Fred Begay

Intro

Fred Begay, also known as Fred Young or Clever Fox, was a nuclear physicist who believed there were similarities between Navajo culture and conventional science. His work revolved around alternative forms of clean energy.

Early Life

Fred was born on the Ute Mountain Reservation in Colorado. His parents were Navajo and Ute healers and spiritual leaders who taught Fred their ceremonies, religious beliefs, and languages. Fred would not learn English until age 10 when he was taken from the reservation to attend a government-run boarding school. Speaking in Navajo or Ute was discouraged, and any form of traditional prayers resulted in punishment. The school forced Fred to be a farmer and released him when he turned 18.

University of New Mexico

Fred enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and fought in the Korean War. He served for five years as part of an air-rescue squadron. After returning from the service with funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fred enrolled in classes at the University of New Mexico with the requirement that he would attend high school classes in the evenings.

School Life

English classes were a struggle for Fred, but he learned German with ease, which is similar in structure to Navajo. He also quickly picked up science and math concepts. Fred believed there was an overlap between what his parents had taught him and what he learned in physics. His professors insisted that Fred change his major to physics, achieving his undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.

Personal Life

During the war, Fred married Helen Smith. When he returned home, Fred returned to his mother's 30-acre farm to grow corn and raise children. Helen and Fred Begay had seven children: Fred Jr, Joyce, William, Janet, Terry, Christina, and Carolyn.

Science Career

Fred joined the physics research staff of Los Alamos National Laboratory. His work revolved around alternative uses for laser, electron, and ion beams to create clean unlimited energy sources. He also returned to the University of New Mexico as a member of a NASA-funded research team that studied the origins of gamma rays and solar neutrons.

Religion & Science

Over a ten-year duration, Fred spent hundreds of hours investigating the relationship between traditional Navajo thought and modern science. In Navajo culture, no separate words referring to religion and science exist. There is only the concept called "the sacred depths of nature," which encompasses Navajo beliefs about the natural world. For example, Fred found Navajo beliefs similar to relativity, space-time physics, and quantum mechanics.