2013 Northern Navajo Nation Fair Guide

SHIPROCK FAIRSUNDAYSEPT. 29, 2013

THE DAILY TIMESFARMINGTON, NM

www.daily-times.com

Yei’Bi’Chei Commences

Miss Northern Navajo & Teen Pageant

Miss Northern Navajo & Teen TraditionalRoyalty Day

Traditional Trail Ride (Commences)Fairgrounds OpenIndoor Exhibit Judging (4-H Exhibit)Miss Northern Navajo & Teen PageantYouth Day ActivitiesElder FestIndan MarketOpen Junior RodeoCity of Fun Carnival Kids DaySmall Animal JudgingExceptional RodeoFree BBQ (Sponsored by APS, BHP, PNM)Youth Karaoke Contest49/Round DanceOpen Women’s RodeoSingspiration’

Traditional Trail Ride (On-going)Fairgrounds OpenLivestock ShowIndian MarketTraditional Trail Ride ArrivalSong and Dance (Open Registration) OpenMaster’s RodeoNative Music FestMiss Northern Navajo & Teen PageantVFW Tent (Food Sale)4-H / FFA Jr. Livestock SalePow Wow (Open Registration)City of Fun CarnivalGourd Dance SessionSong & Dance (Warm-up Dancing)Archery ContestFashion Review & Public SpeakingPresentationsPow Wow (Grand Entry)Northern Gateway Open Bull-RidingMetal Fest

ParadeFairgrounds OpenSong and Dance (Open Registration)Pow Wow (Open Registration)Indian Market OpenKids Corral (Roping) Rodeo GroundsVFW Tent (Food Sale)Gourd DancingCity of Fun CarnivalMutton Bustin’Guest PerformancesPow Wow (Grand Entry)Song & Dance (Grand Entry)Open Show Rodeo/ Wild Horse RaceDemonstrations and Talent ShowPresentationsKids Corral (Roping) Rodeo GroundsParade Winner’s Award PresentationGourd Dance SessionPow Wow (Grand Entry)Open Show Rodeo/ Wild Horse RaceCountry Western Dance

Fairgrounds OpenOpen Show Slack (If necessary)Awards PresentationSong & Dance (Roll Call/ Grand Entry)Indian Market OpenGourd Dance SessionVFW Tent (Food Sale)City of Fun CarnivalPerformancesNNRA- Region 6/Wild Horse RaceMutton Bustin’Kids Corral (Roping) Rodeo Grounds

Ya’at’eeh and Welcome friends, relatives and the people of the great Four Corners. On behalfof the Northern Navajo Nation Fair Board, Planning Committee and as the Fair Director of theNorthern Navajo Nation Fair, I would like to invite you to the 102nd Annual Northern NavajoNation Fair in Shiprock, NM beginning October 3-6. Join us for an event full of fun, entertainmentand festivities.This event is held annually in tribute to all the communities throughout the Four Corners, NorthernAgencies and the Navajo Nation. We bring you an event that is established for the people to unite andcommune in celebration of this year’s culture, tradition and harvest. This year the Northern NavajoNation Fair will feature the Carnival, Rodeo, Pow Wow, Song & Dance, Miss Northern Navajo NationPageant & Teen Pageant, Exhibit’s, Youth Day, Elder Fest, 4-H Showcase, Entertainment, Indian Market,Traditional Trail Ride, and Yei’Bi’Chei . We hope to see you at this year’s fair. Ahe’hee and Thank You.Robert Felson Jr., Fair Director

Northen Navajo Nation FairP.O Box 2120, Shiprock, New Mexico, 87401 • (505)368-4305 • www.nnnfair.com

Pumpkin Patch FundraisingBeclabito ALERT

By Molly Maxwell Special to The Daily Times

It may not seem likethis year ’s NorthernNavajo Nat ion Fair ismuch different than lastyear’s.

But, organizers say,that’s because a lot of thebig changes are takingplace behind the scenes.

“In order to think out-side the box, we have toensure that everythinginside is manageable,”said Robert Felson, Jr.,the fa i r director. “Allcoordinators are new.They have backgroundsin management and busi-ness , and they are a l l

volunteers.”Also new to the infra-

structure of the fair man-agement are marketing,information technologiesand publ ic re la t ionsdepartments.

Many of the fai r ’smainstay events, howev-er, are back this year.The fair runs from Oct. 3to 6 at the NorthernNavajo Nat ion Fair-grounds in Shiprock.

The parade is always afavorite, and it will runfrom the east s ide oftown to the south, as usu-al. To ensure the paraderuns smoothly, paradecoordinator EugeneZohnie asks that people

keep their children undercontrol.

“We are asking floatsto not throw candy,”Zohnie said.

Song and dance com-petitions will be going onthroughout the weekend.Judges from all over theNavajo Nat ion wil lchoose winners in sever-al categories, from 15thto first place. Guy Lee,the song and dance coor-dinator, expects to see 20to 25 groups of singerscompete.

Rodeo is an integralpart of the fair as well,and coordinators havemade a special point toinclude the children as

much as possible. Tradi-t ional trail r ides, pag-eants, the Indian Marketand the City of Fun car-nival also keep fair-goersentertained.

Each year, the fai rboard chooses one per-son to heal during a nine-day healing ceremony,called the Yei’Bi’Chei.The ceremony is privateand includes only theperson who is beinghealed and a MedicineMan and his helpers .The man being healedthis year is Patrick Tsosieof Cornfields, Ariz.

The final day of thehealing ceremony, Oct. 6,coincides with the final

day of the fai r, whichcloses at sunset.

The Northern NavajoNation Fair is now in its102nd year, and it is thelongest-running fair onthe reservation. The fairbegan as a place to tradethe fruits of the harvestand to celebrate the har-vest.

Over the past century,the fair has grown largerand now incorporatesmany more t radi t ions.But one thing is still thesame: it’s a time to cele-brate “culture, traditionand the harvest,” Felsonsaid.

Felson said the boardaims to use profit from

this year’s fair to revampthe fairgrounds and openthem for year-round use.Residents have com-plained about the condi-tions of the fairgroundsfor years, and coordina-tors would l ike toaddress those issues.

“We are here for apurpose,” Felson said.“That purpose is the peo-ple, the dedicated people,l ike those who s tayovernight to see theparade.”

More information onthe history of the Navajopeople and the fair canbe found at www.nava-jopeople.org.

Northern Navajo Nation Fair prepares to kick off

The Daily Times file photoThe Northern Navajo Nation Fair is shown in a file photo from Wednesday Sept. 30, 2010.

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MISSIONTo advocate, educateand develop resilienthealthy generationsof youth throughpartnerships to balanceand live in a diversesociety.

Shiprock OfRce of Diné YouthBoys & Girls Clubs of Diné Nation-Tse’Bit’Ai Unit

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The Navajo Nation Of_ce of Dine’ Youth/ Boys & Girls Clubs of theDine’ Nation- Tes’Bit’Ai Unit provides an array of programs for youthbetween the ages of 6-21.

Enrichment Programs: High School Prep Assistance program, DevilPups, Youth Basketball League, NN Spelling Bee and more.

Core Programs include: Power Hour (Homework Help), SMARTMoves, T.R.A.I.L.S., Sports/Recreation, Career Launch, ReadingPrograms, Arts & Crafts, Cultural activities, Prevention Activities,Incentive Field Trips, Teambuilding/ Ropes Course, Sports Leagues,Holiday Events and much more.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMON-THUR. 3:00 pm-6:00 pmNow Accepting Membership: Free

P.O. Box 3257 Shiprock, NM 87420(505) 368-1125 FAX: (505) 368-1132

www.dineyouth.com

Molly Maxwell/Special to The Daily TimesShemar George, 15, poses with the 2013 Northern Navajo Nation Fair poster, which displays his artwork.

Modern art: Younger generation chosen to represent the Northern Navajo Nation Fair

By Molly MaxwellSpecial to The Daily Times

FARMINGTON – Theartist behind this year ’sNorthern Navajo Nation Fairposter is a 15-year-old.

Shemar George createdthe poster, which depicts theShiprock pinnacle, four earsof corn, four arrowheads anda basket.

Last year, well-known,professional artist Cal Nezdesigned the poster. Createdwith oil and acrylic paints,charcoal and pencil, it intri-cately depicted a Yei' Bi'Chei dancer with items sym-bolizing tradition and tech-nology floating on either sideof him.

This year's poster is dif-ferent.

“I sketched it out, redrewthe whole thing again andcolored over it with coloredpencil,” George said.

George is in Art II atNavajo Preparatory Schoolin Farmington. Andalthough his artistic methodwas much simpler that theone Nez used, the care andeffort put into the drawingcannot be denied. Each ker-nel of corn is carefullytraced, and the pattern on thebasket is perfectly symmetri-cal.

In an interview with TheDaily Times about his posterlast year, Nez said, “I use tosee the fair posters whileattending Sanostee BoardingSchool, and I said, ‘I will bethe fair poster artist oneday.’”

So he was touched tolearn that a 15-year-old boy'sartwork was showcased thisyear.

“That is so beautiful tohear,” he said.

George won the postercontest this summer. Contes-tants were required to pro-duce an image that represent-ed the fair's theme:“Individually, we restore bal-ance and harmony.”

George submitted hisposter with the followingexplanation: “…What thecorn represent is having har-mony, also what the basketrepresents is to restore bal-ance, the four arrowheadsrepresent the four directionsand the four colors, what thecorn stalks represent is thecorn pollen we bless our-selves with. In the back-ground, the rock representsShiprock. So altogetherShiprock individually bal-ance itself like the Navajobasket and has harmony likethe corn stalks and the corn.”

Even after winning thecontest, Shemar George didnot realize that his art wouldbe the fair’s sole poster, saidthe teenager’s father, PhilipGeorge.

“At first, we thought therewere going to be two posters,one for youth and one foradults,” Philip George said.

The family lives in New-comb, a tiny, remote town insoutheastern San Juan Coun-ty on the edge of the ChuskaMountains. Shemar Georgetravels an hour to Farming-ton each week to attendNavajo Prep and goes homefor the weekends.

When he’s not in art class,the teen gets plenty of prac-tice drawing at home. Heoften draws Hawaiian flow-ers or images of the LosAngeles Lakers for his sister,said his father.

“His little sister alwaysasks him to draw for her,” hesaid.

Shemar George,whose artwork isfeatured on the2013 NorthernNavajo NationFair poster,shows off someof his otherpieces.

Molly Maxwell/Special to The Daily Times

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What parts of the Northern Navajo Nation Fairare you looking forward to the most and why?

“The parade. Family can enjoy it together. I couldn't go last year so this year I will go early.”

—— LLeeaannnn BBeeggaayy

“The corn dog stand.”—— BBrraannddii JJoohhnnssoonn

“Indian Market. That's where you make money.”—— TThhoommaass PPeetteerrssoonn

“The song and dance, and the rodeo. The Yei'Bi'Chei[traditional dance], the reason why [the fair] started.”

—— RR.. AAllaann MMaannuueeiillttoo

“Watching my cousin-brother, Joe Tohannie, Jr. per-form. His band, the White Mountain Apache Crown

Dancers, are a main event.”—— AAnntthhoonnyy PPeetteerrssoonn

“My family are farmers. They sell watermelon, corn,cantaloupes. The fair is all about the harvest, crops

and eating traditional food, sharing it. ... We get to seeour friends, clans, the only time all year...”

—— BBeerrtthhaa EEttssiittttyy

The Daily Times file photoTerilynn Bellison places fry bread dough into a skillet during the Miss NorthernNavajo fry bread contest at the Northern Navajo Nation Fair on Oct. 4, 2012.

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Across from NorthernNavajo Medical Center

By Molly MaxwellSpecial to The Daily Times

SHIPROCK – Thedefinit ion of the wordrodeo is “a public dis-play of cowboy skills.”

And this will be thefirst year that the North-e rn Nava jo Na t ionFair’s will be very pub-l ic. For the f irst year,the Open Rodeo eventsare open to anyone, saidJe r i Lowe Sco t t , t herodeo coordinator, whohas been running rodeossince 1994.

“This year's focus isfocusing on all age cate-gories,” Scott said.

That can be seen inthe fair schedule, whichincludes several rodeoevents each day. TheExcep t iona l Rodeo ,Mutton Bustin' and KidsCorral encourage chil-dren to try out differentrodeo-related activities.

The Excep t iona lRodeo offers youngerchildren the chance topar t i c ipa te in severa lrodeo- themed even t s ,such as dummy roping,goat tagging, feel andsmell, horseback ridingand hor se g rooming .Navajo Nation schoolswere inv i t ed to b r ingc lasses espec ia l ly forthe Exceptional Rodeo.

Vo lun tee r cowboysteach children ages 6 to14 how to rope animalsduring the Kids Corral.And for those more seri-ous riders, there is the

Junior Rodeo, Women'sRodeo, Master's Rodeoand Wild Horse Race.

“(The Junior Rodeo)has more participationthan the Adult Rodeo.(Contestants) bring theirfamilies. It can be edu-cational, a training sys-t em fo r t he Adu l tRodeo,” Scott said.

Buck les , cus tom-made leather briefcases,l ap top cases , s add le sand jackets are amongthe many p r i zes tha tparticipants can win.

Those in teres ted inparticipating in any ofthe rodeo even t s a reencouraged to pre-regis-t e r. Ca l l one o f t heCen t ra l En t ry Sec re -taries after 6 p.m. to doso . Th i s in fo rmat ioncan be found a t nnn-fair.com on the RodeoSchedule.

The Sas i Schoo lRodeo Club, along withother riders, practicedSept. 18 at the NorthernNava jo Na t ion Fa i r -grounds.

“It's something we'vealways done, somethingto look forward to everyyea r, ” s a id Jenn i f e rTree, who will be com-peting in the Women’sRodeo and Open Rodeo.

Jeffery Jim, coachesthe t eam, wh ichinc ludes h i s son , TeeJim. And he’s ready forthis year’s competitions.

“If you want to ride ahor se , Sh ip rock ' s t heplace to do it,” JefferyJim said.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the rodeo this year

Molly Maxwell/Special to The Daily Times Tee Jim prepares to lasso a calf during practice Sept. 18 at the Northern Navajo Nation Fairgrounds inShiprock.

Molly Maxwell/Special to The Daily Times Jennifer Tree takes a break during practice on Sept. 18 at the Northern Navajo Nation Fairgrounds in Shiprock.

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The Daily Times file photoOn Sept. 30, 2010, children fly through the air on a carnival ride during the North-ern Navajo Nation Fair in Shiprock.

The Daily Times file photoVisitors to the Northern Navajo Nation Fair hang from the top of a carnival ride onOct. 4, 2012.

The Daily Times file photoPeople invert on one of the carnival rides during Youth Day at the Shiprock Fairon Oct. 5, 2011, at the Northern Navajo Nation Fairgrounds in Shiprock.

The Daily Times file photoChildren are seen enjoying a ride on Oct. 5, 2012, during the Northern NavajoNation Fair at the Northern Navajo Nation Fairgrounds in Shiprock.

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Daily Times file photoVisitors to the Northern Navajo Nation Fair participate in a social dance at the pow wow arena on Oct. 5, 2012.

Daily Times file photoWomen participating in the Best Dressed competition show off their native jewelry on Sept. 30, 2010, during Elderfest at the Northern Navajo Nation Fair in Shiprock.

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Molly Maxwell/Special to The Daily Times Jim navigates his horse through the fences during practice on Sept. 18 at the Northern Navajo Nation Fairgrounds in Shiprock.

The Daily Times file photoMichael Montague of Standing Rock, N.M., rides Slammin Sosa during the bull riding competition on Oct. 5, 2012, at the Northern Navajo Nation Fair.

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Daily Times file photoA young cowboy watches the rodeo at the Northern Navajo Nation Fair on Oct. 4, 2012.

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