Demographics
“My children, education is the ladder. Tell our people to take it.” -Chief Manuelito a well-known leader has stated that saying before his passing in 1893 and taking those words to heart the Navajo people continued to look forward to a life of educating the future generation with not only surrounding the kids with a pre-kindergarten program but also elementary, junior highs, and high school institutions there was also the creation of higher education. Dine College, a college that is the well-known landmark of Tsaile, Arizona. A college established in 1968 which was the first tribally owned college of its time. 1 A college where many come to continue their education on or near the Navajo Reservation. Tsaile, Arizona has a population of over 1300 people, 1042 of that number are of Native American background. The Navajo people make up the majority of that number. Some statistics: 200 are Anglo, 25 are of African American, 7 are Asian, and 34 are of other races. The city of Tsaile has a functioning hospital that takes care of basic needs from treating the common cold, getting an eye exam, and some dental work is done. Tsaile, Arizona is made up of 42.2% English speaking individuals, and 54.4% of Navajo speaking citizens that speak both languages of English and Navajo. However, the older Navajos speak limited English. Tsaile Public School is located on the Navajo Reservation in the Chuska mountain area of Arizona. A mountain that divides Arizona and New Mexico. Within the area of the mountains where camping and fishing are optional for many residents. Tsaile Lake which is located in walking distance from the Dine College. Another popular lake near Tsaile is a lake called Wheatfields Lake.
A town called Farmington, New Mexico is located 86 miles northeast of Tsaile where the people of Tsaile and surrounding areas go and travel to get to the nearest Target, Walmart, or to get a sense of the bigger city life. Some go to watch a movie or to have a nice dinner. Another town is Gallup, New Mexico which is a good 77 miles drive east of Tsaile which also has the amenities for basic needs for a household and more. These are a long drive, however, living on the reservation for so many years the drive time for people becomes a normal weekend drive to go shopping. However, for some basic needs like groceries and a few household materials that can be obtained without the long drive can be made daily if needed is to a city called Chinle, Arizona. A small town that is the center of the Navajo Nation. This city is located south of Tsaile and is a 25 miles drive. Chinle, Arizona is the home of the famous Canyon De Chelly where many tourists come to see many monuments and beautiful canyon views. You would never guess but Canyon De Chelly has an outlook and hiking path located at The Whitehouse Overlook where you can see ruins of the ancient Anasazi homes.
Chinle is where all the resources are, that citizens need to obtain a sustainable type of life. The hospital, police station, Bashas the local food store, ACE hardware store. In a sense, Chinle is the business type of town.
Chinle, Arizona is where the district office if located for our school district. From Chinle to Tsaile is a good 30-40 minute drive. Tsaile Public School is one of seven schools under Chinle Unified School district. Five out of the seven are elementary schools. Chinle Unified School district has two Junior High schools and one high school. Tsaile Public school is unique in its’ own way. Tsaile school teaches pre-school, first through fifth grade, and also includes middle school from grades sixth to eighth grade. All grades are taught essentially in the same building with an annex building that houses the third graders on their own. The school has the technology needed for each grade level. Each grade level is provided with either laptops or classroom set of iPad to meet the needs of twenty first century learner. The children who attend Tsaile Public school are of Navajo descent with a small population of non-Native kids. There are 435 students enrolled at Tsaile Public School. It is a school where the Navajo culture is largely practiced from the Navajo language present in the hallway to the traditional outfits worn sporadically throughout the week. It is a school where some teachers wear their traditional hair bun, the tsiyeel which in Navajo culture the hair is where all your knowledge is. The saying goes when you tie your hair up in that hair bun you keep your knowledge safe and close to you. The Tsiyeel has a strong presence in the school building with both male and females proudly wearing their hair tied up. The sight of Native American jewelry mostly turquoise and beaded jewels are seen down every hall and in every classroom.
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