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Gilbert John
Greetings, all out there, here is a little bit about myself. My name is Gilbert John, and I am a Native American male. My clans are the Mexican Clan born for Middle People Clan. I ...view moreGreetings, all out there, here is a little bit about myself. My name is Gilbert John, and I am a Native American male. My clans are the Mexican Clan born for Middle People Clan. I was born in Fort Defiance, Arizona. During my childhood years I was raised in Twin Lakes, New Mexico. I am very involved in the Navajo culture where clan and structure are important to me in my life. I am close with my family and I'm an advocate for individuals with disabilities.Here is some of my educational background. Between the ages of 5 to 6 years old I attended Twin Lakes Day school. From the ages of 6 to 15 years old, I attended Chuska Boarding school. After finishing 8th grade at Chuska, I attended Tohatchi High School for my freshman and sophomore years. Then I attended Carrie Tingley Hospital's rehab school for my Junior and Senior years. After all the education I got from Carrie Tingley I came back to Tohatchi High School in 1977 to graduate with the classmates I started with during my freshman year. I attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruses, NM on full scholarship for two semesters, and then transfered to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in 1988.During my childhood I lived with my grandparents along with my mother and siblings. Those were the wonderful days of my life. I would help my grandma with her sheep and my grandpa with his cattle. This is where I learned how to handle animals. My brothers and I did calf roping and steer wrestling. My uncle, Bobby Holyen Sr. from Tohatchi, NM, was a top Indian Champion calf roper and a steer wrestler. He showed us how he was taught by my grandpa. During my last year in Chuska Boarding School I joined the All Indian Rodeo Cowboy Association. During the rodeos, my brothers and I did timed events such as calf roping and team roping. We traveled all over Four Corners and the Northern States. We won some and lost some, but when we did win it was a great feeling. It made us feel like going for more wins.My father taught me how to work with silver when I was around 10 years of age. A few years later my father asked my brothers and me if we wanted to start our own Silversmith business from home. We did two years of the family business. My dad asked me to be the boss, because I was always at work on time and always the last to leave.Tragedy struck the family in 1975 when I was involved in a horrible car accident. I became a Quadriplegic. I was paralyzed from the chest on down with no feeling. After I recovered from my severe injuries, I had to learn how to use a motorized electric wheelchair. This was the only means of moving myself around independently. I also had to learn how to use assistive technology devices to help me with my daily living. What made me decide to write a book about myself was the life struggle of being a disabled Native individual. I'm a man of Honesty and Integrity. I am easy-going and I am up to answering any questions that you may have about me. Thank you. Have a great day.view less
Books by Gilbert John
Unbroken Spirit: My Life before and after Quadriplegia, 2nd Edition, Revised and Expanded