When we speak of our Indigenous 'ancestors' what are we really referencing?

Masani and Venaya at Walatowa, NM
Photo credit: Nancy Dahl

When we speak of our 'ancestors' what are we really referencing? Is it their physical appearance in archival photos we refer to? Is it their historical presence in history? Is it their smiles or laughter expression that brings them to mind?  These are all the positive qualities of our 'ancestors' that I mentioned, but what of the not so "wonderful" aspects of the 'ancestors?' Do those qualities and or attributes matter?

In modern conversation that I have, and among many of the Indigenous people of the Americas and into Canada, Mexico and South America, the dialogue concerns references to the past, to the 'ancestors.' We as modern Indigenous people look to our ancestral people of past for guidance and strength as we move into 2019.

In my opinion I would assume that is those best qualities and characteristics that we all hope to keep and attain. It is those qualities are hope or us, so to support and guide us to a better life, a better way of existence. Which brings me to this post concerning the 'ancestors.'

It has recently come to my attention from a fellow artist that not all the 'ancestors' where "good people" or that they're lives concern anything positive. I must confess I am an optimist, that is how I was raised to be and think, so I must confess this questioning of the 'ancestors' presence in my, and our daily 2019 lives vexed me.

As an optimist I tend to look at the "glass half full" perspective, yet I am still very much aware of the "half empty" glass too.  When I speak of my own desert Ancestor, the Dine' (Navajo) and Hopi (Pueblo) people I tend to focus on the productive, or positive side of their existence.  Although this is my innate way of remembering them, I too know that they as individuals where in no means the picture of human perfection.  I am sure they were flawed, as I am too.  My upbringing had many positive blessings, but it also concerned alcoholism, displacement, domestic violence and other social ills. But, through all that, the constant in my life and upbringing was the strong, steadfast presence of my maternal grandmother, shi'masaani.  She was and is my rock.  Through her guidance and support  I am the woman I am today.

When I speak of my 'Ancestors' of whom many I have never met, I choose to speak of their lives as meaningful.  I ponder about their struggles and the vast trials they had to live through, issues of racism and violence, and still they lived their lives.  It is their RESILIENCE that I dialogue about, because it is that kind of human spirit and strength that I hope to be present in my life a a new Ancestor in the 21st century.

I share this image as a way of purposeful perpetuation of the Ancestor narrative.  This image was captured about five years ago from a friend from Santa Fe, NM named Nancy Dahl.  It is my grandmother and I at the annual November 12 Walatowa (Jemez Pueblo) feast day.  I adore this picture because it reveals the matriarch of our family standing in the forefront - she is our root - and from her talk and her memories we become knowledgeable in our family history. This is K'e' - the Dine' familial unit and existence.  For example, my family's tradition is to visit our Pueblo relatives in November because that is our ancestral tradition. My great grandparents ( her mother and father) visited Jemez in their day, when they would take food and goods to trade with the Gauchipin and Romero family there. It is this kind of resilience that I speak of when I mention the 'ancestors.

I understand that we as Dine' people, as tribal people of the southwest, have a plethora of experiences and memories, and that not all of them are good or positive- but is my hope that you, that we, will choose to see the "glass half full" for that is our/ and their legacy of RESILIENCE.

Blessings in all things!

VJY

Posted 01/09/19

by Venaya Yazzie

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