BB Beadwork by Yazzgrl Art

Original beadwork and design by Venaya Yazzie
Photo credit Yazzgrl Art 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Can you see the blue bird?

Y a z z g r l A r t

Y a z z g r l  A r t

Venaya Yazzie

Navajo/Hopi

New Mexico USA

"She Burns Turquoise for Fire"

Original Art by Venaya Yazzie @ Yazzgrl Art

Photo credit Venaya Yazzie 2015

ALL RIGHT RESERVED

I graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico where I studied in the Two-Dimensional Arts program. My study was in Photography while at the art school. During this time I studied under the guidance of Indigenous photographers including: Larry McNeil and Delilah Montoya. In my last semester I began painting with friends who were Painters.

When I graduated from IAIA I began painting. Its been over 20 years since my time at IAIA and now I work at promoting and selling my art in the American Southwest as a practicing Indigenous woman painter.

This image exhibits my newest work in my series titled, 1st World Chatter. Please visit and share my site with those in your circle. My website:

Yazzgrl Art by Venaya Yazzie

My grandmother(s) are my muse(s)

Original Art by Venaya Yazzie
Mixed media 10" x 10"
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

As a visual artist I have always been inspired by the historical photographs of my family. I have thus incorporated such images into my own paintings such as as the one pictured here. This photograph of my painting is from a series I did concerning 'origin' and the relation of the desert woman as matriarch of the land. The image so the women here is a my great-grandmother Louise Begay Werito.

Werito Navajo woman 'adorned'

Werito family photograph of Annabelle.
Photo courtesy of Jane Yazzie Family photos.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This is a photograph of my maternal grandmother's older sister Annabelle who was born in 1928 in New Mexico.

This is a part of a larger collection of my family's Werito family photographs of their lives on the eastern Navajo nation in northwestern New Mexico. This image depicts her in her finest Navajo cultural adornments via her silver and turquoise jewelry items. As you can see she is wearing a velveteen shirt, which has a collar adorned with silver buttons.

In conversations with my grandmother I found that her father, my great-grandfather Jim regularly would commission a local Navajo silversmith to make such silver buttons for his wife and daughters.

New Mexico Navajo woman taking photograph, 1945

Navajo woman taking photograph, New Mexico 1945
Date Original: 1945, Creator: New Mexico Tourism Bureau, Collection: New Mexico Magazine Collection, Album 40
                                      Publisher: Palace of the Governors Photo Archive, Negative Number HP.2007.20.707

This photograph has become one my newest favorites of historical photographs available to the public to view.

When I look at this image I think of my own K'e', my family and especially my maternal grandmother who at a young age was gifted a Brownie-style camera in the late 1930s. I imagine that she look similar to this beautiful Navajo woman, 'adorned' in her wonderful Navajo -style clothing and cultural jewelry items.

Therefore, my family has similar photos of the Wertio-Yazzie, Manyhogans, Bitterwater clans, most of which were captured by my grandmother Jane. It is through her 'eye' that these photographs documented the history of Navajos in northwestern New Mexico on the eastern region of the Navajo reservation.

In this photograph though, we have a woman wearing the treasured Navajo women's veleveen collared-blouse adorned with small silver buttons. Such clothing was created and sewn by Navajo women using old iron Singer sewing machines.

Historical photograph of a Hopi girl 'adorned'

Historical photograph of a Hopi girl circa 1902, Arizona, USA
Photo source: Internet

This historic photograph is quality.

I am so in love with her Indigenous adornment' in this image for it shows the traditional Hopi female hairstyle of a young unmarried girl, her clothing and her jewelry.

The earring adornments she wears are traditionally of Hopi origin, they are called Mosaic (style) earrings and are made with shell varieties and a mix of turquoise pieces. She also wears a mix of bead strands and a beautiful silver bead and naja necklace.

What a beautiful photo of a desert ancestor!

BlueBird Handbags by Venaya VJ Yazzie Dine'/Hopi

BlueBird Handbag made by Venaya VJ Yazzie 2015

I have been designing and creating these BlueBird Handbags for several years now. I was inspired to make them from my family and especially by my maternal grandmother who always 'resourced' these flour bags for other uses. Growing up with my great grandmother, maternal grandmother and various aunties and cousin-sister I seen how they all had perpetuated the idea of recycling, reusing, re-utilizing items for other purposes.

So I began to use a mix of material that were 'recycled' from other materials in making my handbags. I use the BlueBird flour bag as the base of my bags then add other items such as remnant material, belt straps, recycled zippers and on and on with re-purposed items.

BlueBird Handbags by Venaya Yazzie.Dine'/Hopi

BlueBird Handbag made by Venaya Yazzie 2015

Sister of Navajo leader Mariano

Navajo woman
Historical photograph courtesy of  I nternet

Beautiful matriarch photographed in a portrait studio setting.

Dine' males - Navajo Male Adornment

Dine' males - Navajo Male Adornment
Historical photography circa 1900s
Photo courtesy Internet

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have done research on the perpetuation of Navajo male Indigenous adornment and have found that this practice is being lost in this era.

I adore this photograph for several reasons, but above all I like that it depicts three generation of Navajo males. We can see that there is an elder man, and a middle-aged man and also a young boy presented in their finest southwestern Navajo male adornment.

At this era Navajo were utilizing velveteen materials in their garments and usually it was their shirts that were fashioned with the quality velveteen. Here we see that they are wearing such shirts, including pants that are made of cotton material. Historically the Navajo would reuse materials they sourced from perhaps flour bags, or other items used in a utilitarian fashion.

They are all adorned with head adornments, but it is the elder man who wears the traditional Navajo male head adornment via his war bonnet hat. Usually they were made from buckskin and adorned with turkey feathers.

As we can see their silver work adornments are exquisite.

Venaya's Art - Yazzgrl Art

Please visit my Art website at

yazzgrlsart.weebly.com

Art by Venaya Yazzie
Yazzgrl Art 2015

and also

https://squareup.com/market/venaya-yazzie

B L E S S I N G S

My Dine' Matriarchs

My Dine' Matriarchs. Navajo grandmothers of mine.
Photo credit Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

As I have mentioned before, I was raised by my maternal grandmother (pictured on the left). She and my maternal grandfather raised me up in their home as their child. I am forever grateful to them. Now I care for my grandmother who just turned 86 years. Her she stands with her sister.

My experience growing up was so very rich, for I was always among the Navajo elders of the community of Tota' and of Huerfano, NM on the eastern Navajo reservation. I believe my adoration of the Navajo way of 'ha'dit'e' is why I research it, Indigenous Adornment is my passion.

Her my matriarchs are pictured with with their beauty-ful Navajo style jewelry. For me the are the 'Beautyway' personified.

Ed Curtis photo of a Hopi girl

Hopi girl by Edward Curtis
Photo via Internet

There are many who do not agree with the tactics of Edward Curtis. But, as a modern Indigenous person of the American Southwest, I must say I am grateful for his work.

If he did not take the time to photograph the desert ancestors then I would never be able to see this kind of beauty. I love this image for many reasons, but above all I love that we get to see her in her finest Indigenous Adornment.

Artist Statement – Venaya Yazzie Woman of Water: Baa

"Woman of Water: Ba'" 
Original Photography by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Artist Statement – Venaya Yazzie

Woman of Water: Baa

In Diné (Navajo) epistemology the children are traditionally taught that when we are first conceived in the organic world of our desert matriarchs, we are water. In the trade of stories of contemporary Diné we understand how we grew in the cirlce of the womb and were molded into human form, we conceive that we are water. When we leave our matriarchs womb we are water. When we take our first breath we are water. As modern desert dwellers, as Diné we express, ‘tó éí iíná.’ Water is life.

On August 4, 2015 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “accidently” released heavy-metal laden contaminated water from the abandoned Gold King Mine into the flow of the Animas River in southwestern Colorado. The warning to the people and communities down river was not given until the next day.  In southwestern Colorado, later to the state of New Mexico a formal acknowledgement of the river contamination was finally admitted four days later by the EPA when the federal entity began a series of public meetings throughout the communities affected.

As an Indigenous citizen of the area and a member of the eastern Navajo Nation in New Mexico I watched in distress because the Animas River and San Juan rivers play an extremely pivotal role in contemporary Diné people’s lives. At the two rivers, the Diné have 'converged' for prayer, ceremony and celebration for time immemorial - the waters of these two rivers is embedded in the DNA code of the Indigenous people of this community. I am a desert ancestor of the waters that flow through a beautiful desert valley on the northwestern area of the Diné lands, or as you may now it, the Navajo Nation. It was instilled in me that my Indigenous matrilineal clans are derived from the sacred element of water. I was raised in the San Juan Valley in northwestern New Mexico, my family history includes story about the Animas and San Juan rivers that have come to be named by those who colonized the area as such, but many histories before they arrived to the area, the river community was called Tó by the Diné. The river was named a 'sacred' place or site and to this day the river is a place of spiritual power, but it is only known to those who understand and recognize it for the true purpose of it. Respect for desert water is the Beautyway.

...

"Woman of Water: Ba'" Original Photography by Venaya Yazzie

"Woman of Water: Ba'"
Original Photography by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

"Woman of Water: Ba'" 
Original Photography by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

"Woman of Water: Ba'" 
Original Photography by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

EarART Earrings by Venaya

EarART earrings by Venaya Yazzie

Navajo art: Squash Blossom

Navajo Squash Blossom necklace, turquoise and silver antique
Photo credit of Victorbille, Instagram

Hands of a Navajo Matriarch

Navajo matriarch hands
Photo credit Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

I acknowledge the blessing I received on a daily basis as I am able to be present with my maternal grandmother. My 'masani' is my life. The things of she does in a day are so precious and sacred. Above all I am inspired by her act of constant 'adornment.' She unconsciously perpetuates the ritual of southwestern tribal 'Indigenous Adornment.' My grandmother is my muse, and therefore inspires all forms of my creative process'. Her story is my story, her "heart is my heart."

Bless.

Navajo women weavers

Navajo elders, matriarch weavers, Navajo Nation, USA
Photo credit Altea John via Cie CieEstsitty, Navajo Nation FB

I absolutely adore this photograph.

As a frequent visitor of the social networks, I found this amazing photograph which depicts Navajo women elder amidst the preparation of sheep wool. This tribal work is priceless and the process and ritual of spinning wool into yarn concerns many years of oral history and matriarchal knowledge.

What I love too about this image is the women who are dressed in their Navajo adornment, or 'Indigenous Adornment.' The woman on the left wears her fine velvet shirt, and is 'adorned' in her finest Navajo silverwork and turquoise. She and the other beautiful Navajo matriarchs wear their tribal head gear via their scarves. Most elder Navajo women perpetuate the use of scarves to cover their hair buns; the woman in the blue velvet wears her 'traditional' cultural item, a floral scarf.

I am not sure when the Navajo women first adopted the Indigenous Russian-inspired floral scarf, but it has become a treasured item for the southwestern desert women.

Blessings.

Animas River 'adorned' in fall

Animas River located in northwestern New Mexico in the San Juan Valley in fall color change
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I have returned back to the Animas River.

In August the U.S. Environment Protection Agency "accidently" released old gold mine waste pollutants into to the river upstream in Colorado. Many people were adversely affected by this disaster, especially the farmers who use the waters from the Animas for their crops and farm, including their livestock. This river contamination hit the Navajo Nation particularly hard, as many of the Navajo are sustenance farmers and use the water for basic living.

I am not a farmer or a person with livestock, yet this river contamination affected me. As a visual artist I was saddened that the river was forever changed for I visited the river daily as it is near my home. After the pollution of the Animas I kept my distance for fear of inhalation of the river fumes which contained and still contain poisonous heavy metal toxins.

But, as an Indigenous person whose family lineage is tied to the San Juan Valley and to this river, I was in mourning for the 'death' of this living entity. The two rivers of the area are the Animas River and the San Juan River and both have played an integral part of the cultural lives of the Navajo, Ute and Apache people for hundreds of years. For the Navajo, the river is 'life.' For generations the Navajo have lived in the San Juan Valley and have perpetuated their physical and spiritual lives with the presence of the river waters.

As I mentioned I have returned the river again, but I am still reverent as I trek along the river banks. I offer my prayers for protection and for healing, only our Creator God can remedy this situation. I have faith.

Bless the People.

To' ei' Iina'.

Water is Life.

Rock your mocs

Navajo style moccasins in the autumn leaves.
Photo by Venaya J. Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Across Indin' Country the expression 'Rock your mocs' can be heard by modern Indigenous people on both reservations and urban settings. The act of wearing your tradition, tribal moccasins has become a way of celebrating the identity of many generations of Indigenous people. This image I share with you as a way of making the statement tangible.

People, 'Rock your mocs!' Happy Autumn!

Navajo elder men singing

Navajo elder men singing.
Photo credit: Venaya J. Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This time of year is amazing because of the land's physical change and the People's transition to the coming winter via songs, stories and ceremony.


While spending time at among the People in Shiprock, NM I found the experience  somewhat melancholy,  as I missed the presence of my maternal grandfather among the many Navajo elders at the Navajo Song and Dance arena. My 'papa' passed on from this life two years ago, his name was Alfred Padilla Yazzie, he was of the Waters Flow Together clan and was raised in the area of Chaco Canyon, NM on the eastern region of the Navajo Nation. He was a good Navajo singer and as a young man sang with his brothers and father during in the Navajo Yeibichei ceremonial life.

In the months before he left, my papa told many stories of his life.

Though this photo is not him, the man in the blue shirt reminded my of him, handsome and beautyful.

Blessings.

Navajo children 'adorned'

                     Navajo Song and Dance child participants.
                       Photo credit: Venaya J. Yazzie 2015
                           ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I took this photo during the annual Northern Navajo Nation Fair in Shiprock, NM this past weekend. These two Navajo children were a blessing to watch during my time spent at the Navajo Social Song and Dance event on the Navajo reservation.

They are dressed in full Navajo Indigenous Adornment form their head to their small feet! The little boy was so cute wearing his Navajo style men's headband,and his velvet shirt. He danced most all of the dances that happened that day and dance every time with this Navajo girl pictured here.

Seeing these two dance gives me hope for the cultural future of the Navajo people. When 'adorning' themselves with Navajo attire they most likely are taught the reasons and traditions of what they are wearing and why they are wearing such objects.  They bless the People.

Navajo 'Adornment' during Shiprock Fair 2015

Elder Navajo woman's hands adorned in turquoise.
Photo credit: Venaya J. Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Navajo man's hands adorned in silver andturquoise.

Photo credit: Venaya J. Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Navajo Song and Dance

Navajo Song and Dance in Shiprock, NM
Photo credit: Venaya J. Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This past weekend the northern Navajo community in New Mexico celebrated their harvests and welcomed in the Navajo New Year, Ghaajii. The Navajo YeiBeChei danced too, for presence and for healing and strength.

Among the many events happening during the Northern Navajo Nation Fair in Shiprock, NM was the Navajo Song and Dance. This photo showcases the Dine' or Navajo people dressed in their finest cultural clothing and Navajo silverwork and turquoise jewelry adornments.

The Navajo Song and Dance is a social dance with has been adapted as a women's choice dance from the ceremonial rituals of the Enemyway. The woman chooses her partner to dance with and usually prefers Navajo males who are 'dressed to impress' - so if they want to dance they should dress appropriately. It is also a dance that includes all generations of Navajo people from children to the Navajo elders.

This is my favorite time of the year as many of the Navajo dances and ceremonial life take precedence across the sovereign Dine' Nation in the southwest.

Blessings.

EarART designs: Earrings by Venaya

Venaya's earring designs inspired by her original paintings.
Photo credit Rodney Brown 2015
ALL RIGHT RESERVED


Venaya's EarART earrings

Art and 'Indigenous Adornment'

Original art by Venaya Yazzie, Dine'/Hopi
Photo courtesy of Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

In creating this blog I wanted to showcase the 'beauty' of contemporary and historical Indigenous Adornment of the tribal people of the southwest, specifically the Dine' (Navajo) and Pueblo people.

I grew up with a strong sense of 'adornment' in my life. My maternal great-grandmother and grandmother both believed in 'adorning' themselves and their family with turquoise. When someone in our family was not wearing turquoise my grandmother would question them, and then suggest that they were some. My great-grandmother Louise Werito had a great moral story on the 'adornment' of turquoise jewelry and would use it to teach us a lesson on going without some type of turquoise jewelry item. In the end of the story she said if we don't wear jewelry or 'adorn' our wrists specifically then we were kind of foolish like the jackrabbit out in the sagebrush, sitting silly with his "bare arms."

This type of Dine' oral history has become part of my life. I use such teachings to continue tradition and to educate people on the significance of 'dootlizhi' or turquoise in 21st century life. So as a visual artist I do my best to paint 'Indigenous Adornment' via my paintings, as a way or contribution of the legacy of the 'adorned' desert matriarch.

Yazzgrl Art: Venaya Yazzie

Mixed media art by VenayaYazzie, Dine'/ Hopi artist.
Photo courtesy of Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

When I was a young girl my days were spent 'creating.' I was an adopted child of my maternal grandparents and they spoiled me, so I was able to have any art supplies I asked for. I think my grandmother just knew I was on that path of an artist, so she never questioned why I wanted art supplies and not dolls or toys. My rich and unique childhood shaped who I would become as an adult, but also who and what I wanted to say as an Indigenous women artist.

Today I am so very grateful for my art abilities, for my art tells volumes of my story, but also as a contemporary Indigenous artist. Behind the 2-D imagery and jewelry I create is an even bigger story of my People's Indigenous history which always concerns: trauma, healing, survival, struggle, cultural history, oral history, language...

I am an artist today to help in a humble way to 'bless the People' and inspire the Indigenous youth.

Autumn.

Well, its a marvelous night for a moondance with the stars up above in your eyes a fabulous night to make romance 'neath the cover of October skies and all the leaves on the trees are falling to the sound of the breezes that blow and i'm trying to please to the calling of your heartstrings that play soft and low...

-Van Morrison

Dine' children Song and Dance participantsNava

Dine' children dancers at Window Rock, AZ
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Elder Din'e' couple 'adorned'

Elder Dine'couple dancing at the annual Navajo Nation Fair
Song and Dance in Window Rock, AZ
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This photograph depicts and elder Dine' (Navajo) couple participating in a social dance called Navajo Song and Dance. The event is a women's choice dance and has been adapted to be public from the Navajo ceremonial dances.

Dine' (Navajo) women dancers

Dine' (Navajo) women dancers and singers at the annual Navajo Nation Fair
in Window Rock, AZ
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I was fortunate to again visit the annual Navajo Nation Fair
in Window Rock, AZ this past weekend. I spend most of my day at the Navajo Song and Dance arena enjoying the 'beauty' of my Dine' people. I adore this cultural social dance because it truly brings many generations together. It is a time when you will seen elders hand in hand with children dancing around the arena all dressed in beautyful Dine' cultural regalia.

Its about 'respect' and 'respecting' Indigenous cultural Adornment

Elder Pueblo matriarch 'adorned' in southwest
jewelry and tribal regalia.
Photo credit: Internet

Non-Indigenous women wearing traditional/cultural
jewelry.
Photo credit: Internet

When I look at these two images I see both similarities and differences in them. They are both wearing southwestern Indigenous cultural jewelry, they are both women but, what stands out for me is the way in which each woman is wearing, or 'respecting' the cultural items they are 'adorned' in.

Its about 'respect' and 'respecting' Indigenous cultural adornment, yet I do not see this happening in the black and white photograph. Just by looking at the photograph I assume she is the typical American pop culture model and is posing in a way that seems unrealistic. She has bare arms and is wearing too much jewelry on her person. Many things stand out besides what I just mentioned, and what I see is a woman disrespecting southwestern Indigenous cultural jewelry items.

So many times American pop culture or the so called fashion cultural takes what the want from Indigenous culture and uses items to their own benefit, and most often times does this with no regard for respect or honoring purposes. I see how the fashion industry has come to misappropriate cultural items such as tribal jewelry in the wrong ways, and so the outcome is very negative. Such actions can create disharmony and perpetuate stereotypes of the Indigenous people as a whole, in many ways it can tend to generalize a whole population of very unique and diverse tribal people.

The first photo image of the elder Pueblo woman shows her also wearing a 'plethora' of cultural jewelry items. When I view the photo I think that such items might be her 'heirloom' jewelry pieces, and perhaps she is showcasing her life history and oral history story of each item. I see she is wearing her tribal clothing regalia which is Pueblo-style women's clothing. She is seated in a normal, realistic sitting position. When I look at that photograph I see how she 'honor's her cultural jewelry.

For, when some Indigenous jewelry makers create such items they do so with songs, blessings and prayers. Indigenous jewelry is not made only to be asthetically pleasing, but instead made to bring about blessings for the Indigenous person. Some jewelry makers use only choice turquoise and other natural minerals for the purpose of perpetuation of 'harmony' or the blessings.

Indigenous cultural jewelry should be admired, but it should not be made to become a "fad" in the chaos of the American or even European fashion agendas.

Blessings

ImagoMundi Publication

Me posing with the new book published with ImagoMundi, Italy.

Navajo artist Lyle Yazzie.@ Indigenous Fine Arts Market, Santa Fe, NM

Photo moment with my friend and Navajo artist Lyle Yazzie.

Indigenous Navajo Women's 'Adornment' at Indigenous Fine Arts Market, Santa Fe, NM

The new Miss Gallup Ceremonial Queen 2015-16
Miss Kahlaya Rose McKinney

This past week and into the weekend I was an artist participant in the 2nd annual Indigenous Fine Arts Market in Santa Fe, NM.  My dear friend who is the new Miss Gallup Ceremonial Queen 2015-16 Miss Kahlaya Rose McKinney visited my booth. She is a remarkable person and will do great things in her youth. She blessed the People she visits. 

I am proud of her as she always displays her Indigenous Navajo Women's 'Adornment' wherever she goes.

Traditional Regalia Fashion Show in Santa Fe, NM

Pueblo girl in tribal 'adornment.'
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RERSERVED 2015

Male tribal Pueblo 'adornment.'
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RERSERVED 2015

Apache man 'adorned' in tribal regalia.
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RERSERVED 2015

Sacred river to the Desert People

Animas River, sacred river to the Indigenous of the Four Corners.
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

We don't know what the future holds. As Indigenous peoples of the desert and mountain areas of the Four Corners community: the Navajo, Ute, Apache and Pueblo all have a strong connection, the water. The Animas River has always played a major role in the cultural lives of the above mentioned tribal people. 'Water is Life,' as the Navajo express. If we have no water, we cannot nourish our physical bodies and too, if there is no water we cannot nourish our spiritual being.

As a Navajo person dwelling in the community of the San Juan Valley I grew up with water as a constant in my life. The two rivers that flow through Farmington, New Mexico are the 'life blood' of the those that live there. It is true that all people need water, so please do not take offense when I say that water is about tribal ways. Water to the Indigenous desert person is about ritual and ceremony. Water is the life of the People and the waters of the Animas have deeply rooted cultural significance in our world.

The devastating effects of tainted toxic river water hurt many people in the communities of Durango, Aztec, Farmington, Upper Fruitland, Kirtland, Shiprock and beyond across the Utah areas of the San Juan River. And people whose business is about utilizing the Animas RIver took a deep loss in revenue as the contaminated waters were closed for about a week. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was the government entity who 'accidently' released age-old gold mine tailings via toxic heavy metal-laden water into the Animas River. And now, our river is toxic.

But, for the Navajo the waters from the San Juan River, a tributary of the Animas River is their life. The Navajo have been very blessed to be farmers and raise livestock in the San Juan Valley, many continue running generation-old family farms. And, many of these Navajo families perpetuate a rich spiritual tradition of ceremony. So, the toll the contamination of the river reached deeper that tangibly not having access clean water for the crops or the livestock, this dilemma have deeply affected the spiritual ways of being for many Navajo individuals.

You see, water truly is life. When you talk about Navajo beliefs and epistemology water is the beginning, it is everything. Without water the ritual, the ceremony is incomplete, therefore 'unbalanced' and 'hozho' cannot be perpetuated and the People (Navajo) are incomplete.

I have heard many in the community say, "The Navajo need to stop crying about the water..." and I want to scold them for saying such a thing. Though we Navajo have assimlated to American culture in our dress, work, language, we still hold on the most sacred beliefs of our culture. Acknowledgement of water is one of these steadfast beliefs, we often express "To' ei 'iina'" which loosely translates to "Water is Life." And, because of this mantra we as Dine' (Navajo) have balance in our lives.

Blessings, Venaya.

.Nature.Femme. Conceptual clothing designs

.Nature.Femme. Conceptual clothing designs
produced by Venaya Yazzie (Dine'/Hopi)
Model, C. Birdhead is pictured in the Aspen Forest.
Photo credit Venaya Yazzie 2015
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I have been making plans and thus working at a slow pace in producing my own line of conceptual Art clothing. The project was inspired by my desert home in northwestern New Mexico on the Eastern Navajo Reservation. 

.Nature.Femme. is about Navajo ancestral memory and the need to recall and re-tell Navajo cultural landscapes that have been perpetuated via Navajo oral tradition.

Growing up in around the communities on the eastern Navajo reservation near Huerfano, NM I have always been fascinated with concepts of 'Indigenous Adornment.' My maternal grandmothers' and aunts were always a favorite sight as they were usually 'adorned' head to toe in post-Long Walk Navajo garb.

As a visual artist and poet, I have found much inspiration from my memories of my childhood full of Navajo matriarchs. I know this new series of conceptual clothing with be made to tell their histories, it is bahane'.

.in beauty.

TEDxPhoenix 2010 Jolyana Bitsui - What it means to be a Navajo woman

This is a great 20 minutes of TED talk you can spend today.
Please follow this link and you'll be sure to be inspired!


Jolyana Bitsui - What it means to be a Navajo woman

Powwow 'adornment.'

Powwow 'adornment.'
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

I took a 'selfie' while participating in the powwow grand entry this past weekend in Dulce, New Mexico on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation.

This annual community celebration is a favorite on my list of summer powwows, and it did not disappoint. I was able to wear my favorite Jingle Dress and beadwork.

Dine' Women's Cultural Adornment

Dine' Women's Cultural Adornment at Dulce, NM Powwow
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

This past weekend I was able to attend and dance at the annual Jicarilla Days Celebration Powwow in Dulce, New Mexico.

As a dancer participant and as an observer I had a great opportunity to take some photographs and to talk with spectators. As I danced in the Inter-tribal dances, I befriended a Dine' (Navajo) woman who was dressed head to toe in her cultural adornment regalia. Her attire was striking and she stood out as she was the only Dine' wearing her traditional clothing among the pan-Indian dress of the powwow dancers.

I befriended her and learned she was a mother for Sweetwater, NM community. I asked her about her clothing and expressed it was good to she her dressed up in the Navajo way, or as I said, "Nizhoni'go ha'di'tee." In the Navajo way this expression concerns the physical act of wearing 'turquoise' adornment. She danced the both days of the powwow among the powwow people.

She wore a traditional wool woven dress called a 'biil,' and Navajo-style footwear called 'ke'tsal' made of cowhide and deer buckskin moccasins, and she carried a Pendleton women's shawl on her left arm. She dripped in an array of various turquoise jewelry pieces included a full-turquoise and silver belt. She wore her hair in a traditional Navajo women's 'tsii yaal' or hair bundle.

It was good to see such desert women's Indigenous Adornment. She made me proud to be a desert woman, her dress showed the beauty, dignity and strength of the Navajo woman. She blessed the People.

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My Dine' masani's hands full of story

My Dine' masani's hands full of story
Photo credit  Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2015

An Indigenous grandmother's hands are strong and full of the most amazing stories on this earth. I photographed my maternal grandmother's hands this week, and each image blesses me.