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| Venaya's great-grandfather Photo courtesy of Venaya Yazzie ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2016 |
Last week I was b l e s s e d to receive this image.
Even now when I look at this image tears gather like the desert monsoon clouds in my eyes... this 'beautyful' man pictured on the right is my maternal great-grandfather. This man is a hero. He is a hero I never knew. He passed on from this world before I could meet him - his name was Frank Padilla Yazzie. He was my late maternal grandfather's oldest son Alfred.
Since I never seen a clear image of him, this image means so, so much to me. I am so very thankful beyond words to have this image in my life. This image of a man with dark hair, headband, adorned in beautyful turquoise is branded in the hallways of my brain. This image of my chei has entered my life path, at the right time, and now I have come to realize how I 'see' life a bit different now.
Via my family oral history it is said my chei was a great Navajo 'singer. My 'papa' Alfred said his dad was a great singer and was revered in the Chaco Canyon / Kimbeto area for his singing. I know that is where my 'papa' Alfred was blessed also to be a great singer with a brilliant melody.
Via my family oral history it is said my chei was a great Navajo 'singer. My 'papa' Alfred said his dad was a great singer and was revered in the Chaco Canyon / Kimbeto area for his singing. I know that is where my 'papa' Alfred was blessed also to be a great singer with a brilliant melody.
My late 'papa' Alfred used to tell me stories of his own childhood growing up near the wash north of the Chaco Canyon ruins. Since he lost his mother as an infant he and the rest of his siblings where raised by their father. As a "single" dad my great grandfather was a wearer of many hats to help support his kids. He worked at the local trading post, he wove rugs, we made jewelry, he sewed and so much more! With this knowledge of my chei I know this is where I also got my gift of being gifted in a multitude of different ways of the Creative.
He was a Dine' man of the To'aheedlini (or Two Waters Flow Together Clan) and he was a man of the Medicine way, and he was a singer and dance in the Navajo Yei-Bei-Chei dances.
...
I wish I could have known him - but he is forever a hero to me as are most of my family members.
I cherish the stories I have of him and I keep his 'resilient' way of survival as a part of my own personal mantra in life. My love and adoration of for my great grandfather is immense, my 'cup runneth over.'
Blessings.
