Wirelesshogan

Mark Charles is a speaker, writer, and consultant from Fort Defiance, AZ, located on the Navajo Reservation. The son of an American woman (of Dutch heritage) and a Navajo man, Mark seeks to understand the complexities of American history regarding race, culture, and faith in order to help forge a path of healing and reconciliation for the nation.

He partners with numerous organizations to assist them in respectfully approaching, including, and working with Native communities.

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship:
Resource Development Specialist for Indigenous Worship

Mark works with numerous tribes and indigenous communities in the United States and around the world on how best to hold onto indigenous cultures, languages, world views and educational models while living in highly Western and assimilated environments. (www.worship.calvin.edu/
charles)

Brigham Young University (BYU):
Primary Investigator

Studying the Navajo perception of time and the affect it has on student’s academic success while attending colleges and universities located off the reservation.

Christian Reformed World Missions: Project Coordinator

Developed and coordinates the Global Discipleship Network project which brings together church leaders from the CRC in North America and from international partners into a learning circle for mutual discipleship. (http://www.crcna.org/pages/crwm_global_discipleship.
cfm)

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA): Board member

Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA): Board of Trustees Member

Christian Indian Center (Denver, CO)

Served as pastor for 2 years and continues to preach in churches around the Navajo reservation and throughout the country.

Political/Community Development

Engages communities and the nation on political issues in order to strengthen a national political voice for Native America, e.g. immigration reform and creating a 51st virtual Native American state. (www.51vNAs.org)

Blogging/Writing

Many of Mark’s published articles can also be found on his blog, “Reflections from the Hogan” (www.wirelesshogan.blogspot.
com)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA):
B.A. History

Go Bruins!

What is Wirelesshogan?

A hogan is the traditional Navajo home.  While it symbolizes the historical and cultural dwellings of my people, it also reflects the daily life for many Navajos today. While the Navajo Nation is the largest US reservation and is home to about 180,000 Navajos, it is one of the least developed areas of the United States.  Lack of running water, electricity, and many common amenities is typical for many Navajo homes today. 

My family and I lived in the hogan pictured above in a remote area of the reservation for 3 years in order to gain an understanding of the traditional Navajo life. Since I supported my family through computer consulting, I managed to do so through my laptop, using my cell phone for internet connection, all on battery power.

It is out of this perspective that the term Wirelesshogan grew. Since hogans typically are "wireless," i.e. without electricity, Wirelesshogan reminds us of the current physical state that many Navajos live in. It also refers to the crossroads of traditional Navajo lifestyle in the midst of modern America.