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"Operation Footprint"
One of the most innovative efforts ANA has been involved with in the Southwest is "Operation Footprint." ANA was the sponsoring agency which brought together the Readiness Training Program in which military reservists, National Guard members and the Air Force Academy, built homes to provide housing for the reservation and train Native Americans in the construction field. Four housing units built at the Air Force Academy and secured by ANA were assembled and installed on the Navajo reservation in 1998 by the military reserve. These were blessed by a Medicine Man and dedicated in the presence of two US Senators, one US Congressman, and selected military leaders. The significant aspect of these homes is that the poorest of the poor, who never expected to have a house, received them. ANA along with the Southwest Indian Foundation (SWIF) and the Navajo Nation’s Housing Authority were instrumental in achieving what was believed to be virtually impossible, to have the Navajo Nation agree in advance to sponsor building materials and building lots. SWIF continues to coordinate the effort and supplies a warehouse rented for $1 a year from the Navajo Nation to build housing year round. A vehicle, specially designed and built by SWIF, moves the houses to the reservation sites. This project currently builds about 20 houses a year. From 2000 to 2011, ANA was the sponsoring agency for SWIF, which helped them accomplish the construction of hundreds of homes for the Navajo reservation. The goal of establishing a housing program in Gallup where Navajos are taught building trades has been achieved. |
Civil Air Patrol Special Projects
ANA engaged in a unique, cooperative program with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) each summer from 1995 to 2006. Started by Scott Zeller and Dan Pompei, teenage cadets from Pennsylvania were flown by the United States Air Force (at no cost to ANA) to New Mexico or Arizona to help with service projects on the Zuni, Hopi and Navajo Reservations. ANA and CAP senior volunteers were leaders and chaperones. The program was concerned with improving the infrastructure and living conditions of Native Americans on the reservations while educating our youth about other cultures and the benefits of helping others. Homes were renovated, handicapped ramps were constructed, buildings were painted, roofs were redone, bake ovens were refurbished, and public areas were cleaned up. Hundreds of young people and adults were part of this experience.
ANA engaged in a unique, cooperative program with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) each summer from 1995 to 2006. Started by Scott Zeller and Dan Pompei, teenage cadets from Pennsylvania were flown by the United States Air Force (at no cost to ANA) to New Mexico or Arizona to help with service projects on the Zuni, Hopi and Navajo Reservations. ANA and CAP senior volunteers were leaders and chaperones. The program was concerned with improving the infrastructure and living conditions of Native Americans on the reservations while educating our youth about other cultures and the benefits of helping others. Homes were renovated, handicapped ramps were constructed, buildings were painted, roofs were redone, bake ovens were refurbished, and public areas were cleaned up. Hundreds of young people and adults were part of this experience.
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