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.