Navajo POV

Dziłnaodiłthe - Doorway Mountain

Photo credit: Venaya Yazzie 2016

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Did you know that the Diné, present-day 'Navajo' people live in New Mexico (and yes its in the US)?

Well, as a native- New Mexican and Diné/ Hopi woman I am rooted in this great state. My mother's family lineage is from the place named Huerfano Mesa and my maternal grandfather was raised in the Kimbetó (Chaco Canyon area). Truly I am a New Mexican through and through and very proud of my heritage.

Now, have you ever seen this mesa? If you live in the northwestern New Mexico community and surround area I'm sure you have. This iconic natural structure is a very important element of Diné culture, it is a part of our very identity. Yet, I have found that many younger generations of Diné have no clue of this mesa's existence. You may say"Well why should they? There are alot of mesas in the desert southwest." This is the 'holy grail' of Diné cosmology, its our Diné identity as a group, as Indigenous humans on the earth. To know this mesa, to know its reason for being, to know its history and to have reverence for its existence is the essence of being a Diné person.

This image is burned into the marrow of my bones. I love this mesa, it is my childhood, it talks of story of my maternal great grandparents Jim and Louise Werito, and therefore it is where my heart will always be.

This place is expressed, Dziłnaodiłthe by the Diné. It is the 'Doorway Mountain' where we as Diné entered this world. This sacred place is our identity as 'Five-Fingered" Diné people. This area is part of the Diné cultural landscape to many Navajo who live in this and surrounding communities. Just as the Monument Valley structures are prominent in the minds of the the Diné who live there, this mesa is encoded in our Eastern Diné DNA.

It is my hope that we as Diné return to our ancestral origin stories, they are our true identity and we should hope to know all these sacred sites because that will ensure we keep faith in who we are in this chaotic world

Ask your parents, grandparents, uncles and or aunts about this place. No matter how old you are as Diné, know our stories of origin it will only make you and our identity as a desert dweller Diné strong and resilient.

Bless the People.

Newest EarART Designs by Venaya Yazzie - Yazzgrl Art - New Mexico USA

EarART Designs by New Mexico USA artist Venaya Yazzie
Photo credit Venaya Yazzie 2016
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Yazzgrl Art studio has been burning the midnight oil. As summer is at the front gate so are many summer art festivals and art shows.

Picture here are my newest EarART Designs earrings. I adore the historical photographs of my Indigenous ancestors, and I love the aesthetic designs of Navajo silverwork and turquoise and as a result I was inspired to make these rectangle wood earrings. These feature the desert southwest woman dressed in her Hopi-style regalia and women's hairstyle. She is featured in front of a close-up cyclical design of Navajo cluster work.

I really am very happy how these new earrings turned out. Now on to more new creations!

You can visit my Square store website at:

Yazzgrl Art

Blessings.

Where she feels at home, shimasani.

My masani, my maternal grandmother's lineage is based at Huerfano, NM. This area of the Navajoland is located in present day northern New Mexico. Yes, Navajos live in New Mexico. We sometimes have to explain this to people who are not from the southwest, as most carry the assumption that all Navajo are from and live in Arizona.

My Navajo family line is rooted in this area which the tribe as deemed, 'eastern Navajo.'  My extended family is from this community which includes: Huerfano, Otis, Blanco and Kimbeto. 

I share this history and photo because I am proud of where I come from, and too is my masani. I take her back 'home' as often as I can so she can spend time in the environment of her childhood and adulthood here. I love this photo as it depicts the area well, as you can see the Huerfano Mesa is in the background. This 'home' is in our family's collective memory, each cedar tree, juniper and sage is a part of our cultural landscape, this is where our hearts dwell, no matter where we all are in the world.

Hooghan, this Navajo term is everything to us as Dine'.