Másaní's hands

Hands of the family matriarch
Photo credit: Venaya Yazzie 2019
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The hands of my Diné másaní (Navajo maternal grandmother) are so beautiful to me. Her desert hands are aged and show the wear of age, and they are tell her story of life a as southwest desert matriarch. As with her hands the story that the Navajo women's life tell is full of historical turmoil, chaos, survival, happiness and language.  The history of the Diné (Navajo) people is rich with story, my people have been through a lot, yet we continue to flourish in our language and cultural ways and teachings.  It is our hands that talk of great history, they hold the power of knowledge.

Last week I took her to eat breakfast at a local restaurant.  When she emerged from her room, she was looked like a Hollywood star, radiant!  She gleamed with grace and turquoise beauty.  As she daily does, she wore her turquoise earrings, bracelets, necklace, pin and rings.  As a child I was blessed to have been raised in the presence of many of my women relatives.  And that included my great grandmother, Louise and her sisters.

Seeing másaní dressed in her best clothing and southwest cultural adornments is normal to our family.  Growing up we (both men and women) have been reminded that we should always wear dootłizhí on our body. Whether it be in the form of a ring or bracelet or earrings, turquoise is part of our identity as a Diné person.

To this day, másaní tells me this. The role of the matriarchs of the family of Navajo people is to continually perpetuate and or restore that balance or family harmony.  Many of the Navajo people are still taught this, and it is most likely included in the daily narrative and family dialogue across Navajoland.

I captured this moment of women’s hand adornment as we sipped our hot tea, waiting for our food to arrive to the table. Másaní talked about the morning events, and of her aches and pains, and then commented on the car parked across the street. Though her voice was heard via her words, it was, and is her hands that tell story.

My Diné másaní’s hands are the glory of her history.  She makes them glow with beautiful turquoise stones, that is her super power, my matriarch Jane.

Blessings and Be Matriarch!

Posted 02-06-19

by Venaya Yazzie

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED