Navajo Tacos with Cooking Cousins

Yesterday, May 26th, 1830 marked the day congress passed the Indian Removal Act and many sources record the Act being signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830.  The Indian Removal Act was a

"piece of legislation-its official name was "An Act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians . . . and for their removal west of the river Mississippi"-empowered the president to negotiate and sign removal treaties in which Indian nations abandoned lands east of the Mississippi in return for unsettled, federal lands west of the Mississippi."

May 28th is my birthday.  Doing this Navajo study and now learning this Act was signed on or close to my birthday makes this even a little more personal.  My Grandma is a multiracial Native American who grew up on a reservation in South Dakota. 

My Grandma at Disneyland.  She liked running into this guy.

Grandma with Mickey

The Indian Removal Act legislated Native Americans (Indians) to move west of the Mississippi.  Those who chose to stay were required to become citizens.  The Cherokee went so far as to write their own Constitution and declare themselves a Sovereign Nation.  Christian Missionaries, Abraham Lincoln, Davy Crockett and other sympathizers argued on behalf of the Indians to no avail.  Here is a map of the Indian Removal, including Trail of Tears.

The indigenous peoples out west were affected also.  In 1868, following The Long Walk, The Navajo Reservation located in portions of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, was established.  This is a rare example of the US Government relocating a tribe back to their original boundaries.

In the attempt to prevent the indigenous people from starving, the US Government gave the Navajo rations for food, often times the rations were rancid.  The rations included, white flour, processed sugar, lard, some canned goods.  From these simple ingredients, the Navajo created Fry Bread, a now Native American symbol of their pain and perseverance.

My parents used to live in the Southwest and we were introduced to Navajo Tacos many years ago when they lived there.  Because of the high fat content due to frying this is not a meal we eat often, but one to enjoy occasionally.

This week my cousin, Heather, is visiting so we introduced her to Navajo Tacos.  She loves to cook and bake too.  She is a fellow blogger.

Indian Fry Bread

This recipe is from a cookbook called Simply Simpatico: The Home of Authentic Southwestern Cuisine.  It's put out by The Junior League of Albuquerque.  I picked it up about 15 years ago while on a visit to Albuquerque.  It's a great addition or gift idea.

2 cups flour
1/3 cup powdered milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lard
3/4 cup warm water
oil for frying

Mix dry ingredients.  Cut in 1 tablespoon lard until crumbly.  Add water and mix until a soft dough forms.  Knead until dough is smooth and springy in texture.  Make into 12 balls.  Melt 1 tablespoon lard and brush on each ball of dough.  Set aside for 30-45 minutes.  On a lightly floured surface roll ball into a 4" circle.  Then stretch to 7-8" in diameter.  Poke hole in center.  Fry in oil at 365 degrees until lightly browned, turning once.  Can also be served with butter and honey.

To make the Navajo Taco, take the bread and top with taco meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and or avocado.  Enjoy!

My cousin, Heather

Love this Cast Iron Pan...Oil Heating

Frying the bread

Navajo Tacos, Enjoy!

Navajo Code Talkers- A Study for May

May, 1942.  World War II.  An amazing group of 29 men were gathered for a highly classified mission.  They were to develop an indecipherable code that not even the best Japanese code breakers could crack.

Who were these men?  How were they discovered?  What was their code?  We're on a homeschooling quest to find out more about these elite dedicated men and their important role in American history.

In the early part of 1942 America had only been involved in WWII for a couple of months.  Message transmissions between US and Ally forces were consistently intercepted and deciphered by the Japanese causing loss of life and failed missions.  The US needed a foolproof  code, but where and how could one be developed?

A son of a missionary, by the name of Phillip Johnston learned of the situation.  He had been raised on the Navajo reservation and was one of only a few outsiders who knew the native language.  This language was never written so there was no record of it for outsiders.  Johnston proposed using the Navajo language as a code and presented his idea to military officials.  The Navajo test program was born.

Today we read The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter.  It's a beautifully illustrated (done by Julia Miner) picture book for children. It tells the story of one Navajo code talker.  The grandfather, telling the story, shares with his grandson how he was sent away to government schools and was not allowed to use his unique, native language.  He must only speak English.  If he didn't he was made to chew on squares of soap.  (My own grandmother was sent away to a government school for Native Americans.  I'm sure she received similar treatment.)

At the age of 17, he heard of a request for young, healthy Navajo men to join the Marines for a special assignment.  He was under age, but there was no birth records on the reservation so he went. 

This special assignment was the top secret Navajo code talkers mission.  The story continues with the training and then duty of these elite personnel.  It tells the vital role the code talkers played in the invasion of Iwo Jima.

By the end of the story the grandson asked his grandfather,

"But why did you leave in the first place?"

His grandfather lifted him gently onto the horse.  "The answer to that is in the code," he said.  "The code name for America was 'Our Mother.'  You fight for what you love.  You fight for what is yours."

At this point of the book, I was in tears.  The kids were trying to fan me and asking why I was crying.  The words of the grandfather were so powerful to me.

"You fight for what you love.  You fight for what is yours."

As I think on these words, those things I'd fight for...God, family, country, honor.

This book was given to us by my mom.  She met some of these amazing men who developed the only unbreakable code in American history.  Our book is signed by some of these heroes.  What a treasure!!  Thanks Mom!

We will continue to learn more about the Navajo Code Talkers.  They have a great website at http://www.navajocodetalkers.org/  On the site you can see photos of the heroes.  Some of these men signed our book.  What an amazing story they have to share!

"You fight for what you love. You fight for what is yours."

Great words to ponder.