajo Language: “Kéyah… da’ ahiiniita.”

NARRATOR: EVEN EASTER WEEK BRINGS LESSONS OF FAITH AND JOY.

STAFF MEMBERS REMIND KIDS THAT THEY ARE CHERISHED.

Singing Happy b-day: “Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Riley, Happy birthday to you.” (applause)

NARRATOR: AND READING STORIES TO THE YOUNGER ONES.

Amara Sherman, School Counselor: “The legend of the Easter egg. One April morning when the air was soft and sweet, a boy and his sister went outside to gather eggs. Easter’s coming, the sister said.”

NARRATOR: ROOTED IN CATHOLICISM, THE SCHOOL SEAMLESSLY WEAVES RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS INTO DAILY LIFE.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “How many days of mourning do we observe when a pope dies? Levi? Nine. Nine. Nine days. Nine days.”

NARRATOR: AS THE REST OF THE WORLD, SAINT BONAVENTURE MISSION WAS ALSO MOURNING THE PASSING OF POPE FRANCIS.

STAYING TRUE TO ITS ROOTS, HERE, SAINTS’ NAMES GRACE EACH BUILDING.

RELIGIOUS ICONS ADORN THE WALLS.

AND CATHOLIC SISTERS SUPPORTING THE MISSION…

Sister Josephine, 4^th Grade Teacher: “You have to be mindful of the timer, okay?”

NARRATOR: EDUCATING AND SPREADING THE GOSPEL… WITH A SMILE.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “Our families are enthusiastic about their presence here at school and their children go home. They’re excited for their religion lesson, and they’re also excited about the sacraments that they get to experience. And if they go into becoming fully initiated into the Catholic faith, that’s an additional blessing for us too.”

NARRATOR: STARTING WITH THE KIDS IN KINDERGARTEN, STUDENTS EXPLORE THE WORLD FROM DIFFERENT LENSES AND SUBJECTS.

1st Grade Teacher: “Would you like to hear about the life cycle of a frog? Students: Yeah.

NARRATOR: THIS ONE FIRST-GRADE CLASS IS TEACHING THESE YOUNGSTERS ABOUT LIFE CYCLES—FOLLOWING THE JOURNEY OF A FROG FROM EGG TO POND JUMPER.

1st Grade Teacher: “Brenda, what comes to mind? Brenda: Frog. Teacher: Frogs. They certainly do. Good job. Very good.”

NARRATOR: LESSONS WRAPPED INTO A RIGOROUS SCHOOL CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES STUDENTS THROUGH STORIES…

5^th grade classroom Classroom/Easter Stories: “What I did for Easter. So, when I was just waiting in bed, my mom called me and told me that we were going to Bluewater.”

NARRATOR: NUMBERS: SIMPLE AND COMPLEX…

2^nd grade classroom/Teacher: How many tens do we have now? Uriah? Students: Eight. Teacher: Eight

3^rd grade classroom/Teacher: “Opportunity cost. Good. Interest, scarcity. Right, Tony? Right. Mackenzie? Right, Logan?”

NARRATOR: HISTORY LESSONS…

6^th grade classroom Classroom: “Helen. Teacher: Helen. And became the famous Helen of Students: Troy. Teacher: isn’t it? Okay.

NARRATOR: AND A LOT OF CREATIVITY ACROSS THE BOARD.

Pre-K Classroom: “Okay. We’re not cutting out our eyes guys. The only thing we’re going to cut is our ears. Just cutting the ears. Kid: Not your eyes. Teacher: not your eyes.”

NARRATOR: AND, WELL— LIKE IN ANY OTHER SCHOOL SETTING IN AMERICA — SOME INSTANCES OF UNPLEASANT NEWS.

5th Grade Classroom/Easter Stories – Teacher: “We’re going to do a midterm for science.” Students: No. Teacher: “Well, it is not that hard. It’s the stuff we’ve been studying for, since the beginning of the fourth quarter.”

NARRATOR: AND THE DAY GOES ON…

2^nd Grade classroom: “So, friends, stop and listen.”

NARRATOR: STOP AND LISTEN.

3rd Grade Classroom: Shhh. Okay. This all ties into the economy lesson, the math lesson. Okay. Everything that we’ve been doing, alright, we can do a lot. And geologists, if you guys go into geology. Alright. You guys can learn a lot and make a lot of money. Okay. Knowledge is power, right? Okay.”

NARRATOR: THE QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND THE MISSION’S WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT THAT GOAL.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “Saint Bonaventure Indian mission in school has now been in existence for 50 years. The mission is very broad and complex. We have a school which starts with a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old preschool program, and then we have kindergarten through the eighth grade. So, we look at the whole process of the child through adolescence, through adulthood to ensure that they get the best education possible.”

NARRATOR: THE MISSION MAKES SURE EACH CHILD GETS WHAT THEY… INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOMS

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “The kids are also given two meals a day, breakfast and lunch, and we also have a weekend food program that kids can take food home and backpacks if there’s a dire need for some of the families. We also provide food for them to take home in the evenings all through the week.”

NARRATOR: SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TRACIE LEE SEES THE RESULT OF THIS DEEP COMMITMENT FROM STAFFERS AND THE MISSION’S SUPPORTERS.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “Seeing the families when we’re able to see them, you see their joy in how well their children are taken care of here. And hearing parents and grandparents say how happy they are to have their children here at St. Bonaventure School is a delight.”

NARRATOR: THOSE WHO WORK HERE KNOW THE IMPACT THEY ARE MAKING EACH DAY.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “I know all of our students come from various backgrounds and we want to let them feel that they are the center of our life here at school. And that’s why we provide these programs for them. And we want them to feel that success however they can, as well as our teachers, to feel that success because we want that emotional, that successful feeling, accomplishment, however we want to put it. We want them to trickle down to our students so that they can also have it trickle into their family’s lives as well.”

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE FEW PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE REGION OPERATING ENTIRELY ON DONATIONS.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, SAINT BONAVENTURE SCHOOL IS FILED WITH ENCOURAGEMENT… INSIDE AND OUT.

7th Grade Classroom – Teacher: “Did you get yours finished? Oh, it looks good. Get your name on your paper.”

NARRATOR: EVERY AFTERNOON, STAFF LINE UP TO SAY GOODBYE—A DAILY TRADITION OF HOPE.

Teachers saying goodbye: “We are going to wave goodbyes to the students as they home. So that they know that they can come back tomorrow and that we are going to be here for them.”

Teacher: “To show them that we care.”

0:03:33 Another Teacher: “We care. We are here for them. And we are ready to help them learn and grow.”

NARRATOR: A MEMORABLE SEND-OFF …

Sister: “drive safely”

NARRATOR: ON THE RIDE TO THEIR DISTANT HOMES…

Two kids playing with a “bird”: “Eat this. Here”

NARRATOR: FRIENDSHIPS FORM AND LAUGHTER BOUNCES AROUND THE BUS.

Two kids playing with a “bird”: “He eats a lot of things.”

NARRATOR: OTHERS TAKE THE TIME TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK WITH THEIR SIBLINGS’ HELP.

AS STUDENTS GET OFF ALONG THE WAY… ONE BY ONE.

Kid on the bus: “Mia is on the bus. And then it’s Andrez and Jocelyn. And then it is us.”

Bus driver calling in: “beep. Go ahead, Cecil.”

NARRATOR: AT SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL SUPPORT BEGINS AT EARLY AGE.

Pre-K Classroom – Teacher gluing paper: “Thank you for asking for help, today.”

Another teacher helping a girl: “Yep. Rainier got both of ears cut out.”

NARRATOR: THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL EASTER CELEBRATION HAD EVEN THE LITTLEST HANDS MAKING BASKETS.

Celena Kahn-Hunter, Chief of Staff: “I have over 3,000 plastic eggs. I don’t have any real eggs out here, but there is a contest.”

NARRATOR: THE HUNT BEGINS—AND THE JOY IS REAL.

Egg Hunting: “I got two. No, three.”

Tracie Lee, School Principal: These are borrowed eggs, donated eggs.” (laughter)

NARRATOR: WINNERS GET PRIZES, BUT HERE, EVERYONE’S A WINNER.

Giving out prizes/Egg Hunt: “There you go”… “Thank you.”

Counselor: “There you go. Jimmy, is this yours?”

NARRATOR: BACK INSIDE, THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.

SMALL CLASS SIZES AND INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION HELP STUDENTS MEET WHERE THEY ARE.

NAVAJO LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ARE WOVEN INTO THE CURRICULUM.

(Kids at Breakfast saying good morning to me in the Navajo language)

NARRATOR: AT SAINT BONAVENTURE, LEARNING IS SACRED.

CULTURE IS HONORED.

Sonya Morgan, 4^th Grade Teacher: “Ajeidishool” that means your heart. “Atsaa” is your ribs. “Woo” is teeth. “Azee” is your mouth. “Anii” is your face….

NARRATOR: IT IS A DELIBERATE CHOICE TO PRESERVE IDENTITY AND INSTILL PRIDE.

Sonya Morgan, 4^th Grade Teacher: 0:04:42 “I am teaching the kids anatomy, like how to say our body parts in Navajo. And we did some sand painting. The things that the Navajos do with art and just basic English words for them.”

NARRATOR: AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SCHOOL PROGRAM ARE THE EIGHT GRADE STUDENTS.

THEY ARE PREPARING FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND.

Celena Kahn-Hunter, Chief of Staff: “If they finish our program here, they decide to move on to a higher high school that is private. We also help provide tuition assistance, and then from there, when they finish their four-year high school program and they decide to move on to colleges or universities, we also do help them. It’s kind of a building block and steppingstone in which we help our students to ensure that they’ve met their goals, academic goals, and continue their academic journey to colleges.”

NARRATOR: CELENA KAHN-HUNTER IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF AT SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL. SHE ALSO COORDINATES THE MISSION’S AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS.

Celena Kahn-Hunter, Chief of Staff: “A lot of times vocational schools are a part of it, but majority of our students still attend traditional colleges and universities in the state of New Mexico. But with the program, we ensure that they have the help and the support that they need.”

NARRATOR: SPORTS ALSO PLAY A VITAL ROLE.

Sports official: “Clear the line.”

Another Sports official: “Clear the track.”

Sports official: “Go, Go, Go.”

NARRATOR: TEACHING DISCIPLINE, UNITY, AND HEALTH.

Anthony Kien, Teacher & Physical Education Coach: “The athletic program for St. Bonaventure does benefit the students. We get them motivated to do things hands on with coordination, physical…

NARRATOR: AMONG OTHER SOCIAL BENEFITS.

Shynelle Yazzie, Teacher & Coach: “The kids are happy to be here. We’re doing pretty good. 0:02:05 The kids really enjoy track and field, they do very well, especially our throwers. And I’m excited. This is my first year to coach track and field and I’m very excited.”

NARRATOR: THIS YEAR’S LAST TRACK MEET BROUGHT EVERYONE TOGETHER… TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

Rhiannon James, Parent & Preschool Administrator: “We’re just here for our last track meet, supporting our daughter. I didn’t get to see all of her events because I’m at work until the end of school. So, I’m lucky today to see two of her events.”

NARRATOR: THE EVENT TOOK PLACE AT CROWNPOINT HIGH SCHOOL.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “I’m here to support our mid school Knights team. This is their last track and field meet, and I want to see them go out with the bang.”

(3 School Kids at the sports event)

“Hello, my name is Larson and I’m running the 400 meter today. Hello, my name is Clay Henderson and I’m running the 400 today. My name is Hunter Ramon and I’m running the 400.”

NARRATOR: LIFE LESSONS THAT STRETCH FAR BEYOND THE FINISH LINE.

Shynelle Yazzie, Teacher & Coach: “I really do hope they continue track and field. This is the basics. They’ll be learning and I’m pretty sure once they get to high school they’ll be, they’ll have more of what to do.”

NARRATOR: KIDS LEARNING AND HOPING TO TRANSFORM THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “I’m always telling our students, I need to see you guys flourish and to succeed so that they can replace us because we’re not always going to be here.”

NARRATOR/NOTE OF CONDOLENCES: Earlier, we showed you the 2025 annual Easter bunny hunt at the school. The event brought special joy to everyone, thanks to Cheralle Johnson, the mission’s beloved receptionist. Mrs. Johnson passed away just weeks later. Her love and energy still linger in these halls and grounds. Saint Bonaventure Indian Mission and School will be eternally indebted to her life’s work and dedication to helping the Navajo Nation. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL – A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THE EASTERN NAVAJO COMMUNITY AND A BEACON OF HOPE.

PLEASE VISIT www.stbonaventuremission.org AND DONATE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

Chapter 4: “Resilience and Hope”

Chapter 4 Video Transcript

“Resilience and Hope” (Outreach Programs)

NARRATOR: IN THE HEART OF THOREAU, NEW MEXICO…

SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL STANDS AS A SYMBOL OF RESILIENCE, COMPASSION, AND COMMUNITY.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “Well, here have it. There’s the ramp for now. We still have to do the siderails. The rail is up and I’ll be good to go. Grandma and grandpa will be happy with it.”

NARRATOR: FROM PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HAULING WATER ACROSS SMALL COMMUNITIES IN THIS PART OF THE NAVAJO NATION.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOPE IN ACTION.

Home Repair Beneficiary, Older Woman: “St. Bonaventure gave me a bathroom. I have never had a bathroom in here, A tub. And I had a toilet. That was it. And now look what I got from St. Bonaventure. Thank to St. Bonaventure, I don’t have to run to my mom’s house, take a shower or clean up over there because I have everything here and I’m just so grateful.”

NARRATOR: WITH SO MANY ELDELRY POPULATION LIVING IN THE RESERVATIONS, INCLUDING VETERANS, MOBILITY IS A BIG PROBLEM.

Home Repair Beneficiary, Older Woman: “We’re both in our sixties and so we’re getting to that point where we’re really going to need help pretty soon.”

NARRATOR: TO SOLVE IT, ST. BONAVENTURE MISSION IS, FOR MANY, THE ONLY SOLUTION.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “We actually have home repairs for elderly Navajo, a lot of veteran Navajos veterans that were in the Iraqi War Afghanistan, even going back as far as Vietnam.”

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “We’re here in one of the sites for our elderlies, improving the handicap ramp, accessibility for one of the elderlies.”

NARRATOR: BENJAMIN HARRY IS ONE OF THE MANY HANDS HELPING THIS AGING POPULATION WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “Most of them are in fixed income and they can’t afford materials and whatnot. So that’s where, you know, we’re providing, St. Bonaventure is providing the labor, the expense and the materials.”

NARRATOR: REPAIRING HOMES IS A TASK IN HIGH DEMAND IN THIS PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

NARRATOR: BEING AN AREA ON THE HIGH DESERT, STRONG WINDS HAMMER FRAGILE HOMES — ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR… AND THE NEED FOR REPAIRS IS FREQUENT.

== (SOT/Chris Halter) ==

0:10:00 ish “Windows get broken, doors deteriorate, roofing, and so we try to help fix those homes primarily for the elderly, sometimes for other individuals, but also veterans.”

NARRATOR: HANDS-ON WORK—FLOORS, CEILINGS, BATHROOMS, AND EVEN SOME OLD-FASHIONED HEATING SYSTEMS.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “So if you put this one in here, like a smaller one, and then you close it. You open this bottom part. You see how it got hot red? So, it’s sucking air. So, actually what it is doing is blowing that ash little Reder.”

NARRATOR: OLD INVENTIONS THAT STILL WORK IN THESE PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THIS PARTICULAR ELDERLY COUPLE WAS BLESSED WITH A BRAND-NEW UNIT.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “We’re almost at the verge of finishing up and it’s been, this project’s been pretty good. And the homeowners are pleased. They’re very pleased with it.”

NARRATOR: FOR BENJAMIN AND SAINT BONAVENTURE MISSION… IT IS ONE MORE UNDERTAKING BROUGHT TO THE FINISH LINE… THANKS TO DONORS’ SUPPORT.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “They don’t have to furnish anything. They don’t have to buy, purchase any of the materials. It’s all from St. Bonaventure Mission that provided all the materials and the equipment, the tools, labor.”

NARRATOR: ALL THAT CRUCIAL WORK HAS BEEN ALLEVIATING SIGNIFICANT BURDENS FOR MANY NATIVE AMERICANS.

Home Repair Beneficiary, Older Woman: “I didn’t have a porch. It was from old school. Those old porches. It was warped in, it didn’t have no rails.” Younger lady: “It was an old trailer porch that had, was all, it was metal and wood and it just, maybe about the edge of that. It was just the size of the area. That black rug there, it just went down that steep.” 0:01:24

NARRATOR: AND FOR BENJAMIN, HOME REPAIRS HAVE BECOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS ON HIS EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS TO OTHER NEW EMPLOYEES.

Jeremy Loley, Home Repairs: “Joined this team because I wanted to do something new, learn something new, and always wanted to do a job like this with helping others. So right now, this is my first project that I did.”

NARRATOR: FOR JEREMY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN UNDER BENJAMIN IS MORE THAN A JOB—IT’S A CALLING TO GIVE BACK AND INVEST IN HIS COMMUNITY.

Jeremy Loley, Home Repairs: “I like working here. It’s a great experience, learning as I go step by step and continue to be working here. I like it. I love it.”

NARRATOR: OVER THE YEARS, THE MISSION HAS BECOME A PLACE FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY NATIVE AMERICANS…

PEOPLE LIKE JEREMY, BENJAMIN…”THE REPAIRMEN”…

DARLENE, “THE WATER LADY”…

CECIL, “THE BUS DRIVER”…

AND MANY OTHERS.

(NATSOUND/Desk Worker): “Ohh, number. No space separators. Save.”

NARRATOR: AT THE CORE OF THIS MISSION ARE DEDICATED PEOPLE—

Home Repair Beneficiary: “These guys are amazing. Good work. They’re hardworking men.”

NARRATOR: ALL WORKING TO UPHOLD A VISION OF COMPASSION, SERVICE, AND SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL NAVAJO NATION.

Darlene Vandever, Thrift Store Manager: “These clothes you see here, they’re with people. Take them for free if they need it, let them take whatever they need.”

NARRATOR: DARLENE VANDEVER MANAGES SAINT BONAVENTURE THRIFT SHOP.

EVERYTHING HERE IS DONATED—CLOTHES, FOOD, EVEN BOOKS FOR THE KIDS.

Darlene Vandever, Thrift Store Manager: “I have everything organized by children, boys, girls, men’s, women’s, weighed in, got blankets, sheets, towels. Everything’s washed and put out.”

NARRATOR: LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THOREAU, THE SHOP REPRESENTS A BEACON FOR FAMILIES IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF CLOTHING AND FOOD.

Darlene Vandever, Thrift Store Manager: “We give them everything that we have, for the family, beans, whatever, each of each vegetable or whatever we have. But for the children, they have children, we give them two bucks, two bowls of cereal, an apple sauce, a soup and juice, whatever we have for the kids over there in the corner.”

NARRATOR: MOSTLY DRIED GOODS, SHE SAYS.

HER ASSISTANT, LETICIA MORGAN, DOES ALMOST EVERYTHING.

Leticia Morgan & Darlene Vandever, Thrift Store / Leticia: “I work as a register in the front and right now I’m just trying to finish mopping back there.” (laughter) Darlene: “She watches the front, while I am on the back doing the laundry. So, I am the laundry lady.”

NARRATOR: BOTH EMBODY THE MISSION’ SPIRIT OF TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION.

DAMARCO PIERCE IS A LOCAL RESIDENT AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MISSION.

Demarco Pierce. Mission’s Employee: “Puzzles, coloring books, Legos, art sets, dolls, magnetic figurines, that type of stuff.”

NARRATOR: HE RECALLS ONE OF MANY INSTANCES WHEN THE THRIFT SHOP PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO SUPPORT SCHOOL KIDS AROUND THE RESERVATIONS.

Demarco Pierce. Mission’s Employee: “We had to do a giveaway for the kids. We realized we had a bunch of toys. So.”

NARRATOR: OVER THE YEARS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE ARE COUNTING ON THESE GOOD DEEDS.

Darlene Vandever, Thrift Store Manager: “We get all kinds of customers. Not just one. I get a whole lot of people coming in. And they always tell us that our place is clean and it is never like another thrift store.”

NARRATOR: PEOPLE LIKE THOSE WHO LIVE NEAR SAINT BONAVENTURE’S MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY.

THESE HOMES, MAINTAINED BY THE MISSION, OFFER DIGNIFIED AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING – A WELCOMING PLACE FOR MANY DINÉ PEOPLE.

NARRATOR: INSIDE THIS MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY, CLEAN-UP CREWS ARE A COMMON SIGHT, KEEPING THE AREA SAFE AND ORGANIZED.

EVERY ACT, BIG OR SMALL, REFLECTS THE MISSION’S COMMITMENT TO DIGNITY AND CARE.

WHILE THIS PLACE REPRESENTS A STEPSTONE IN BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER TOGETHER, MANY NATIVE AMERICANS ARE HOLDING ON TO THEIR WAYS OF LIFE.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “There are pockets of communities and then there are wide areas of open land where individuals live. And I’m often asked, well, why don’t they just all move into a community together? Well, it’s a little bit of a difficult question because it’s reservation and the US government set up the reservation, and on the reservation there’s a certain amount of freedom as to where families want homestead or where they want to set up their residence.”

NARRATOR: BUT IN THESE HOMES, PEOPLE ARE WITNESSING REAL CHANGES TO THE LIVES OF NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES DESPITE THE HISTORICAL CHALLENGES THEY HAVE FACED.

THE NEXT DREAM?

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “If you’re stuck at home, there’s nowhere for you to go that creates negative energy. And so, we feel like this coffee shop is a real opportunity for the community.”

NARRATOR: A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP… A SAFE SPACE FOR LOCAL YOUTH,

A PLACE FOR DIALOGUE, WARMTH, AND OPPORTUNITY.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “It’s very hard to get your first job and if you don’t have experience, no one wants to hire you. So this is really one of the primary goals is to help young people get some job training and experience. The other reason is the Thoreau, New Mexico sits 30 miles from the nearest towns and there’s nothing for the young people to do.”

NARRATOR: FOR MANY ISOLATED COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS ONE, ADDRESSING POVERTY, ALCOHOLISM, AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IS A MORAL OBLIGATION.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “We feel like if we can provide a safe space for young people to go enjoy coffee or some kind of a healthy fruit drink and to be able to connect to the internet, possibly do their homework in this space, we feel like that that’s going to be key to really reaching young people and helping them have a better, more positive experience.”

NARRATOR: EACH EFFORT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE RESILIENCE OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE—AND TO THE HOPE THAT TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.

ANOTHER WAY THE MISSION IS CONNECTING LIVES AND FOSTERING GROWTH IS THROUGH SHARED LIVING SPACES OF ITS EMPLOYEES.

NEW DUPLEXES GLEAM IN THE SUN.

A TEACHER GIVES US A TOUR INSIDE.

Amara Sherman, School Counselor: “Welcome in. I don’t have any furniture in yet, but you can the layout of the house.”

NARRATOR: NEW HOMES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN BUILT TO HOUSE TEACHERS…

Amara Sherman, School Counselor: “I’m super excited to actually have a dishwasher. This is the first time since moving out here to New Mexico that I’ve had a dishwasher. So, it’s a pretty big deal. The little luxuries in life.”

NARRATOR: A THOUGHTFUL STEP THAT BRINGS EDUCATORS CLOSER TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

Amara Sherman, School Counselor: “You know, we already work together at the at the school but just being able to live together in a community. I mean, again, it’s all about community and the relationships that you build and so being able to be in close proximity and care for one another as neighbors, and now living near next to your teacher mates.”

NARRATOR: AS AMARA GUIDES US THROUGH HER COZY DUPLEX… WE ARE LEFT WITH A STRONG SENSE THAT THESE TEACHER RESIDENCES WILL FOSTER DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, AND STRENGTHEN THE SCHOOL’S ROLE IN THE LIVES OF ITS STUDENTS.

WALKING THROUGH THE MAIN OFFICE OF THE MISSION, YOU’LL FIND A DEDICATED TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS, MOST OF THEM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLIGHT OF THE NAVAJO NATION… AND OFFERING TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS HEAD-ON.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “We try to look at the entire person in a very holistic manner to take care of their physical needs, the spiritual needs, and we also have various mental health programs to assist anybody that’s struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, suicidal tendencies.”

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE PROVIDES MORE THAN A SCHOOL.

IT IS A LIFELINE—THAT MAKES SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE LIVES OF NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES FACING ISOLATION, POVERTY, AND LOSS.

Shirlee Gibson Lee, Mother of Lane Boyd: “I’m thanking St. Bonaventure for their big help, especially with the funeral. Cause they just didn’t say no. They jumped at it, and they said, “Yes, we’ll help you. So, they do help people everywhere in all communities.”

NARRATOR: THROUGH ITS FUNERAL SUPPORT SERVICES, SAINT BONAVENTURE HAS HELPED MANY FAMILIES WITH BURIAL COSTS, VISITATION ARRANGEMENTS, AND EMOTIONAL CARE.

Justina Gibson, Sister of Lane Boyd: “As you all know, funeral arrangements are, it’s a lot of work. It takes a toll in your time. It’s a lot of financial burden against, upon a family and state bond adventure. Without asking questions or without turning their heads. They were open arms to us. They helped us, especially my mom. That was her baby boy and that was our little brother.”

NARRATOR: JUSTINA’S LATE BROTHER, LANE BOYD, WAS PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED AT SAINT BONAVENTURE MISSION…

Shirlee Gibson Lee, Mother of Lane Boyd: “He will always be showing pictures. Mom, look, this is what we did for St. Bona. Look, look, look, look. He would just be proud of his work here. And he took his job serious here.”

NARRATOR: LIKE MANY WHO STILL WORK HERE… HE WAS DRIVEN BY HIS COMPASSIONATE NATURE AND DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY.

Shirlee Gibson Lee, Mother of Lane Boyd: He’ll be honking the horn.

Justina Gibson, Sister of Lane Boyd: Like, oh, there’s lane.

Shirlee Gibson Lee, Mother of Lane Boyd: There’s Lane.

Justina Gibson, Sister of Lane Boyd: And when he would be given the chance to haul the flatbed, he wouldn’t think twice about it.

NARRATOR: IN GRIEF, THESE FAMILY MEMBERS RECALL HOW THE MISSION HELPED HIM OBTAIN HIS CDL LICENSE, AMONG OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

Jessica Gibson, Sister of Lane Boyd: “While he was employed here too, I’d like to thank Sam Bon Avenger for doing everything they could for Lane and Lane giving back with open arms and a big heart to the workers and the community. It means a lot because he’s pretty well known around the Thoreau area for just working and helping others.”

NARRATOR: IN THIS SPIRIT OF HELPING EACH OTHER…

Brittany Morales, Gym Member: “Hi, my name is Brittany Morales. I live here in Thoreau, New Mexico.”

NARRATOR: JUST LIKE BRITTANY MORALES, THE MISSION INVESTS IN THE WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS — NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE ALIKE.

Man speaking: “You guys take cards?”

Gym employee: “Yes, we take cards.”

NARRATOR: MANY RESIDENTS AND THOSE FROM THE RESERVATIONS GATHER THROUGH ITS FITNESS CENTER—THE ONLY ONE IN TOWN AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

Derwin Morgan, Fitness Center: “This gym, it’s really valuable to this community. It’s like maybe the closest to this town ever. There’s gyms maybe a hundred miles radius from here. Some of these gym members, they live here probably say about five, 10 minutes away and they don’t want to go travel on the highway like in the snow or rain. The only closest gym they have is this St. Bonaventure Fitness Center.”

NARRATOR: HERE, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS COME TO WORK OUT, FIND BALANCE, AND CONNECT.

Brittany Morales, Gym Member: “I got into fitness because I became a mom, and moms need that “me time” to kind of keep their sanity. Just to get out of the house. Not that I don’t love my kids. All of us moms love our kids, but we still need to be able to have that time for ourselves to get away. And that’s kind of what this is for me. It is my therapy, my me time. It keeps me healthy, keeps me grounded.”

NARRATOR: THE CENTER PULSES WITH LIFE—WEIGHTS CLANKING, TREADMILLS HUMMING… PEOPLE JUST PUSHING THEMSELVES TO THEIR LIMITS.

THE MISSION’S FITNESS CENTER STANDS AS A LIVING TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN U.S. SOLDIER WHOSE MEMORY INSPIRES RESILIENCE.

SGT. WILLIAM C. STACEY WAS 23 YEARS OF AGE WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN, DURING “OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.”

BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE WROTE — “IF MY LIFE BUYS THE SAFETY OF A CHILD WHO WILL ONE DAY CHANGE THIS WORLD, THEN I KNOW THAT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.”

TODAY, BECAUSE OF SFT. STACEY’S COURAGE AND DEDICATION THAT PEOPLE IN THESE PARTS OF THE NAVAJO NATION CAN COME HERE WITH THEIR GIFT OF FREEDOM AND PURSUE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEIR HEARTS DESIRE.

SFT. STACEY’S STORY IS ALSO A TRIBUTE TO SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE AMONG THE NAVAJO PEOPLE…FOR GENERATIONS.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “Interestingly, the Navajo are very famous for being code talkers, and there are still a handful of code talkers from World War II that are still alive, and so many of those individuals and their families, we also try to help.”

NARRATOR: AS YOU CAN SEE… IN THE HEART OF THOREAU, NEW MEXICO, THERE IS A DEDICATED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS POWERFULLY WORKING IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE SCENES TO UPHOLD A VISION OF COMPASSION AND SERVICE.

Benjamin Harry. Home Repairs: “Some of these houses are worst than this. This one is really not that bad. We need to put insulation in the ceiling and then we will put dry wall for them, so they have a warm place during the winter season and then kind of cool during the summer.”

NARRATOR: REPAIRING HOMES AND PROPERTIES…

OFFERING FOOD AND CLOTHING…

PROVIDING SHELTER…

SUPPORTING MOURNING FAMILIES…

BULDING PLACES FOR HEALING…

AND PROMOTING PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.

THESE AND OTHER MISSION’S OUTREACH PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY TIRELESS STAFF AND GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU… HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

YOUR DONATIONS FUEL THIS MISSION OF RESILIENCE AND HOPE.

Younger woman: If it wasn’t for St. Bonaventure, we wouldn’t have a porch here.

Older woman: I really needed you guys and I found somebody to help me. And that was St. Bonaventure, which is good.

Older woman: St. Bonaventure, I love you guys. You know, you guys are in my prayers. I pray you pray for all of us too.

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL – WHERE HOPE IS ROOTED IN DEEP RESILIENCE.

PLEASE VISIT www.stbonaventuremission.org AND DONATE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

Chapter 5: “A Beacon of Hope” (Conclusion)

Chapter 5 Video Transcript

“A Beacon of Hope” (Conclusion)

== St. Bonaventure Mission’s School ==

NARRATOR: CHILDREN STEP INTO THE SCHOOL BUSES EARLY MORNING ACROSS THE NAVAJO NATION IN NEW MEXICO.

(Kids getting into the bus)
“Good morning.”

NARRATOR: HERE AT SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL IN THOREAU, STUDENTS BEGIN THEIR DAY IN PRAYER—

(Prayers): “Our Father who in heaven follow thy by kingdom. Come. I will be done best heaven give us trespass and lead us mind to … Amen.”

NARRATOR: AND WITH A PLEDGE SPOKEN IN THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE.

(pledge in the Navajo Nation)

“Kéyah… da’ ahiiniita.”

NARRATOR: SINCE 1974, THE MISSION HAS SERVED THE EASTERN NAVAJO NATION, GUIDED BY A DEEP CHRISTIAN FAITH.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “Families are enthusiastic about their presence here at school and their children go home. They’re excited for their religion lesson, and they’re also excited about the sacraments that they get to experience.”

NARRATOR: THE MISSION GOES FAR BEYOND WITH A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO LIFTING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “When the mission started 50 years ago, it was really to meet the immediate needs. We continue to meet those immediate needs with a broader vision of how we move forward and help the Navajo move forward.”

(Kids greeting me in the Navajo language)

NARRATOR: THE SCHOOL’S BELIEF: EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “I am so elated to be a part of this entire journey with our students, our teachers, all of our staff members. It’s a joy to be here, and every day is different. Every day is a good challenge for us. I’m always telling our students, I need to see you guys flourish and to succeed so that they can replace us because we’re not always going to be here.”

NARRATOR: AND ALL THE DEEP COMMITMENT IS WORKING.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “I know that when the mission started, the graduation rate from high school was 10% of the local community. Today, the entire local community is about a 90% graduation rate from high school. Our students at St. Bonaventure have a 100% graduation rate from high school, which is really quite remarkable.”

NARRATOR: THE NEXT STEP: SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

Celena Kahn-Hunter, Chief of Staff: “Our scholarship program does help these students try to meet those needs. If I feel like a student is needing help with food, there’s a lot of hunger issues, insecurity, even among the college students. A lot of times these students don’t have food in their dorms or in their apartments, and they’re looking for fresh meat, fresh food, fresh fruits and vegetables to be able to add to their daily diets. Then they can come back to us and ask for help.”

NARRATOR: FULFILLING THOSE NEEDS IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS.

Celena Kahn-Hunter, Chief of Staff: “Through our generous donors, we are able to help meet educational journeys for a lot of the Native American students in our area who do not have this opportunity. Our area is completely underserved.”

== St. Bonaventure’s water delivery ==

NARRATOR: IN THIS HIGH DESERT LAND, WATER—PRECIOUS AND HARD TO REACH.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “Desert water table is very, very deep, and it’s been almost not impossible, but very, very difficult to locate where there might be underwater veins to drill. Well, fortunately St. Bonaventure, we do have a well, it’s about 200 feet deep, and we have with our partners Dig Deep. We have a total of five water trucks that go out five days a week and provide thousands of gallons of water to Navajo families. So water’s very precious and without water, many of these families could not survive.”

NARRATOR: LEADING THE WAY—DARLENE ARVISO.

Darlene Arviso, The Water Lady: “I’m happy that I’m still working and delivering water to the to my people, so they’re in need of water, and so they’ll be happy to see me.”

NARRATOR: ACROSS THE NAVAJO NATION SHE IS KNOWN AS “THE WATER LADY.”

Victoria Long, School Librarian: Do you know who the water lady is? Kids: Yeah. Librarian: Does she deliver food? Kids: No. Water. Librarian: She delivers water.

NARRATOR: THE NAVAJO NATION SITS AT A VERY HIGH ELEVATION, APPROXIMATELY OVER 7,000 FEET ABOVE THE SEA LEVEL.

THOREAU SITS EVEN HIGHER AT ABOUT 7,500 FEET RIGHT OFF OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

ACROSS THESE HARD AND DRY LANDS, FINDING A RELIABLE WATER TABLE TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND MONEY.

AND GETTING THAT WATER TO THOSE IN NEED TAKES A LOT OF DEDICATION FROM EVERYONE IN SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL.

Water Beneficiary: “St. Bonaventure has been delivering water over 10 years and still yet they’re doing it. If it wasn’t for St. Bonaventure, I wouldn’t have water.”

== St. Bonaventure’s Thrift Store ==

NARRATOR: BEHIND THESE BROWN, RED AND BEAUTIFUL ROCKS AND MOUNTAINS … THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES.

Damarco Pierce, Mission’s Employee: “Me and my dad used to go hiking all the time. Go hunting. Used to go to Bluewater all the time.”

NARRATOR: BUT ALSO A LOT OF HARDSHIP.

Andy Bodie, Community Member: “The road was hard. There’s so many obstacles that I ran into. I’ve been burned up, probably frozen three times and here I am.”

Darlene Vendever, Thrift Store Manager: “Sometimes, some people are homeless, they say, but we still help them out. If people had a burnout, they would come back there to get clothes, like blankets, shoes, whatever they need, towels, houseware, stuff.”

NARRATOR: FROM WATER… TO CLOTHING… TO FOOD.

Darlene Vendever, Thrift Store Manager: “We give them everything that we have, for the family, beans, whatever, each of each vegetable or whatever we have.”

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE’S THRIFT SHOP DOES WHAT IT CAN TO MEET ESSENTIAL NEEDS AROUND THE EASTERN PART OF NAVAJOLAND.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “One of the interesting aspects of Thru New Mexico where St. Bonaventure is located is that the nearest actual grocery store is 30 miles away, so it’s a 60-mile round trip for families. It’s difficult for families to get to a grocery store sometimes, and so our food program is very beneficial for people.”

== St. Bonaventure Indian Mission’s Mobile Homes ==

NARRATOR: HOUSING IS ANOTHER MISSION.

AFFORDABLE AND SAFE MOBILE HOMES TO SHELTER FAMILIES.

NARRATOR: AND RECENTLY—NEW HOUSING FOR TEACHERS… THANKS TO DONORS.

Amara Sherman, School Counselor: “I know that it’s been a long journey, and there’s been a lot of people who have helped bring this to fruition, and so just being able to enjoy the fruits of the labor and the blood, sweat and tears, one might say, is we’re here. We’re finally here.”

== St. Bonaventure Indian Mission’s Home Repairs ==

NARRATOR: THROUGH THIS LAND, HIGH DESERT WINDS ARE BRUTAL.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “These winds sometimes will blow all day and all night long, and with no buffer, the winds basically attack the houses.”

NARRATOR: AS A RESULT, HOME REPAIRS ARE CONSTANT—AND CRITICAL.

Beneficiaries of Home Repairs: “The old porch was dangerous. And it was rickety, and it was miserable. This porch was built by St. Bonaventure. Older lady: Yeah. Younger lady: So, the guys came and they spent a little bit of time and they just made it from nothing. I mean, it was totally.” 0:01:56

NARRATOR: BENJAMIN HARRY IS ONE OF THE MANY HANDS HELPING THIS AGING POPULATION… WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “So that’s a lot of things that we come across on the reservation with elderlies. You know, being some of them are disability, unable to take care of projects like this on their own. So most of majority of them are on fixed income, so they can’t afford, you know, materials, tools, workmanship that to pay, you know, labors and whatnot.”

NARRATOR: FOR BENJAMIN HARRY AND THE MISSION, IT IS REWARDING TO SEE ELDERLY AND WAR VETERANS SMILE.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “You know, to put smile on their face and a change for them, you know, because sometimes these like they seek, there’s no help.”

NARRATOR: HELPING THOSE WHO LIVE HERE…

Beneficiary of Home Repairs: “These guys are amazing. Good work. They’re hardworking men.”

NARRATOR: AND THOSE WILLING TO LEARN AND HELP FUTURE GENERATIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS.

Jeremy Loley, Home Repairs: “I wanted to do something new, learn something new, and always wanted to do a job like this with helping others. It’s a great experience, learning as I go step by step and continue to be working here.”

== St. Bonaventure Indian Mission supporting funeral costs ==

NARRATOR: EVEN IN GRIEF, THE MISSION SHOWS UP.

Justina Gibson, Sister of Lane Boyd: “Thank you St. Bonaventure. It was really helpful, and it helped us to lay my little brother to rest and we’re very, very thankful and grateful.”

NARRATOR: THE MISSION SUPPORTS FUNERAL COSTS AND VISITATION SERVICES—AND HAS HELPED MANY, LIKE THE FAMILY OF LANE BOYD.

Shirlee Gibson Lee, Mother of Lane Boyd: “I’ve been living here half of my life. But I do appreciate St. Bonaventure. All their employees, the directors, all the workers, they get up each morning, they help a lot, a lot of people, they don’t push them away. Even a little bit of help. They help them.”

NARRATOR: WHEN THE ECONOMY IS BAD, PEOPLE HERE FEEL IT EVEN MORE.

AS A RESULT, MANY LOSE HOPE.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “We started to really think about how we can address those needs. Suicide, mental health issues are still a major problem.”

== St. Bonaventure Mission’s Coffee Shop ==

NARRATOR: ONE OF THE MISSION’S INNOVATIVE IDEAS IS TO RECONNECT PEOPLE IN OTHER SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE WAYS.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “We feel like if we can provide a safe space for young people to go enjoy coffee or some kind of a healthy fruit drink.”

NARRATOR: A COFFEE SHOP.

A GATHERING SPACE.

A SOURCE OF HEALING.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “Anytime that you have a place that you can go or something to do, that obviously creates positive energy. If you’re stuck at home, there’s nowhere for you to go that creates negative energy. And so, we feel like this coffee shop is a real opportunity for the community.”

== St. Bonaventure Mission’s Fitness Center ==

NARRATOR: ANOTHER SAFE SPACE IS THIS ONLY FITNESS CENTER IN TOWN.

Derwin Morgan, The Fitness Center: “It’s a small little gym where everybody likes to, I would just say come together, be like a little family friendly, but it’s a nice gym. And they like how some of us are more friendly than most they go to.”

NARRATOR: AT THE HEART OF THOREAU, THIS FITNESS CENTER HAS OTHER SPECIAL MEANINGS FOR MANY AROUND THE AREA.

Brittany Morales, Gym Member: “It is my therapy, my me time. It keeps me healthy, keeps me grounded. I don’t know what I would do without the fitness center, just because like I said, everybody here is so supportive and so nice. It’s convenient and it’s just probably my favorite place to be other than home.”

== St. Bonaventure’s Mission==

NARRATOR: HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE MISSION, A DEDICATED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WORK QUIETLY BUT POWERFULLY TO UPHOLD A VISION OF COMPASSION AND SERVICE.

Cecil Joe Jr., School Bus Driver: “I used to be a water truck driver for about 6 years. And I got on the bus now. Little things I do around here. I help other workers too. Anything from painting to rebuilding a house. Or working on a vehicle in the shop. All that. I can do anything over there. I am just everywhere.”

NARRATOR: MANY EMPLOYEES AT ST. BONAVENTURE WEARING A LOT OF HATS.

AND OFTEN BLESSED.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “Several years ago, we experienced not having any religious on campus. And there was a huge void there. We were blessed again to have, excuse me.” (gets emotional)

NARRATOR: EACH EFFORT, POWERED BY THE KINDNESS OF DONORS AND THE DEDICATION OF WORKERS, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE RESILIENCE OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE—AND TO THE HOPE THAT TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.

(Nats/Sports)

Sports official: “Clear the line.”

Another Sports official: “Clear the track.”

Sports official: “Go, Go, Go.”NARRATOR: THE MISSION RECOGNIZES PRACTICING SPORTS TO BUILD STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE.

AT THE LAST ANNUAL TRACK MEET…

(NATS/Girl): “We’re going to win.” “Tell your dad you’re me.”

NARRATOR: AIMING TO WIN IN THE FIELD—AND IN LIFE.

Tracie Lee, School Principal: “I want to see our school continue to thrive, and I want us to be a safe place, continue to be a safe place for our students, and I want it to be a place where they know they’re supported.”

== St. Bonaventure Indian Mission: Your Donations==

NARRATOR: YOUR DONATIONS BUILD THIS HOPE.

Andy Bodie, Community Member: “I’m content. I’m comfortable. I know my direction and I know what I have. I may be poor, but I, I may be crying, but I’m sitting inside. I may not hear it by acknowledge I may not have it, but I gain it through faith. These are the words.

NARRATOR: YOUR DONATIONS BUILD THIS FUTURE.

Benjamin Harry, Home Repairs: “You know, it’s a lot of value to St. Bon how they, how they managed to go out and do some do a lot of repair work for the Navajo Nation and stuff and but we can’t get to all of them. You know, we can’t get to all of them.”

Amara Sherman, School Counselor: “It’s just continuing to build that community, build those relationships. We’re here to support one another.”

Shirlee Gibson Lee, Mother of Lane Boyd: “So I’m very fortunate St. Bonaventure is here and thank you. And I’ll never stop saying thank you, St. Bonaventure. Thank you. Thank you. That’s it for me.

Home repairs Beneficiary: “St. Bonaventure, I love you guys. You know, you guys are in my prayers. I pray you pray for all of us too.”

Darlene Arviso, “The Water Lady”: “I’m very thankful and then want to say thank you very much for their donation to the mission.”

NARRATOR: PLEASE JOIN SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL TO CONTINUE PROVIDING EDUCATION, FOOD, WATER, HOUSING REPAIRS, AND MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE NAVAJO COMMUNITY.

PLEASE HELP THE DINÉ PEOPLE TAKE THAT NEXT STEP.

Chris Halter, Executive Director: “For right now, it’s hard for them to get to that next level. Your support to St. Bonaventure helps us to help them, and I believe that very strongly. I believe that these people are worthy and deserving of an opportunity, a better future. And because of the goodness of you as donors, you’re able to help us to help them take that next step.”

NARRATOR: SAINT BONAVENTURE INDIAN MISSION AND SCHOOL – A BEACON OF HOPE.

PLEASE VISIT www.stbonaventuremission.org AND DONATE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

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Chapter 1: “A Legacy of Hope” (Introduction)

Teacher 3rd Grade teacher: “You guys can learn a lot and make a lot of money. Okay. Knowledge is power, right? Okay.”

Chapter 2: “The Water Lady”

Chapter 3: “Knowledge is Power”

Sister Josephine, 4th Grade Teacher: “You have to be mindful of the timer, okay?”

NARRATOR: BACK INSIDE, THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.

Sonya Morgan, 4th Grade Teacher: “Ajeidishool” that means your heart. “Atsaa” is your ribs. “Woo” is teeth. “Azee” is your mouth. “Anii” is your face….

Chapter 4: “Resilience and Hope”

Sister Josephine, 4^th Grade Teacher: “You have to be mindful of the timer, okay?”

Sonya Morgan, 4^th Grade Teacher: “Ajeidishool” that means your heart. “Atsaa” is your ribs. “Woo” is teeth. “Azee” is your mouth. “Anii” is your face….