Planting season

"Ha'dile'"

Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2018

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Yazzgrl Art

Even in the chaos of modernity in North America, the ways of the southwest Indigenous person is still being perpetuated from season to season.

In this month of June which for the Navajo person concerns the beginning of the planting season, but also to describe the earth season/ weather. For the Navajo person, the act of planting or farming concern the state of living or existing in  'beauty.'  Once nomadic, the 21st century Navajo people have adapted to the sedentary lifestyle and have become farmers. Many only plant the following: corn varieties (Blue corn, Yellow corn, White corn), melons and squash. All of which have specific cultural meaning and use in traditional family culture. In many cases the Indigenous person/ farmer in the southwest use only heirloom seeds, such seeds are only available in the family. I have been able to replant the seeds from my great-grandparents, and also have planted heirloom blue corn seeds from my Hopi relatives.

Although the Dine' - Navajo language has no definitions for the Euro -American calendar days or months, we do have a expression that describes this beginning of June, beginning of Summer season. Many contemporary Navajo people, express "June" as "ya’iishjááshchilí" - which concerns  the corn plant and its "little corn tassles."

I share this capture above as a narrative about the farming tradition of my own family in eastern Dine', Navajoland, USA. My great-grandparents were ardent farmers: my cheii planted corn and my masani' planted the squash and the melon varieties. This family tradition is in my blood, I have planted these vegetables as means of continuing the narrative of my family's existence in this area of northwest New Mexico and in the area of Navajoland called eastern Dine'tah.

Speaking from a personal perspective, the act and process of farming is medicinal for me. I know the many blessings that are bestowed from farming the land, which comes from a sacred way of living and in much respect.

(Posted by Venaya Yazzie 2018
06-11-18
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)