Ghąąjį́ - Happy Navajo New Year!

Golden aspen leaves
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2016
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Autumn is here!

This time of year the earth is 'adorned' with the beautyful colors of the season - and I am grateful for the experience. The Navajo name for this season is Aak’ei. 

The calendar name for this month is October which is ending the non-Navajo calendar year, but for my the Navajo people its a new beginning, a "new year" if you will. October season  is expressed as Ghąąjį́’ -which refers to a 'separating of the seasons.' This expression cannot be paralleled with American the global sense of time or place. This season is about welcoming the Navajo-ways of being or belief system (Epistemology) for the Diné, the Navajo people.

Today many of us are harvesting our crops which may include, corn, beans, squash and melons. So, across New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, which our reservation lands are situated, we also amidst celebration and thankfulness of our harvests.

I planted late this year so I am in the process of making a shelter for my corn and melons as the temperatures in the high-desert southwest have been already in the mid-30s nightly. As I mentioned I adore this season for all the reasons I listed above, but I also love this time of year for the pure enjoyment of the the diverse colors. The photo featured here is one I captured a week ago while trekking in southwestern Colorado, near Silverton. The trees are blooming with the rich colors of Autumn and are so wonderful to see and walk among. 

I hope this season finds you well and happy about each moment you are able to experience in the Nature.

Blessings.

The gull of non-Indigenous to justify their Cultural Appropriation of the Navajo Language

This is Cultural Appropriation

I am a Navajo person - my desert lineage is rooted in the American southwest. I am a Navajo woman of many generations of Dine' blood and clan lines from my matriarchs. I was raised to know the right ways to live a good life and to point out or speak out against injustice or ill-mannered intentions.

This posting concerns a non-Indigenous company from India, who are making so-called "dreamcatchers" which they describe as "pan-Indian." Basically they are copying the cultural item from the Ojibwe tribal people in the Americas and selling them as their own work inspired by their love and adoration of the culture.

My main concern though is the use of my Navajo language, or should I say the misuse of my sacred Navajo language expression of 'hozho.' This term is not one to be used in a way that is disrespectful or out of term. It is the medicine people of my tribe who use this expression to help my Dine' people heal. This company however is using the term 'hozho' to sell their products online. They are using the expression in a way that is disrespectful. They are not Navajo, and just because they found the term online does not give them full permission to use it in a wrong way.

This non-Navajo entity is trying to justify using my tribal language expression as okay. According to their website they state:

"The word Hozho has an independent meaning in the dictionary. It can be easily looked up on the Internet to find its roots in the Navajo thesaurus..."

This may be the case but it does not mean you can use the term loosely and for your own gain.  The Navajo language is a sacred language, as a Navajo I do not agree with this company using my language as a marketing 'tool' to sell their new age, wannabe products.

They posted this information yesterday and it can be reviewed at their site:

Hozho Dreamcatchers

Honestly, if your trying to sell a product find an expression in your own language to sell your kitsch Hozho Dreamcatchers. 

Misuse of Indigenous Languages

Captures of the webiste hozhodreamcatchers .com

Recently I became aware of an outfit from Pune, India that makes and sells the trendy, new age, wannabe item: the dreamcatcher. The idea of this bothers me but what I am most disturbed by is their disrespectful use of my Dine' language, and expression of 'hozho' to sell their foul product(s).

I posted my discontent on their Instagram site HozhoDreamcatchers (.com)last evening  and when I checked back this morning they deleted it.

As 21st century Indigenous people WE collectively deal with so much negative stereotypes of our culture whether it be the Halloween "Indian Princess" costumes or the use of our image as mascots - but I have not seen the misuse of our Indigenous languages... until now.

This company from India is culturally misappropriating the Dine' (Navajo) term 'hozho.' This term is a Navajo expression - and is used in healing ceremonies. I am not happy with their use of the word to sell their products.

Indigenous Native languages are sacred - I believe they are tied directly to the soul or identity of the person, in this case the Navajo person. Just because its found on the Internet or in a book does not mean it should be mis-used or used by a non-Navajo person to sell their product.

Be vigilant my Indigenous - protect and fight for your culture and language.