Priscilla Weaver: My Organizing Story
I could not stand on the sidelines. I took part in the Women’s March in Austin, TX on January 21, 2017. I was re-energized. Over the next three years, from 2017 to 2019, my husband and I traveled to political rallies and events at Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and Farmington where we created signs, marched, and protested. ____
December 4, 2020
My father, Willie Weaver, taught me the important qualities of a Navajo leader, a naat’áanii. A leader is one who cares about the people, is visionary, courageous, and honest. When I was a little girl, my dad and I would leave our house before the sun came up to work on our family farm in Gadii’ahi. There were times I remember my dad would visit with Chairman Samuel Ahkeah under the large cottonwood tree, and they would have serious conversations about community, culture, and ké. My dad told me that he respected Chairman Ahkeah’s teachings and guidance because of his leadership. My father was also mentored by my grandfather (shicheii, Joe Coleman) who was known as Naat’áanii tsoh. He was a peacemaker and hataałii medicine man who used his wisdom to settle disputes. My father followed in his footsteps and became a hataałii too. These experiences helped shape my view of leadership and inspired me to get involved in community efforts and support candidates who center the community.
In 2007, I moved back to Teec Nos Pos, AZ, on the Navajo Nation to work in education. During this time I started learning about then candidate Barack Obama. Mr. Obama epitomized the qualities of a leader that my father had taught me. I handed out Democratic literature, bumper stickers, and yard signs to support Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Four years later, my husband and I stood at the Teec Nos Pos junction with Democratic signs to remind people to cast their votes for President Obama and Vice President Biden. Truckers, tourists, local community members, gave their thumbs up, and stopped by to pick up buttons and bumper stickers. We were visiting Iowa City, Iowa, when Mr. Obama won his reelection in November 2011. I was so happy we volunteered and supported this great leader.
Fast forward to November 2016, when Hillary Clinton lost the general election, I was in shock, in disbelief, and depressed. I wished that I had done more. Our new president, Donald Trump, was the opposite of what a leader should be and went against every value and principle that I had believed in. I could not stand on the sidelines. I took part in the Women’s March in Austin, TX on January 21, 2017. I was re-energized. Over the next three years, from 2017 to 2019, my husband and I traveled to political rallies and events at Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and Farmington where we created signs, marched, and protested. Our country was suffering and we desperately needed the kind of naat’áanii my dad, my grandfather, and Chairman Ahkeah represented. One who looked out for communities not their selfish interests. For the past four years, Donald Trump and the Republicans’ lack of leadership has been destroying our country.
At the start of 2020 I knew I wanted to be a part of the growing movement to vote them out. So I started networking with people and groups that supported strong Democratic candidates, and focused on turning Arizona blue. I have volunteered with the Apache County Democrats and the Northeast Arizona Native Democrats to elect former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris because they are good leaders who care, and they have the integrity and wisdom to get our country back on the right track.
It’s now December, and January 20, 2021 can’t come soon enough. It’s been an incredible feeling to be a part of the team of Navajo, Hopi, and Apache organizers and volunteers who helped deliver Arizona for the Democrats. Sen. Mark Kelly was recently sworn in, and we have a number of Native candidates who won their elections. Now we must keep up these efforts and continue investing in our communities for 2021 and beyond. I currently serve as the vice chair of the Apache County Democrats, and we are now recruiting Precinct Committee Persons (PCs) and encouraging folks to run for the Board. We want to increase Indigenous representation in the Demcratic Party and across our state. Our group will continue to work with the Northeast Arizona Native Democrats and other county Democratic groups to help expand grassroots organizing efforts and get more of our community members engaged. I invite you to join us and learn more about the Apache County Democrats, contact me directly at pweaver2007@gmail.com or you may email nativevote@neaznativedemocrats.org for the coalition of the Northeast Arizona Native Democrats. Ahe’hee.
Apache County Democrats visit: www.facebook.com/ApacheCountyDemocrats
Priscilla Weaver, Navajo/Diné, Volunteer and Vice Chair of the Apache County Democrats.