Tribal interference shuts down Indian daily newspaper

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Window Rock, Arizona

The Navajo Times Today was the eyes and ears for 192,000 Navajos scattered across a 65,000-square-kilometre reservation and in the cities across the country, former editors say.

But in the view of tribal chairman Peter MacDonald, The Navajo Times was a meddlesome newspaper that too often was critical of tribal government and had drained more than $1.3 million from the tribe.

The Navajo Times ceased publication February 19 after tribal police ordered the staff out of the building and locked the doors. Its computers were turned off and its phones pulled from the walls.

IN a statement, MacDonald said the newspaper was closed because it was losing money that should go for scholarships and jobs.

"The First Amendment doesn't apply to Indian country," said former Navajo Times publisher Mark Trahant. "Freedom of speech and the press is theoretical here."

The editorial independence of The Navajo Times was risky from its start 26 years ago. Funded by the Navajo tribe as a monthly newsletter for students attending schools off the reservation, The Navajo Times evolved into a weekly and then into a daily.

The Navajo Times was written, edited and printed by Indians. The circulation was just 7,500 but young Navajo journalists were trained there. Many reporters spoke Navajo, a tremendous advantage since most tribal meetings are conducted in Navajo. Most of the 60-member staff was under 30.

"There was tremendous sense of pride in showing that Navajos could put out a newspaper," said former managing editor Monty Roessel.

Trahant and others familiar with the finances said the paper was two to three years away from making a profit.

In fact, The Navajo Times became a risky venture by playing American style journalism in the political climate of the Navajo Nation. The paper was relentless in criticism of the tribal chairman -- Zah and MacDonald ? and tribal politics.

"We did what a newspaper is supposed to do," said Trahant, "I expected a reaction, like getting fired myself. But I never thought they'd shut us down."

Deborah Frazier is a reporter from The Rocky Mountain News in Denver.