Rooted in Tradition, Together We Rise in K’é

Shiprock, New Mexico

The 113th Northern Navajo Fair felt like a place where people could come together, spend time with family, and celebrate being Diné. This year’s theme was “Rooted in Tradition, Together We Rise in K’é,” and as I walked through the fair, I saw that spirit in the people around me.

I met Sadie, a 70-year-old grandmother from Crown Point. She told me this was her second year attending the fair. She doesn’t usually go to fairs other than the one in Crown Point, but her granddaughters wanted to do something fun, so she brought them out Friday night. Sadie has been raising three girls since their mother, her daughter, passed away three years ago. Her son, another daughter, and their grandchildren came along too, so it became a family trip.

Sadie talked about wanting to keep her family close. She worries about the drugs and alcohol affecting people in her community and her own family, and she tries to encourage her loved ones to stay busy, go to church, and find things to do together. She said she’s too old to keep fighting and arguing. She just wants the best for everyone.

Flooding had affected her home in Crown Point, but Sadie said her family was getting through it together. They have hard times, but they keep showing up for one another. Bringing the grandchildren to the fair was one way to spend time together and give them something fun to remember. She was tired when she left, especially with four birthdays in a row that month but glad she had come.

At the Indian market in Shiprock, I met Everett from Gallup. He had driven out Thursday to sell his jewelry over the weekend. He makes jewelry as a hobby, and he said he was hoping to make a little extra money. With the cost of food, gas, and keeping up a home, he knows a lot of people are struggling.

Everett showed us a necklace he had made. It took him eleven tries before he got it the way he wanted. He said jewelry takes patience, hard work, and love. Every piece has a story, and he hopes people wear the jewelry they buy with pride. His children make jewelry too, while working and continuing their education. Everett wants younger people to know they should go after what they want and keep trying, even when life gets difficult.

While we were talking, Everett told us about an eagle feather that had fallen near him months earlier. He had kept it, waiting until he found someone he felt was meant to receive it. He decided to give it to Joey, one of our coworkers.

Everett became emotional as he explained why. He wanted Joey to know that what he was doing was appreciated that his efforts were seen. He said he couldn’t explain why he felt such a strong need to give him the feather; he just knew he wanted to. It was a small, quiet moment, but it stayed with me. Everett had held onto that feather for months, waiting for the right person, and when he gave it away, it felt full of kindness and meaning.

As I walked through the fair, I kept thinking about the stories behind the things people were selling. The jewelry, the food, and the other handmade items all came from someone’s time and care. When you buy from a vendor, you’re supporting someone who worked hard to make something special.

I also loved seeing all the royalty this year. It was exciting to see young people carrying on traditions, learning Navajo, and learning more about their culture. Families and people of all ages had come together to celebrate who we are as Diné.

What stayed with me most was getting to interact with people in the crowd. So many were willing to stop, talk, and share their stories. Sometimes, that’s all it takes: sitting down with someone and having a conversation. You hear what they’ve been through, what they care about, and what they want to pass on. Those conversations helped me feel the meaning of this year’s theme being rooted in who we are and continuing to rise together in k’é.