Foundations of Who I Am

Manuelito Chapter

My name is Emily Ellison, and I grew up in Manuelito, New Mexico. Some of my earliest memories are of being outside with livestock sheep, goats, chickens, horses, and cows. Herding sheep was one of our chores, and it was something my cousins and I did together.

A group of us were raised with the guidance of our grandparents and aunties while our parents were working and entering the workforce. Some of my favorite memories are of the mornings, when the sun was coming up and there was still mist in the air. There was something peaceful about those mornings that has stayed with me.

In the evenings, I remember sitting outside my grandfather’s stall under a tree, sometimes for hours, eating watermelon with all of my cousins while our grandparents told us stories. I remember our aunties coming together to select a sheep or goat to butcher and teaching us how to help. Looking back, it was a wonderful childhood. I enjoyed the freedom of roaming the mountains and fields, being part of a communal home, helping my grandfather with chores, and playing with my cousins.

We were always building something. We built treehouses, little rock houses, and dams in the ditches. We found ways to entertain ourselves using whatever was around us. Those experiences became a big foundation for who I am today.

I believe childhood is important in shaping healthy adults. The structure I grew up with doing chores, completing homework, waking up early, and learning to be thankful and have gratitude for life and family gave me a foundation for setting goals and working toward them. Some of those goals took years, even decades, to achieve, but I learned not to give up.

One of the most important lessons I learned from my grandfather was Tʼáá hwó ájítʼéego, which speaks to personal responsibility and taking responsibility for yourself. At the end of the day, you are ultimately responsible for yourself. You are the one who has to make the decisions, put in the work, and take responsibility for the direction of your life.

When I look back, I am very grateful for the time I had with my grandparents. It feels like such a short amount of time now, but it was also a very fulfilling time. My grandfather continued herding sheep well into his later years.

One memory in particular always makes me smile.

I came home to visit my grandfather one time, and he said, “ Shí nalí you know those Chinese chairs that are made of bamboo? They are lightweight and easy to carry. Could you find me one so I can take it with me while I herd sheep in Manuelito?”

I told him, “Okay, shí nalí. I’ll find one.”

I searched high and low for about six months. Finally, I found one in Zhengye, China and immediately bought it. I went to the post office, filled out everything, and sent it home.

A few weeks later, I received a call from my auntie. She said, “Your nálí hastiin really liked the chair. He has it with him.”

I could just imagine my grandfather out herding sheep with that bamboo chair, carrying it with him and setting it up under the shade when he needed to rest.

That memory means a lot to me because, in a small way, I was able to bring an international experience back home to my grandfather. It connected two very different places through something simple a chair for my grandfather while he was doing what he loved.

Those are the memories I carry with me from my childhood and from my grandparents. They taught me about responsibility, hard work, family, gratitude, and the importance of being connected to where you come from. Those teachings continue to be a part of who I am today.

— Emily Ellison, Manuelito Chapter, August 2026