"Don't Be Lame" - A Dual Credit Student's Challenges Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate, Dual Credit Student, Silversmith My name is Tavian and I am a student at Navajo Pine High School. I am also a silversmithing student at Diné College as part of the . That means that I take college credit courses while completing my high school degree. This is my 4th silversmithing class here at the Diné College and my 3rd class with my instructor, . This semester was very challenging, informative, and fun! I learned so much and am excited for this coming summer because I’m thinking of all the projects I ..read more

NCA197 Navajo Cultural Arts Practicum Student, Weaver My name is Brenna Clani-Washinawatok. Ta’neeszahnii nishli, Tachiinii bashishchiin, Bit’ahnii dashicheii, dóó To Dich’ii’nii dashinali. I am a student at earning a certificate in Navajo Cultural Arts with an emphasis on weaving through the (NCAP). I am also a mother, wife, and practicing attorney from Upper Fruitland. I entered NCAP in the Spring of 2021 after much reflection since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. The pandemic caused so much chaos, fear, isolation, and anxiety. My weaving provided peace-of-m ..read more

Interviewing Indigenous Visionaries: Dr. Delores Greyeyes,  Director of the Navajo Department of Corrections Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Student, American Indian College Fund Indigenous Visionaries Fellow American Indian College Fund Indigenous Visionaries fellowship , I had the great privilege to interview Dr. Delores Greyeyes, Director of  as I continue my women leadership journey as a weaver. I selected Dr. Greyeys because of her studies in the criminal justice system and her traditional upbringing, including being raised by a weaver. Dr. Greyeyes’s started her leadershi ..read more

Connecting with Unconnected Lines and Vibrating Colors NAS111: Introduction to Native American Studies Student "It's a new thing," says painter and 2D artist Don Whitesinger. "Just learn it." He’s talking about adapting to the virtual classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic, but you could safely infer that this is how he approaches teaching and art.  Whitesinger is an abstract contemporary artist. He calls his work "visual aesthetic expression." I chose to watch and respond to Whitesinger's  T'áá awołí bee: Navajo Contemporary Arts Lecture Series  presentation because I admi ..read more

NCA197 Navajo Cultural Arts Practicum Student, Weaver ! Hello my name is Shania Homer and I am painter who is now learning how to weave! My 1st clan is bitter water, 2nd clan is tangle, 3rd clan is zuni edge water, 4th clan is start of the red streak. I was born in Page Arizona and was raised in Cedar Ridge Arizona. I’m 20 years old and a freshman student at Diné College. The first class I took at Diné College was Navajo rug weaving last spring. I liked it so much that I’m now currently enrolled in the This is me holding up a painting I did while taking this class. Our classes started off  ..read more

Teddy Draper, Silversmith and Life Coach NAS111: Introduction to Native American Studies As part of our NAS111: Introduction to Native American Studies course, we covered a variety of topics. One segment addressed art and media. We were given the task of learning from contemporary Native American Artists. I chose to watch to T'áá awołí bee: Navajo Contemporary Arts Conversation Series as part of our continuation of hearing from Native voices. Many artists participated in this Navajo Cultural Arts Program (NCAP) series and I chose . a renowned silversmith and painter who was interviewed by ..read more

The Photographer, Professor, Curator, Daughter, and Mother NAS111: Introduction to Native American Studies ​As a part of Fall 2021, I am a student of the Introduction to Native American Studies course. During the section of this course we covered topics about Native American aesthetics and expressive culture. We were provided with a lot of contemporary perspectives through so I chose to write about an artist who was interviewed from the  T’áá awołí bee: Navajo Contemporary Arts Lecture Serie And as I thought about which interview to watch and explore the connection between identity and th ..read more

Recaping Indigenous Visionaries: The Burden and Blessing of Cultural Preservation as a Navajo Weaver Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Student, American Indian College Fund Indigenous Visionaries Fellow To start, I would like to acknowledge the Diné College Navajo Cultural Arts Program for bestowing upon me this opportunity to fulfill my dreams of becoming a master weaver. Also, to American Indian College Fund for collaborating with Tribal Colleges to preserve Native American culture and provide the platform for students to build their leadership skills. Lastly, I would like to thank the teache ..read more

The Twill Weavers Gift:  Working with Indigenous Visionary, Vigie Fausto Navajo Weaving BFA Student, American Indian College Fund Indigenous Visionaries Fellow It is often said that people come into your life for a reason; it is up to you how you respond to their presence.  As a parent to five children, certain teachers have left a big impact on our lives, from elementary to middle school to high school.  And then there are people who come into our lives unexpectedly and we still learn a thing or two from them.  My story is about how an aspiring weaver has taught me about t ..read more

Indigenous Visionary: Self-Determination, Personal Accountability, Humility, Critical Self-Reflection, and Self-Care 2020/21 American Indian College Fund Indigenous Visionaries Mentor In September of 2020, I was approached by the American Indian College Fund to serve as a mentor for their . But I wasn't sure that I was the ideal person, per-say - like my fellows, I had a hard time envisioning myself as a leader. My goal has always been to just make it happen - I was never seeking the title of leader But I envisioned what the fellows could accomplish with such an opportunity so I put ..read more