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October 2, 2025 17 mins
Knowledge is Power – Shaping the Future of Navajo Children

Episode 3, “Knowledge is Power,” highlights the educational mission of Saint Bonaventure Indian Mission and School, which serves Navajo children from all corners of the Eastern Navajo Nation.

The school’s curriculum is grounded in both academic excellence and Catholic faith and teachers and staff go above and beyond to ensure students feel valued and supported in every aspect of their growth.

Led by Principal Tracie Lee, the mission is not just preparing students for the future — it is investing in leaders who will one day transform their communities.

www.stbonaventuremission.org
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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
In this episode, we take you on a journey with
Saint Bonaventure Indian Mission in School, an unwavering pillar for
the Navajo people, walking with him in faith, dignity, humanity,
and hope. This long road is not just a promise,
but a lifeline, supporting a vital needs such as water,

(00:38):
while standing for him and committed against the heavy burdens
of daily life. For bus drivers like Cecil Joe Junior,
the school day begins long before the first bell rings.
He is one of the five bus drivers supporting St.
Bonaventure Indian Mission in School. Each morning, Yellow Buzz says,

(01:00):
travel across miles of rugged roads, most of the students
coming from homes deep in the heart of the eastern
Navo nation, where the land stretches far. Public transportation is
non existing and challenges abound. Just like Cecil, for these children,
the school day also begins long before the sunrise. When
they finally arrive at school, they are greeted with warmth,

(01:23):
fine gets important, and a promise to uplift and empower
through faith and education.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
They're excited. They're excited just to be here, and we
want so much for our students to leave feeling fulfilled.
In any of their needs that we are trying to address.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Throughout its history, the school has stood as a beacon
of hope for thousands of DNA people across the lands.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
The mission of our Saint Bonaventure School is to help
grow our entire student, whether it be academically, spiritually, emotionally,
and I would say economically, because we all know that

(02:16):
our students as our primary stakeholders in our school, they
need a strong and solid foundation in order to go
forth into their communities, into wherever they want to flourish.

(02:37):
That they need this educational background so that they can
be effective.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Father Faith has lived every morning, and many kids nourish
their souls with their first meal.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
Hey, you're welcome, hid morning.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
The day begins in reverence with morning prayers and the
pledge of allegiance in the Navajo language. He even Easter
Week brings lessons of faith and joy. Staff members remind
kids that they are cherished and reading stories to the

(03:37):
younger ones.

Speaker 4 (03:38):
A legend of the Easter egg. One April morning, when
the air was soft and sweet, a boy and his
sister went outside to gather eggs Easter's coming. The sister said,
let's pretend for hunting Easter eggs.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
Rooted in Catholicism, the school seamlessly weaves religious teachings into
daily life.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
How many days of mourning do we observe when a
pope dies? Leba nine nine days, nine.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
Days as the rest of the world. Saint Bonaventure was
also mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Staying true to
its roots here, saints names grace each building, religious icons
adorn the walls, and Catholic sisters supporting the mission, manful
of the educating and spreading the Gospel with a smile.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
Extra blessing to our school, our families. Families are enthusiastic
about their presence here at school. Their children go home,
they're excited for their religion lesson if and they're also

(04:57):
excited about the sacraments that they get to experience, and
if they go into becoming fully initiated into the Catholic faith,
that's an additional blessing for us too.

Speaker 1 (05:14):
Starting with the kids in kindergarten, students explore the world
from different lenses and subjects.

Speaker 5 (05:19):
Would you like to hear about the life cycle of
a frog?

Speaker 1 (05:23):
Maybe some of you might already know it's one first
grade class is teaching these youngsters about life cycles following
the journey of a frog from egg to pond A
jumper Brenda what.

Speaker 5 (05:34):
Comes to mind, m.

Speaker 6 (05:39):
Frogs.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
They certainly do very good lessons wrapped into a rigorous
school curriculum that teaches students through stories.

Speaker 6 (05:48):
I did for Eastern Soon.

Speaker 7 (05:50):
When I was just rain in bed, my mom called
me and told me that we're going.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
To blue water numbers simple and complex.

Speaker 5 (05:58):
How many as we have now?

Speaker 7 (06:02):
Rayah gonna circle.

Speaker 6 (06:08):
Good interest, scarcity, right to.

Speaker 1 (06:14):
Right, logan history lessons.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Helen what Helen Helen and became the famous Helen off Troy,
isn't it?

Speaker 7 (06:25):
There are three and a.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
Lot of creativity across the board. The only thing we're
gonna cut is our use and well, like in any
other school setting in America, some instances of unpleasant news.

Speaker 6 (06:44):
We're gonna do a mid term for science.

Speaker 7 (06:49):
It's not that hard.

Speaker 6 (06:50):
It's the stuff we've been studying.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
And the day goes on. So friends, stop, stop and listen.

Speaker 6 (07:05):
Okay, So all ties.

Speaker 8 (07:06):
Into the economy, lesson the math, lesson Okay, everything that
we've been doing.

Speaker 9 (07:12):
All right, you can do a lot and geologists, if
you guys go into geology.

Speaker 1 (07:16):
All right, you guys can learn a lot and make
a lot of money.

Speaker 6 (07:19):
Okay, Knowledge is.

Speaker 1 (07:20):
Power, right, the quest for knowledge and the mission's willingness
to support that goal, say wanna venture.

Speaker 6 (07:26):
Indian Mission in School has now been in existence for
fifty years. The mission is very broad and complex. We
have a school which starts with a three year old
and a four year old preschool program, and then we
have kindergarten through the eighth grade. So we look at

(07:48):
the whole process of the child through adolescence through adulthood
to ensure that they get the best education possible.

Speaker 1 (07:57):
The mission makes sure each child gets what they need
inside and outside the classrooms.

Speaker 6 (08:03):
The kids are also given two meals a day breakfast
and lunch, and we also have a weekend food program
that kids can take food home and backpacks. If there's
a dire need for some of the families, we also
provide food for them to take home in the evenings

(08:24):
all through the week.

Speaker 1 (08:25):
School Principal Tracy Lee sees the result of his deep
commitment from staffords and the mission supporters.

Speaker 2 (08:31):
And seeing the families when we're able to see them,
you see their joy in how well their children are
taking care of here and hearing parents and grandparents say
how happy they are to have their children here at
Saint Bonaventure School is a delights.

Speaker 5 (08:54):
Business for there.

Speaker 1 (08:59):
Those who work here know the impact they are making
each day.

Speaker 2 (09:03):
All of our students come from various backgrounds and we
want to let them feel that they are the center
of our life here at school, and that's why we
provide these programs for them and we want them to
feel that success. However they can, as well as our

(09:27):
teachers to feel that success because we want that emotional,
that successful feeling, accomplishment however we want to put it.
We want them to trickle down to our students so
that they can also have it trickle into their family's

(09:48):
lives as well.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
Saint Bonaventer's School is one of the few private schools
within the region operating entirely on donations. Despite the challenges,
Saint Bonaventer's School is filled with encouragement inside and out.

Speaker 6 (10:02):
Good get your name on your paper again.

Speaker 2 (10:05):
I am so elated to be a part of this
entire journey with our students, arts, teachers, all of our
staff members. It's a joy to be here and every
day is different. Every day is a good challenge for
us more.

Speaker 5 (10:25):
You guys can roll up.

Speaker 1 (10:28):
Every afternoon, staff line up to say goodbye, a daily
tradition of hope.

Speaker 10 (10:33):
So they they'll know that they can come back tomorrow.

Speaker 9 (10:36):
We're going to be here to show them care.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
For them. A memorable send off on the ride to
their distant homes. Friendship's form and laughter bounds around the bus.
Others take the time to do their homework with their
siling's help, as students get off along the way one

(11:03):
by one.

Speaker 4 (11:07):
Jason just.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
At Saint Bonaventure, Indian mission in school support begins at
early age.

Speaker 9 (11:18):
Thank you for asking for help to This year's annual
Easter celebration had even the littlest hands making baskets.

Speaker 8 (11:29):
I have over three thousand plastic eggs.

Speaker 11 (11:32):
I don't have any real eggs out here, but there's
a context.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
The hunt begins and the joy is real.

Speaker 9 (11:42):
I got few colorful ones, No three.

Speaker 2 (11:46):
These are barrowed eggs, donated eggs.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
Five winners get prizes, but here everyone's a winner.

Speaker 4 (11:59):
Here we go for me.

Speaker 8 (12:01):
This is yours.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
Back inside, the journey continues small class sizes. An individualized
instruction helps students meet where they are. Navajo language and
culture are woven into the curriculum at j Distal.

Speaker 7 (12:20):
That means your heart's all is your rips, wool is teeth,
as say, is your mouth a knee is your face.

Speaker 1 (12:33):
At Saint Bonaventure Learning, its sacred culture is honored. It
is a deliberate choice to preserve identity and instill pride.

Speaker 7 (12:49):
I'm teaching the kids' anatomy like how to say our
body now who And we did some sand painting the
thing says now, Who's do.

Speaker 1 (13:02):
At the height of the school program are the eighth
grade students. They are preparing for high school and beyond.

Speaker 11 (13:09):
They finish our program here, they decide to move on
to a higher high school that is private. We also
help provide tuition assistance. And then from there, when they
finish their four year high school program and they decide
to move on to colleges or universities, we also do
help them. It's kind of a building block and stepping
stone in which we help our students to ensure that

(13:29):
they've made their goals, academic goals and continue their academic
journey to colleges.

Speaker 1 (13:35):
Selina Kahn Hunter is the Chief of Staff at Saint
Bonaventure Indian Mission in school. She also coordinates the missions
available scholarships.

Speaker 10 (13:44):
A lot of.

Speaker 11 (13:44):
Times vocational schools are part of it, but majority of
our students still attend traditional colleges and universities in the
state of New Mexico. But with the program, we ensure
that they have the help and the support that they need.

Speaker 1 (14:01):
Jack Show sports also play a vital role. A lot
good teaching, discipline, unity, and health.

Speaker 11 (14:20):
Athletic program for sat BLOUDA venture does benefit the students,
so we get them motivated to do things hands on
this coordination.

Speaker 1 (14:29):
Uh, it's a cool among other social benefits.

Speaker 8 (14:33):
The kids are happy to be here. We're doing pretty good.
The kids really enjoy track and feel they do very well,
especially our throwers, and I'm excited. This is my first
year to coach track and field, and I'm very excited.

Speaker 1 (14:54):
This year's last track meet brought everyone together. Teachers, students
and parents.

Speaker 10 (14:59):
Were here for our last track meet, supporting our daughter.
I didn't get to see all of her events because
I'm at work until the end of school, so I'm
lucky today to see two of her events.

Speaker 1 (15:13):
The event took place at Crown Point High School.

Speaker 2 (15:16):
I'm here to support our mid school night's team. This
is their last track and field meat and I want
to see them go out.

Speaker 10 (15:25):
With the bane.

Speaker 1 (15:26):
Hello.

Speaker 7 (15:27):
My name is Even Lesson and I'm running the four
NA today.

Speaker 10 (15:32):
Hello.

Speaker 2 (15:33):
My name is Claan Henderson and I'm running the four.

Speaker 10 (15:37):
My name is Hello, my name is Hunter Ramone, and
I'm running for hundred.

Speaker 1 (15:41):
Life lessons that stretch far beyond the finish line.

Speaker 8 (15:44):
I really do hope they continue track and field. This
is like the basics. They'll be learning, and I'm pretty
sure when once they get to high school they'll be
they'll have more of what to do.

Speaker 1 (15:57):
Kids learning and hoping to transform. There can days and
the world.

Speaker 2 (16:01):
I'm always telling our students, I need to see you
guys flourish and to succeed so that they can replace
us because we're not always going to be here.

Speaker 5 (16:17):
Can you please welcome our brand new guests and say
welcome to our classroom. Say we're the k one scientist.

Speaker 1 (16:29):
Saint Bonaventure Indian Mission in School, a source of knowledge
for the Eastern Navajo community and a beacon of hope.
Please visit Saint Bonaventure Mission dot org and donate today.
Thank you
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