Beck embraces her culture in Navajo Nation

This is the third in a series about members of the Wings of America cross country team.

By Mary Albl for DyeStat 

Esther Beck’s feet were accustomed to the life of a city runner. In Albuquerque, N.M., that meant a steady mix of concrete, a bit of grass and some gradual inclines.  

Last July, though, Beck moved from the city to the high, semi-arid range lands in Northeast Arizona. She lives in the Navajo Nation with her mother and grandparents.  

The change of scenery allowed Beck to reconnect with her Native American ancestry. 

Beck was also selected for one of the coveted spots on the Wings of America cross country team that will compete Feb. 4 at the USATF Cross Country Championships in Bend, Ore. 

Part 1 - Jordan Lesansee | Part 2 - Jalen Chase

Based in Santa Fe, N.M., Wings of America focuses on improving the lives of American Indian youth through the sport of running. Beck will run on the junior women’s team.  

“I thought it was really cool,” Beck said. “You get to meet people from other tribes and learn about their traditions.”

Beck’s tradition is connected to the Navajo people, who have a matrilineal society. She is part of the Totsohnii clan, which is her mother’s clan. She was born into the MaiiDeeshgizhinii clan, a secondary identifier, which is her father’s clan.

“Clans are a big thing in my culture,” Beck explained. “It identifies you. It tells people where you came from. Everyone that’s Navajo has them.”

Beck grew up in Albuquerque, which is where she first started running.  

“My grandparents would always tell me to go (run). If you don’t have anything else to do, go run. It’s mentally and physically good for you,” Beck said.  

Esther’s sister, Allison, was on the Wings national team in 2008. She competed at the USATF Cross Country Championships that year in San Diego, Calif. 

Esther also made the team as a freshman in 2015 when she attended Eldorado High in Albuquerque. 

This year, as a senior, she’s representing Ganado High, a 20-minute bus ride from the valley where she lives with her family.  

“When she came here she had to adjust, big time,” Ganado cross country coach Anna James said. “She mentioned that she was getting used to an all native school. I think there was some culture shock.” 

Joining the cross country team immediately gave Beck something to do and provided the junior with a shared interest among many new faces. 

“It helped me as a new student. It helped me gain more friends,” Beck said. 

Her daily runs have changed too. 

“When I run, I always watch out for snakes and coyotes,” she said. “But since it’s winter, I don’t have to worry about them. In the summers, I always run into all types of snakes.”

The reservation has given Beck a sense of connection, not only with her family and heritage, but with the vastness of the land and open, quiet spaces. 

At home on the reservation Beck has had to adjust her daily habits as well.

“In the city, I kind of got away with a lot of things,” Beck said. “I got to do whatever I wanted and go wherever I wanted. But here, it’s a lot different. Here, there’s a lot more discipline and privileges you need to have in order to do something.” 

As Beck puts it, there’s always something to be done on the reservation. She’s become accustomed to assisting her grandmother with dinner, washing dishes, laundry and vacuuming. She’ll help her grandfather with outdoor chores, such as bringing in firewood and assisting with the horses and other animals.

“(My grandparents) try to teach me to not be lazy,” Beck said. “There’s always little things to be done.” 

She has also been able to attend traditional ceremonies with her grandmother. She explained her role during the ceremonies is to assist the guests of honor, bringing them food or water. 

“It’s a lot of helping out and contributing,” Beck said. “If you help out a lot of people, then if you ever need help, they can do a favor back to you.”

Beck said she’s still learning to speak her native language, Navajo, with her grandparents teaching her new words almost every day.

Although it’s been tough at times, Beck has learned the art of discipline, a trait that’s carried over to running.

“She just has a great attitude,” James said. “She’s willing to learn. She’s coachable, she smiles, she’s happy all the time and she's a very good student." 

Beck started the fall season as the No. 6 runner for Ganado, adjusting to the different terrain. James said she steadily improved as the season went on, dropping nearly four minutes off her time.  

“I think it was hard for her at first,” James said. “She progressed and became one of our strongest runners. I think she’s finally getting serious about her running.” 

She finished the season with an 11th-place finish at the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division III state championships in Phoenix.

Beck said her goal at USATF nationals is to remain positive throughout the 6-kilometer race, a longer distance than any competition she had during the fall.

“I feel stronger. I’ve been training a lot,” she said. “I don’t have a time goal, I’m just trying to stay in a place, keep my position and leave it on the course and wish for the best.”

James said by next fall there is no reason why Beck can’t become a state cross country champion. It’s a big goal, but one that is backed by her Navajo culture.

“We believe if we work hard for it, there will always be a good outcome to it,” Beck said.