Four Corners, USA

I visited the Four Corners area in 1993 with my husband. We stayed at a hotel on Navajo Nation property in Window Rock, Arizona, USA; visited Canyon de Chelly (see history); and ate dinner in Gallup, New Mexico. Although I had visited the Cherokee Indian (Native American) reservation in my home state North Carolina, it was only after I visited Arizona and saw its vast undeveloped lands that I began to understood the tragic impact of U.S. policies on these Native American/American Indian nations. Even though I live in a suburban area of North Carolina that is fairly well-developed, everywhere I go I see more and more development. New home communities, condos, shopping centers, schools are being built in areas that I didn't realize had enough land to accommodate them. Deer are being pushed out of their habitats (often tucked away in wooded areas very near development) and appear on roadways (not often but more frequent than a few years ago.) That we (humans) could live without more and more development and that we could preserve green space is something that doesn't seem to be a priority.

Feeding a culture while being robbed of its nutrients (land, natural resources, intergenerational connections) seems to be a nearly impossible task. U.S. government efforts have ranged from assimilation through public schools in the late 1800's, early-to-mid 1900's to policies
that support the preservation of language and culture. (more on the history of assimilation efforts).

Loss of natural resources (some have been restored through treaties and reparation plans) has made it difficult for nations to thrive. In addition, trust between nations and the government and outside entities has often been strained. For example, payments for land use may not be made in a timely manner (see this 2002 story)

Still programs and projects exist. A section of the Four Corners areas has been designated the Four Corners Empowerment Zone. According to a government report, unemployment is 45.8% and 49.1% live at the poverty level. There are federal government efforts to improve the economic viability of the area through development of physical infrastructure, educational services, and community services.

It is in this context of respecting a culture while bring information and communication technology to its people that the Gates Foundation and its Native American Access to Technology program began.