Programmed post
This is an automatic scheduled summer post. Comments may remain in moderation.
Although you may believe that this is an exceptional situation (it is only exceptional because of the inordinate number of years without a pay rise), I can assure you that it is a relatively common occurrence.
The media tends to forget to refresh cartoonists' salaries.
In this post you can read a letter that El Perich sent in 1993 to a media outlet reminding them that he had been charging the same amount for 14 years. Although it seems to be a thing of the past, it is still happening today.
Official version VS reality
On 10 June 2024, Krista Allen, editor of the Navajo Times, announced in a note that cartoonist Jack Ahasteen was leaving the paper.
What the Navajo Times did not say in this text were the reasons for his departure. The newspaper refused to meet the cartoonist's request to negotiate a pay rise. His salary had not been reviewed since the 1970s. The cartoonist had been earning the same salary for more than 50 years without his salary being adjusted for inflation.
For all practical purposes, the newspaper opted for the most dastardly and hypocritical way of getting rid of the cartoonist by disguising his dismissal with expressions such as "the cartoonist is separating" or "he is leaving". They even claim that he will be missed.
Ahasteen leaves Navajo Times
TSรBIGHรHOODZรNร* TSรBIGHรHOODZรNร*
*Tsรฉghรกhoodzรกnรญ is the native language name for the Navajo government camp at Window Rock and the Navajo Nation's seat of government.
Jack Ahasteen's cartoons will no longer be published in the Navajo Times.
Longtime Times editorial cartoonist Jack Ahasteen is parting ways with Navajo Times Publishing Co. Inc, a sudden change at the nation's largest Native American newspaper.
Ahasteen, a native of Teesto, Arizona, has been a creative force for the Navajo Times for 52 years. His latest piece, "Treaty Day", appeared in the 30 May edition of the Navajo Times.
Ahasteen has drawn thousands of editorial cartoons and illustrations on subjects large and small with local targets alongside Times reporters and photographers. He has always told Navajo Times readers, "I hope you enjoy all my cartoons.
Ahasteen is tรณdรญch'รญi'nii and was born tรกchii'nii. His maternal grandfather is Tรกbฤ ฤ hรก, and his paternal grandfather is Tsรฉลjรญkinรญ.(See Navajo clan guide).
"We, the Navajo Times, extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jack for his invaluable contributions," said Krista Allen, editor of the Navajo Times. "We will miss you, your illustrations and your presence in the office. Thank you for sharing your wonderful gift and institutional knowledge, for telling stories, and for allowing the Navajo Times to publish your work. Ahxรฉhee' ntsaago".
The story of Ahasteen's departure began to take shape six days earlier, on 4 June, when the author wrote a short note on Facebook accompanied by a long statement in an image expanding on the details.
"Jack Ahasteen is renegotiating his contract with the Navajo Times. Effective June 4, 2024, Jack will suspend all Navajo Times illustrations until an agreement is reached. I would like to share this letter with my supporters and friends. We have formally informed the Navajo Times that during this time the Navajo Times is prohibited from republishing previous cartoons/illustrations of my work. Thank you very much.
"My salary has not been adjusted since the 1970s".
Translation of the image release:
Hello friends,
I've met with the editor of the Navajo Times to negotiate a raise. I'm very used to doing a cartoon every week. It's hard not to submit a cartoon until Navajo Times pays me.
I started in early 1972-74 doing illustrations from time to time. Sometime between 1981 and 1983, the late Bill Donovan asked me to send him an illustration. The next week he came to me and asked me where my cartoon was. I've been doing weekly cartoons ever since.
There was only one period of time when I didn't file anything. That was in 1996, when I lost my only son, who was 14 years old. The Navajo Times has used my cartoons as repeats when I couldn't submit them. My family has been angry with me because we are going on holiday and I am still working on my cartoon.
I think the time has come to negotiate an increase in my salary to keep up with the increase in inflation and to be paid what my work is worth. My salary has not been adjusted since the 1970s. I started when I was young and now I am an old man. I am getting older and older. I am a pensioner. I feel traumatised because I feel that nobody listens to my requests or helps me.
I recently became an LLC(Limited Liability Company) so I am now Ahasteen Graphics LLC. I now have a Board of Directors who advocate on my behalf to increase my salary. I have even been asked by some political leaders to draw an illustration or a cartoon to influence public opinion and give them a favourable image. But I have always limited myself to drawing what I think is the right image and what needs to be said to the people.
I started my small business 30 years ago and did posters, t-shirts, banners, oil paintings, and even years before that I did illustrations for books such as the hardcover book series "Through White Men's Eyes: A Contribution To Navajo History". I am proud that my work has been used in protests and workshops to bring attention to the public by feeding the minds of young college students and even ancient tradition holders and knowledge keepers.
When my mother, Mary Ahasteen, went to Washington DC in the 1970s during the protests over the relocation laws being implemented, she introduced me to the Big Mountain protesters. James Zion referred to a cartoon of mine and how it changed his mind to represent a Coalmine Mesa activist group. I am amazed and proud of how my work has influenced people. It's important to me because I put my whole life into my illustrations, into my art.
We, my board and I, have asked the Navajo Times not to publish, or republish, my cartoons until an agreement is reached in this negotiation.
I just wanted to say in my own words, to my dedicated followers who buy the cartoons, why you won't see my cartoons in the next issue(s) of the Navajo Times newspaper. Thank you for sticking with me for these 52 years. However, I will continue to post illustrations on my social media platforms, so continue to follow me.
On 12 June, two days after the paper announced his departure, Ahasteen published another note with an update on the outcome of the negotiations and his final thoughts.
Good evening,
I offer an update to my loyal fans, friends and family.
Navajo Times Enterprise has rejected my proposal to increase my remuneration.
It is a shame for the Dine people who have given themselves to the raw truths told through my work through the Navajo Times.
The risk I had relentlessly exercised was to share and bring attention to issues that are important for us as Dine people to know and understand.My purpose and cause no longer aligns with the Navajo Times, as they have made the ultimate decision to reflect that. Navajo Times' decision to end our connection may be disheartening to some, however Ahasteen Graphics LLC will continue to offer weekly illustrations through my social media outlets, as I will continue to bring attention to the social injustices that affect people.
I have been blessed with a unique artistic ability along with my rare talent for communicating and stirring emotions in the face of unjust actions. I enjoy generating excitement for social change through my illustrations. I firmly believe that my illustrations and the messages they convey are more meaningful to most when told by someone so close to the issues.
When I reflect on my decades with the Navajo Times, how and why I started drawing illustrations, what I have always done has been to shed light on the injustice of the systems that have been created to keep our people depressed and powerless. In the scope of my art there has always been a way to honour many, to raise awareness or to advocate for the cause, while including humour.
My intention has been to encourage the amplification of our voices by coming together collectively and creating power within our unity. Coming from a lineage of resilient people, we are in a time when our words, thoughts and actions have power.
I want to thank you for your dedication in reading and connecting with my illustrations in the newspaper. However, this is not the end of my legacy, as I am an entrepreneur who will continue in this important line of work. Please support Ahasteen Graphics LLC as I am working to create products and more illustrations to support our purpose.
Ahรฉhee'
Jack Ahasteen
The Navajo Times has an archive of 275 Ahasteen cartoons dating back to 2019. (The archive also includes some vignettes by Roger Willie, who is the new editorial cartoonist for The Navajo Times). Source: The Daily Cartoonist.
Treaty Day. Last cartoon by Jack Ahasteen published in The Navajo Times. 30 May 2024.
