Gallup Sun

There is true beauty in education, and diverse opportunities that can come from pursuing it – especially if you are Native.

I say that with such aspiration because I recently spoke to three Diné women, all of whom went on to share their education and knowledge with Navajo people and other ethnicities.

These women inspired and influenced me. They assured me that Navajo knowledge, education and self-identity come from what we discover throughout years of furthering our studies.

As a 25-year-old Diné grad student studying poetry and working as a freelance writer and photographer, I believe I am fulfilling my destiny with Navajo education.

When I say Navajo education, what I mean is...

Pop quiz: which of the following statements are true?

a. The census is constitutionally required in order to count every person in the U.S.

b. The census determines how much federal money—more than $6 billion—flows into New Mexico’s economy every year.

c. New Mexicans are more at risk of not being counted by the census than are people in most every other state.

d. The census is in jeopardy—and that puts New Mexicans in jeopardy.

If you said “all of the above,” you’d be correct. Unfortunately, that doesn’t guarantee you the prize of being counted and represented in the next big census if things continue the way they are going.

Since 1790, the U.S has been...

Enjoy a New Moon on Nov. 18. This is the time to pursue personal goals with the passion of a Scorpio. You may benefit from the intensity of focus and deep probing associated with this fixed water sign. But beware of the shadow side, which brings obsession and burnout. Madame G suggests that while pursuing your goals you also enjoy the season. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This is the time to put those personal goals into action. You’re capable of taking your dreams to the next level. This will require patience and persistence. Madame G recommends you take some time to evaluate those goals. Are you pursuing your goals for the right reasons? Look for the higher...

Casey Roberts earned an MBA at the same time he was learning the family trade: welding. Today, the Las Cruces man and his wife, Chancie, own Mesilla Valley Metals, a manufacturer of pipes, structural steel, farm implements and custom-ordered metal products.

“My family has always been in the welding business,” Roberts said. “My dad was a rig welder in Farmington, where my uncle on my mom’s side owns a big fabrication shop. I always enjoyed making something and seeing results at the end of the day.”

As a welder, Roberts worked with metal all the time. In Aug. 2011, he decided to start a business selling the raw materials of his trade. At first, Mesilla  Valley Metals operated...