When NASA was preparing for the Apollo Project, it took the
astronauts to a Navajo reservation in Arizona for training.
One day, a Navajo elder and his son came across the space
crew walking among the rocks. The elder, who spoke only
Navajo, asked a question.
His son translated for the NASA people: "What are these guys
in the big suits doing?" One of the astronauts said that
they were practicing a trip to the moon. When his son
relayed this comment the Navajo elder got all excited and
asked if it would be possible to give to the astronauts a
message to deliver to the moon.
Recognizing a promotional opportunity when he saw one, a
NASA official accompanying the astronauts said, "Why
certainly!" and told an underling
to get a tape recorder.
The Navajo elder's comments into the microphone were brief.
The NASA official asked the son if he would translate what
his father had said. The son listened to the recording and
laughed uproariously. But he refused to translate.
So the NASA people took the tape to a nearby Navajo village
and played it for other members of the tribe. They too
laughed long and loudly but also refused to translate the
elder's message to the moon.
An official government translator was summoned. After he
finally stopped laughing the translator relayed the message:
"WATCH OUT FOR THESE ASSHOLES. THEY HAVE COME TO STEAL YOUR
LAND."
astronauts to a Navajo reservation in Arizona for training.
One day, a Navajo elder and his son came across the space
crew walking among the rocks. The elder, who spoke only
Navajo, asked a question.
His son translated for the NASA people: "What are these guys
in the big suits doing?" One of the astronauts said that
they were practicing a trip to the moon. When his son
relayed this comment the Navajo elder got all excited and
asked if it would be possible to give to the astronauts a
message to deliver to the moon.
Recognizing a promotional opportunity when he saw one, a
NASA official accompanying the astronauts said, "Why
certainly!" and told an underling
to get a tape recorder.
The Navajo elder's comments into the microphone were brief.
The NASA official asked the son if he would translate what
his father had said. The son listened to the recording and
laughed uproariously. But he refused to translate.
So the NASA people took the tape to a nearby Navajo village
and played it for other members of the tribe. They too
laughed long and loudly but also refused to translate the
elder's message to the moon.
An official government translator was summoned. After he
finally stopped laughing the translator relayed the message:
"WATCH OUT FOR THESE ASSHOLES. THEY HAVE COME TO STEAL YOUR
LAND."
