In the spring of
1901, an expeditionary party representing the Presbyterian National Board
of Home Missions set out from Flagstaff to locate a desirable site for a
mission to the Navajo Indians. Unlike other tribes in the Southwest, the
Navajo did not live in large settlements but in small, nomadic,
family-oriented camps, dispersed over a vast area. For this reason, the
location for a mission had to be chosen carefully.
When the party arrived at the Hubbell Trading Post, they took note of
the flowing water, arable land and availability of building materials.
Moreover, they were impressed by John Lorenzo Hubbell's warm welcome and
by his friendly and respectful relationship with local Navajos. The
trading post was a hub for trade and a popular meeting place. Later that
year, Charles Bierkemper and his wife, Alice, arrived as the first
missionaries.
Mr. Bierkemper, with the help of an interpreter, Tom Morgan, and the
Navajo workmen built the "Old Manse" by 1903. This adobe house
served as the Bierkemper home, a meeting hall and a classroom for the day
school started by Alice Bierkemper. Soon a school building and dormitories
were built, and teachers and a principal hired. By 1906, Charles
Bierkemper completed construction of the first Ganado Mission Church.
Dr. James Kennedy, who established the first hospital here in 1911,
would fill his pockets with medicine and walk for miles over the desert to
care for the sick. He was the first bilagaana (white) doctor most his
patients had seen. In 1920, Reverend Fred Mitchell became Ganado Mission's
first superintendent. He had years of previous experience and could speak
Navajo fluently. Under his leadership, the mission programs greatly
expanded.
Dr. Clarence Salsbury founded the first nursing school for Native
Americans at the mission in Ganado. The school trained women from more
than twenty tribes and several foreign countries. The institution was
accredited by the State of Arizona and its graduates were highly regarded
in their field. In the early 1930's, Dr. Salsbury was also responsible for
the design and construction of the Sage Memorial Hospital (now Poncel
Hall). Through the work of Dr. Salsbury and his wife, Cora, Ganado Mission
was transformed from a desert outpost into a nationally recognized
institution, attracting visitors such as Dr. W. Mayo of Mayo Clinic
Foundation fame. The Presbytery of Grand Canyon continues to own the
property and buildings, leasing them to the Navajo Health Foundation /
Sage Memorial Hospital.
Today, the Navajo Health Foundation /Sage Memorial Hospital with the
all-Navajo Board of Directors, operates the 45-bed hospital as well as
medical, dental and field
clinics.
Adapted
from "Hozhoni Rider" Newsletter by Cheryl Schou and Hozhoni
Staff.
