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 for 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 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!" He then 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 refused to
translate the elder's message to the moon. So, an
official government translator was summoned.
After he finally stopped laughing, the translator
relayed the message:
"WATCH OUT FOR THESE GUYS. THEY HAVE COME TO STEAL
YOUR LAND."
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 for 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 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!" He then 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 refused to
translate the elder's message to the moon. So, an
official government translator was summoned.
After he finally stopped laughing, the translator
relayed the message:
"WATCH OUT FOR THESE GUYS. THEY HAVE COME TO STEAL
YOUR LAND."
