Arizona Chapter Brings P.E.O. Philanthropy to Navajo Reservation

Chapter BF, Chandler, Arizona, has cultivated personal relationships with Navajo, or Diné (Diné is the tribe’s preferred name), women living on the Reservation in Chinle, Arizona. They have recommended one woman for a P.E.O. scholarship and are assisting two Chinle high school girls to prepare applications for P.E.O. projects to help them with college expenses.

Navajo Life Depiction Story mural at Diné College

These personal contacts with Diné women and girls came as a direct result of Chapter BF’s ongoing project of providing hand-knitted caps for children in impoverished areas of the Navajo Reservation. The knitters have made over 4,000 caps for students in Ganado, Tuba City and Chinle during the past six years.

While working with schools to deliver the caps, Chapter BF realized the opportunity they had to share information about P.E.O. projects with the Native women and girls who could benefit from financial aid that might enable them to attend college. With 94 percent of the students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the need is there.

In the fall of 2023, Chapter BF contacted the Chinle Superintendent of Schools Quincy Natay and Federal Programs Director Sheila Betz to get approval to bring information about P.E.O. philanthropies to the schools. The Chinle School District covers 4,200 square miles and serves 3,100 students; school buses travel thousands of miles each day on mostly unpaved roads.

In May 2024, Chapter BF sisters made the six-hour drive from the Phoenix area to Chinle, where Sophie Shorty, their school liaison, had set up meetings with female teachers and staff of the elementary and junior high schools. They brought packets of information and, after explaining the possible benefits of both International and Arizona State Chapter projects, they spoke privately with interested teachers.

Jeanne Wellwerts and Shannon Gatewood Smith at one of the elementary schools where they delivered P.E.O. Project information to Navajo (Diné) teachers and staff and caps to Navajo Reservation children. Photo by Brooke Gatewood.

In October 2024, six P.E.O.s returned to Chinle with more packets of information for the high school teachers and spoke about the P.E.O. projects to a group of junior and senior high school girls. The response from both groups was enthusiastic and successful. Several women were interested in possible scholarships, grants or loans to help them pursue further education.

Brooke Gatewood, Sophie Shorty and Judy Bishop in the Chinle school cafeteria

Chinle was a special place for Chapter BF to start disseminating information about the P.E.O. Projects because Shannon Gatewood-Smith, past president, Arizona State Chapter, and her sister, Brooke Gatewood, also a chapter member, grew up on the Reservation where their Navajo father was Superintendent of Schools in Chinle and their mother (also a P.E.O.) was a teacher there. The knitting project grew from Shannon’s bringing the many needs of the Diné children to the attention of the chapter.

A special bonus for the P.E.O. sisters in Chinle was the opportunity to learn about the Diné culture and heritage. Their liaison, Sophie, arranged for the group to attend a lecture by a Navajo medicine man from Diné College. He discussed the Navajo creation story and the fascinating legends and history of nearby Canyon de Chelly. He stressed to his Native audience the importance of learning and retaining their Navajo language and to live by the ancient traditions of the people. It was a fascinating and educational look into the Diné culture for the P.E.O.s who were privileged to attend.

Sophie Shorty drove P.E.O. sisters around the rim of the Canyon de Chelly

Later, Sophie drove the sisters around the rim of the canyon, telling stories of its centuries-long history and its legends. Chapter BF sister Lynn Thompson says, “Our personal connection with Sophie has provided us with more knowledge of the needs of the people and the importance of the culture.” This knowledge has influenced Chapter BF to make it a continuing project to the Navajo Nation women and girls.

The P.E.O.s who participated in trips to the Reservation have been exhilarated by their contact with the Diné women and girls. “Talking with these students brought us such excitement and hope that our projects might help them reach lofty goals,” says Peggy Morehouse, a member of the group. Shannon Gatewood-Smith added, “We want to continue giving information to women about our P.E.O. Projects. We want to help by encouraging girls and women to continue with their education to better themselves and their families.”