Jourdan Bennett-Begaye
ICT
For the last month I’ve been trying to think of how ICT could approach Indigenous Peoples’ Day differently. Because as many of us say, “It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day every day for us.” So for the first time, I Googled it.
Lists and stories named land acknowledgements, supporting Native-owned businesses, reading about the history of Native peoples, and watching TV shows or movies by Native people. (Personally I’d say to support Indigenous-led media because there’s so many out there. The Indigenous Journalists Association has a list.)
It all seemed pretty redundant because we exist in these spaces all day, every day already.
Our managing editor then asked, ‘What do Indigenous nations do outside of this one day during this time of the year?’ Then I asked myself, what does this time of the year mean to me as a Diné asdzáán, or Navajo woman?
For my entire life, October meant Northern Navajo Nation Fair time. Since I grew up on the northeast side of the Navajo Nation, this was the closest fair to me on the rez. It takes place in Shiprock, New Mexico, about an hour away from the Four Corners Monument.
A few things happen at this time that bring back my childhood memories and give me a serious case of FOMO when I’m not home. Let’s start with the more significant part of this.
During the Northern Navajo Nation Fair, it also means it’s Diné New Year. Or as my social media feeds read, “Yá’átééh Gháájí’” on Oct. 1.
“While many believe our Diné New Year begins on October 1, our elders remind us it starts after the new moon in October or when there’s new snow on top of the mountains,” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren wrote on Facebook. “This time marks the end of our growing season, a time for harvesting and storing food for winter. This is also when our summer ceremonies end for the season, and we transition to our winter ceremonies.” The new moon is Oct. 2 at 12:49 Mountain Daylight Time.
On the fairgrounds, the community has the Yei Bi Cheii ceremony, a nine-day ceremony. Several years ago I told my younger sister let’s stay out all night with the aunties, uncles and elders for the ceremony. I wanted to learn more about it. We barely made it past midnight before we headed home. Haha. It was freezing, too! I don’t know how they do it.
On the first or second day of this year’s ceremony, my sister texted me saying a community member threw on earrings because they didn’t have any cash to offer the Yei Bi Cheiis. For reference, if they crossed paths with you, you have to give them a gift. Being Navajo or even Native, if you don’t have cash to give, you give jewelry.
On to the fair. Fair time is unbelievable on the Navajo Nation, and a highlight for myself and my family every year. It’s not your regular county or state fair. Well maybe sort of but not really.
The fair parade is a highlight. Everyone is up at 3 or 4 a.m. with their Navajo tea in a thermos, ready to fight traffic and claim their fair parade spots. If you drive in Shiprock the day before the parade, yellow tape will already be put up by those who don’t want their spots taken. And people do take those down, haha.
I’m not a morning person but I will wake up early for the Shiprock fair so I can buy food from a burrito lady, usually a másání, or Navajo grandma. We have to support the elders because this is their only income so the more burritos or food you buy, the better.
We usually sit with my mom’s side of the family during the fair. There’s a specific spot, near my Grandma Annie’s house, before the only bridge in Shiprock that we sit at. Sometimes my dad’s side of the family joins us or is 50 feet away. My cousins and we would all dress in our traditional clothes with our tsiyeeł, or Navajo bun, made waiting for the candy or whatever treats will be thrown our way. Businesses give away hats, bags, veggies, bags of Bluebird flour, candy, little trinkets, and more. Of course this year I’m expecting more politicians to be part of the parade, which honestly isn’t outside the norm.
I may start a fight on the internet but I will forever say the Shiprock fair parade is the best parade of all the Navajo Nation fairs. Our parade line is usually a few miles long and takes three to four hours. The last time I went, in 2017, I was actually in the parade with Diné Youth Council at the high school I taught so we had to walk three-ish miles.
After the parade, we would wander to a food stand in the flea market. Order some steam corn stew, Navajo tacos, dumpling stew, or a mutton sandwich with green chile. Our Navajo cake, kneel down bread and pies serve as filling snacks later in the day.
The other best part about this is you see family, friends or just people you know and visit with them. That’s what makes it special.
Oddly enough the Navajo Nation isn’t the only Indigenous nation that celebrates a new year at this time. A Choctaw colleague informed me that this is also the end of the Choctaw calendar.
“Several sources indicate that, unlike today’s calendar, which ushers in the New Year during the winter, the New Year came in the early part of fall for the Choctaw calendar,” read the Choctaw Nation’s Instagram post. “This was because fall is the time of year when oral traditions indicate that the Choctaw people were first created.”
I love the internet. It allows us to learn more about other Indigenous peoples and nations.
A modern twist, if you will, about this fall is elections.
I do notice that more get-out-the-vote events usually take place during the midterm and presidential elections in Indigenous communities.
One event approaching my community, the Navajo Nation, takes place during Indigenous Peoples Day weekend, on Saturday, Oct. 12 when Mark Ruffalo will be in attendance. It’s hosted by Protect The Sacred.
Since I started at ICT a little over six years ago, my definition of Indigenous peoples has expanded exponentially. I’ve learned to look outside the borders of the United States and Canada thanks to my mentor and our founding editor Mark Trahant.
Mark first introduced me to the Arctic Circle Assemblies during my first year on the job when he was part of the program. He talked about how the media doesn’t cover the Arctic Indigenous peoples. The event is a large gathering by government officials, heads of state, scientists, Indigenous leadership, students, activists, and others from 60 countries who have an interest or stake in the Arctic. It takes place every year in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The assembly perhaps is a modern take but an important one to part of given the condition of our climate and with Indigenous peoples at the frontlines.
A new favorite community event I hope to be part of every year now is the Alaska Federation of Natives convention and the First Alaska Institute’s Elders and Youth conference in Alaska.
My sister and I had the opportunity to attend the conventions last year in Anchorage. I remember pitching her the idea and asked if she wanted to come with me. As someone told me, “It’s like the Gathering of Nations in New Mexico but all Alaska Natives from every corner of the state.”
For a more formal explanation, the Alaska Federation of Natives is the largest statewide organization for Alaska Natives representing more than 140,000 Native peoples. The organization was formed in 1966 to address the land claims of Alaska Native peoples and help them discuss and implement the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. AFN evolved to represent all the “different Native groups in Alaska.” It’s really fascinating. I’m a true believer that anyone who grew up in the lower 48 needs to learn more about Alaska Native history and their legal framework. Here’s your first story to learn more.
Just before AFN is the elders and youth conference hosted by the First Alaskans Institute. It’s full of cultural activities like how to skin a fish and more how-to workshops. They really want to have the young people learn from their elders.
I remember my sister and I were on one of the floors of the building checking out the vendors and a breakout session had ended. We saw the doors fling open and all these elders walked out. I am pretty sure we both cried. Elders are so special to us.
Both conferences happen in a one week time frame and you will learn so much.
While AFN is a political organization, it has a big focus on cultural and art activities and the community. My sister and I have never been to anything like it.
There are sessions on history, the economy, politics, health, and cultural knowledge. We were both surprised with how much art there is. And art you can’t find in the lower 48. Everyone was so excited to teach us when we had questions or to introduce us to new foods. We tried seal jerky and the good salmon everyone raves about.
My sister and I ended up knowing more people there than we thought. Ha. We learned about the “AFN shuffle,” which is when you see someone and say hi, you take a couple steps and see someone else. It’s the AFN shuffle. Haha.
I had three favorite memories of the entire experience.
First is the Quyana performances. Every night of the convention are cultural performances that, if you go, you have to see. Tickets go fast so get them right away. Elders and toddlers and everyone in between are on the stage dancing away, looking so happy, grateful, and proud. Their joy was palpable. We cried every time. Now anytime I see those dances online or in-person in Washington, my heart bursts with love.
The second favorite was the land itself. The mountains and by the water were breath-taking. You can see the Aleutian Islands on a clear day. Again, more years.
Alaska and the Alaska Native communities will leave you in awe — and tears.
So yes, there are more ways that Indigenous peoples celebrate being Indigenous during the fall outside Indigenous Peoples Day. Yaadilah! We are older and so much more than this holiday.
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