Ceremonial kicks off
Six vie for queen title
Audris Joe
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A new Miss Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial queen will
be crowned Saturday after three days of competition.
The pageant officially began Wednesday at the Best Western Inn and
Suites. Six traditionally dressed young women vying for the title
of Miss Ceremonial modeled their traditional regalia.
Nearly 200 people attended the luncheon sponsored by the Gallup Soroptomist
Club. The Soroptmists awarded the 2000 Woman of Distinction to District
Attorney Mary Ellen Baber.
At the luncheon, the contestants modeled while pre-recorded tapes
to avoid jitters played. In the tapes, the contestants described the
outfits they were wearing and a brief biography.
The current Miss Ceremonial is Natasha Lynn John, 23, of Twin Lakes.
John thanked the Ceremonial Association for making her reign a wonderful
experience. John said, "During my reign, I tried to focus on
the younger generation by making frequent appearances at local schools
to stress the importance of education."
This year's contestants are all Navajo and they are: Wilpita Lynn
Bia, 21, of Many Farms, Ariz., Andrea Tovar, 19, of
Gallup, Carmelita Upshaw, 23, of St. Michaels, Ariz., Claudia Edgewater,
22, of Gallup, Latasha Hildreth, 19, of Vanderwagen and Valina Ann
Chee, 22, of Breadsprings.
Contestants will be judged on public speaking, a written essay entitled
"Between Two Worlds," a fashion demonstration, modern talent,
a traditional or cultural activity, and a private interview with judges.
The public can select Miss Photogenic from a photo display at Red
Rock State Park. The sash for Miss Photogenic will be awarded tonight
at the conclusion of the southwestern fashion demonstration and modern
talent. That event will begin at 5 p.m. at Red Rock's amphitheater.
The traditional Ceremonial night parade has been changed this year
to 10 a.m. Friday, beginning at Aztec Five Theater. The parade will
go to First Street and then proceed to Coal Avenue and back to Aztec
Five.
The Miss Congeniality title will be awarded at the conclusion of the
traditional/cultural talent event at 5 p.m. Friday. Miss Congeniality
title is based on helpfulness, friendliness and compatibility during
the four-day competition.
Judges will select the new Miss Ceremonial based on the total points
contestants gain from the competition's five rounds.
Her crowning will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday at Red Rock State
Park at the beginning of the night's performance.
The Ceremonial queen committee includes: Alex Ashley, Joann Apodaca,
Priscilla Lee, Nancilee Howes, Laurel Felson, Audris Joe and Marla
Dee.
"It's hard work," Howes said. "This doesn't come together
in just a couple of days. It takes a couple of people to actually
get the girls ready for the four-day competition."
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Gold concho belt wins best of show
Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff Writer
CHURCH ROCK — Crowds were moderate to heavy at the opening preview
night at the 79th annual Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial at Red Rock
State Park.
People were browsing, revisiting old friends, and buying arts and
crafts as the Ceremonial Association lifted its ban on Wednesday night
sales. The night began with the traditional barbecue hosted by the
Lions Club and a fashion show of Native
American clothing.
Then the exhibit hall opened and the excitement and anticipation of
who won this year's Best of Show was over.
A 14 karat gold inlay concho belt by artist Roderick R. Tenorio took
the top prize this year. Entered in the overlay and appliqu class,
the belt consisted of 10 gold panels with scenes of Indian images.
Tenorio is from Santo Domingo.
Other big winners included Best in Class artist Wilber Murphy for
his painting "Navajo Sunrise," a large oil painting of a
hogan on a hill at sunrise; Clara Sherman, for her Two Grey Hills
rug made of hand-carded and spun wool in black aniline dye; Barbara
and Joseph Cerno of Acoma Pueblo for their very large hand-painted
pot; Rett L. Adams of Hopi for a handmade shallow, green, red, yellow
and white basket in the basket category; Estella Loretto of Jemez
Pueblo for her bronze sculpture "Reawakening"; Choctaw artist
Elena Carol Pate for her piece in the tribal arts category "Crying
for a Vision" (a one-foot high figure in white beaded buckskin
with a blank white face, pigtails and a baby on back); and Hopi artist
Dennis Tewa for his carved wood kachina.
Indian traders who hadn't had booths in years were in the exhibit
hall, proudly displaying their favorite Indian artists and traditional
favorites.
Indian trader Joe Tanner and his wife Cindy had a huge booth in the
corner of the hall, immediately noticeable by the old
Navajo rugs prominently displayed on the walls. Tanner had not been
at Ceremonial since 1987.
"It felt so good walking in the door," Cindy Tanner said.
"It's quaint, homey and it's our baby."
The Tanners were showing some of their fanciest turquoise cabs and
some of the quality material for which they are famous. Royal web,
Italian coral and Preston Monongye pieces filled their booth.
"We don't expect to make a lot of money," Cindy Tanner said.
"But we're going to have a lot of fun."
Shush Yaz also had a booth and owner Don Tanner joked about buying
the Best of Show concho belt by Roderick Tenorio.
The old favorites also had booths. Abraham Begay of Flagstaff said
he had been selling at Ceremonial for eight to 10 years.
Begay's wife Paula said they see many of their clients from the East
Coast who come out for Ceremonial, and they always have good sales.
A lot of the pieces on display, some with ribbons, some without, stood
out in the glitter of the showcases. Jeweler Vernon Haskie had several
pieces, including a gold and inlaid stone bracelet and a 18 karat
pearl ring in the contemporary jewelry division and jeweler Wes Willie's
large gold, coral and diamond bracelet for $13,000 stood out among
the jewelry entries.
Jeweler Ray Yazzie showed off a 18k gold and coral bracelet that he
was trying to finish to enter in this year's Santa Fe Indian Market.
The deadline is Thursday. In Tanner's Indian Arts booth, a faceted
lapis bead necklace caught many eyes.
"Oh, that wasn't made here," Joe Tanner said of the blue
beads. "I bought it in Tucson."
One piece that had people talking was a soft sculpture by Haida artist
Carol Young.
Made of sculpy and wood, the piece depicted a rather nasty-looking
Catholic nun cutting the long black hair of a confused and scared-looking
little Indian girl in a gingham dress. It was titled "Cultural
Genocide" and pulled no punches about the point it was trying
to convey.
In the painting room, some different style paintings than usual were
on display, again, some with ribbons, some without.
S.D. Nelson's "Custer's Last Stand" looked like a ledger
painting. Of mixed media, the piece sold for $1,300. Nelson also had
another ledger style painting called "Manifest Destiny Small
Pox" depicting a Catholic priest standing among dead spotted
bodies outside a village of empty teepees.
Ronald Chee's "Yeii" in the print making category had a
crowd of people standing around it and Wayne Beyale's "Five Night
Warriors" watercolor on what looked like linen was catching the
eye of many.
Sculptor Charlie Pratt had a piece called "Rainbow Walkers"
that consisted of metal cornstalks, with ears of corn made of different
stones such as turquoise. It was listed for $14,000.
The quality of work was high and people were enthusiastic about the
good crowd and some of the old traders who came back to show at Ceremonial.
Ceremonial activities will continue through Sunday, with the exhibit
hall open throughout most of the events.
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Tribal youth office is still years away
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Kelsey Begaye's dream of a separate tribal division
for youth is a step closer, yet still far away.
The Navajo Nation Council's Budget and Finance Committee told the
Navajo president on Tuesday that a separate program
for youth cannot be formed until fiscal year 2002.
Begaye missed the June 30 deadline to change the Plans of Operation,
he was told by the Government Services Committee on Tuesday. The committee,
which oversees the executive offices, discussed the proposed transfer
of the entire Department
of Youth-Community Services of the Education Division to the executive
offices.
If the transfer had been approved to begin Oct. 1, 2000, it would
be the eighth executive office program reporting directly to the president.
DYCS would be renamed the Office of Diné Youth with its $3
million budget remaining intact. (The total includes a $1 million
supplemental appropriation that may or may not be approved for fiscal
year 2001.)
Begaye originally wanted it to become a full-fledged Executive Branch
division, the 15th in the largest branch. He told the committee that
the anticipated cost of $39 million was just too high, so he decided
to try a less expensive approach.
But a condition of appropriation attached to the current budget in
September required all proposals for any reorganization to be completed
by the end of the third quarter, or June 30.
Each division's council oversight committee must approve amending
the affected Plan of Operation, which mean the Education Committee
must approve the Education Division giving up DYCS and the Government
Services Committee must approve the president adding the department
to his division.
With a proposed executive offices budget totaling $3.7 million, the
addition of the new office would have almost doubled that.
If the president had been able to gain approval for the lock-stock-and-barrel
transfer, it would have been a crown jewel to present to the Youth
Summit coming up Aug. 14-15.
Begaye, in his message to the Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday,
said, "Navajo youth are our most valuable resource. They are
leaders of today and we will continue to promote their efforts and
accomplishments."
In his Judicial Branch budget presentation Monday, Navajo Supreme
Court Chief Justice Robert Yazzie underscored the impact of youth
on Diné society.
"Our population is growing at an estimated rate of 15 percent
a year; half of our population is under age 20; 41 percent of our
population is children; and 25 percent of the whole population is
children who are 9 years of age and under," Yazzie said.
"What does this tell us? It says that we had better start thinking
about stopping crime and violence by helping children."
The president also unveiled that Chinle, one of the four largest communities
on the reservation, will be the focus of a new economic development
effort using bonding, something the tribe has not done, but which
is a common financing tool of state and local governments.
Begaye also commented about the long-talked about tribal prison project,
the Harvard University American Indian Economic Development program
and an international indigenous peoples campaign.
Begaye and the other two branch chiefs agreed in March 1999 that economic
development would be the No. 1 priority because it would provide the
money to pay for the many social services.
The president said, "The Navajo Nation has embarked on a new
initiative to help spark economic activity in certain areas of the
reservation," with Chinle being the pilot project.
A master plan will be written. It involves good planning and professional
management, attracting quality tenants, the integration of major retail
space, the complete use of bond financing, and working with the local
chapter, he said. The Begaye-McKenzie administration submitted it
as part of the budget now being assembled.
Begaye told the committee the bond concept will be submitted to the
council for the fall session in October and that he envisions using
$26 million of unused capital improvement funds as part of the effort.
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Speaker asks for new tribal tax
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation Council Speaker Edward T. Begay has
proposed a new tribal tax.
The money would be used to provide more permanent staff to chapters,
he said.
Begay's tax proposal came in his fiscal year 2001 budget message on
Tuesday to the Budget and Finance Committee. The money panel began
its annual two-week review of branch and division spending requests
for the coming year.
"I don't think we need a high level of taxation, but something
simple, such as imposing a tax that is less than 1 percent,"
Begay said. He wants to dedicate that levy to refilling the undesignated
reserve, which the council traditionally used to balance the budget.
Begay noted President Kelsey Begaye has mentioned establishing taxes
many times in his quarterly speeches as one way to increase tribal
revenue to pay for services demanded by the people.
The 1998 Appropriations Act requires that the undesignated reserve
be set aside for emergency operation of the central government and
establishes the level as one-half of the previous year's general fund,
which is $101.7 million this year.
Begay also proposed setting up a special fund for capital improvements,
especially to match state funds, a program done mostly by the State
of New Mexico.
He said several elected state officials recommend a greater Navajo
Nation presence during state legislative sessions. But because New
Mexico, Arizona and Utah lawmakers meet for only a fraction of the
year, the speaker wants to spend $150,000 to hire separate consultants
to work in Santa Fe, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Begay also wants to establish a local governance trust fund, but subsidizing
the chapters for permanent additional staff also will require central
government programs to be shifted to the five agency centers so that
the needed general fund dollars are transferred to the chapters.
The speaker proposes to use half the interest from the Permanent Trust
Fund, which will be available in six years, to pay for the new trust
fund.
His proposal would provide one-time grants to chapters, once they
are governance-certified. For instance, the only current certified
chapter, Shonto, would add the $160,000 to its general fund allocation
of $143,000, for a total of $303,000. And most of the added money,
about $130,000 annually, also would be available in following years,
raising the chapter's basic
budget to $273,000 a year.
Begay concluded, "Through the upcoming fiscal year, there is
a need to provide more attention to reorganizing the central government
so that direct services can be housed at the agency offices closer
to the Navajo people. There should be significant preparation for
the time (when) chapters will be governance certified and be able
to contract for services."
The Legislative Branch proposed budget from Oct. 1, 2000, through
Sept. 30, 2001, is $10.1 million, including indirect cost support
of $1.3 million. For fiscal year 2000 it is $9.4 million, not counting
supplemental money added during the year.
Here are the proposed general fund budgets for the 25 Legislative
Branch programs:
Council $3.7 million; Ethics and Rules Committee, $66,891; Economic
Development Committee, $60,918; Budget and Finance Committee, $76,174;
Inter-Government Relations Committee, $75,618; Human Services Committee,
$56,776; Transportation-Community Development Committee, $75,422;
Health and Social Services Committee, $64,014; Education Committee,
$67,330; Resources Committee , $67,160; Judiciary Committee, $68,058;
Government Services Committee, $62,639; Public Safety Committee, $59,847;
Legislative Services, $1.3 million; Speaker's Office, $1.1 million;
Election Administration, $650,258; Board of Election Supervisors,
$66,840; Auditor General,$632,528; Legislative Counsel, $768,950;
Government Development, $297,299; Ethics and Rules Office, $244,302;
Labor Commission, $215,470; Navajo Utah Commission, $154,348; Black
Mesa Review Board, $67,823; and Navajo-Hopi Land Commission, $65,189.
| Top |
Holyan looking to make up ground in Gallup
Santiago Ramos
Sports Editor
CHURCH ROCK - Defending Ceremonial all-around and Indian National
Finals Rodeo all-around world champion Ed Holyan says he has some
serious catching up to do.
Holyan, the former Coyote Canyon cowboy now residing in Casa Grande,
Ariz., will be among the nearly 500 contestants vying for top honors
during the 79th Annual Gallup Ceremonial Rodeo that kicks off Friday
morning at Red Rock State Park.
"I need to pick it up,"said the 36-year-old Holyan during
a telephone interview from his home in Casa Grande after spending
a couple of hours sharpening his calf roping and bulldogging skills.
"The rodeo season's been just average so far but I'm alive and
healthy. It could be worse. I need to catch up..."
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Damon-Bahe boxers continue to dominate
Carrie Loretto
Staff Sports Writer
FT. DEFIANCE, Ariz. — The Damon-Bahe Boxing Club continues to
dominate the boxing arena, most recently at the Good Sheperd Mission
tournament held in Ft. Defiance.
Led by Outstanding Boxers of the tournament Brian Sam of Chinle and
Lowell Bahe, the team captured the team title.
Sam defeated Shiprock's Jeremiah Joe in the 150 lbs. Junior Division
and was voted the individual honor following the tournament.
Bahe captured the 145 lbs. intermediate weight class defeating Duke
Yazzie...
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Fires stress native plants
Traditionalists: Drought, fire are a warning
Catherine Feher-Elston
Special to the Independent
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Thunder shakes the earth and lightning opens
up the skies, releasing the sweet blessing of rain. The monsoons have
finally returned to the Colorado Plateau, easing the suffering of
the worst fire season in 50 years.
The San Francisco Peaks, sacred to the Diné, Hopi, Zuni, Apache,
Pai and Paiute, serve as a type of Indian pharmacy, and lands around
the peaks have been hard hit by fire this season.
The peaks and the surrounding complexes of hills, cinder cones and
riparian areas are among the most sacred of sacred lands in Indian
country. For generations, traditional herbalists have offered prayers
and taken care of various herb gardens in the area. This year's fire
season has destroyed vast areas of sacred ceremonial and curative
plants, and it will take at least two years to recover, according
to regional ethnobotanists...
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County against extra RMCH tax
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Though the McKinley County Commissioners agreed to help
secure extra money for Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital for this
year, they said they would not support an increase in taxes to continue
getting extra money in the future.
The New Mexico Medical Assistance Division had an excess of $33 million
this year from federal Medicare funds and state Medicaid funds. That
money can be given to health care providers in the state, said John
McMullin, vice president of finance for RMCH.
The hospital must match 25 percent of the funds, McMullin said. In
other words, for every dollar RMCH commits to the fund, the state
will give three. RMCH will raise $288,000 and the state will give
more than $800,000. (The state will charge a fee for the transaction.)
RMCH will have a total of more than $1 million in the end for indigent
patients.
The McKinley County Commissioners agreed to help RMCH and will provide
$144,000, or half of what is needed. At their next meeting, the commissioners
will formally vote to do so...
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Walk raises money to fight cancer
Milan event begins Friday
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
MILAN — At exactly 6 p.m. Friday, 10 teams of area friends and
neighbors, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, workers and co-workers
will meet at Zuni Mountain Golf Course to begin something pretty spectacular.
They will be walking in teams for the Relay for Life, a nationwide
event sponsored by the American Cancer Society to walk under the New
Mexico sun and stars until noon Saturday in a humanitarian effort
to wipe out cancer. The walk will take place on the golf course grounds.
Ruby Jiron, chairperson of this year's event, said it is not as large
as it has been in previous years, but the effort is just as crucial
for the millions of people in a life-and-death struggle with cancer...
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Missing Milan cash still puzzle
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
MILAN — Until the state auditor's office releases the village
audit, no one will know exactly how much money allegedly is missing
from various accounts.
However, the amount is believed to be between $100,000 and $300,000
and village clerk Sandra Gonzales is suspect in the case.
Village trustees in a special meeting May 19 officially suspended
Gonzales without pay. Gonzales worked for the village for 23 years.
Gary Gaylord, the auditor conducting the state audit, held an exit
audit interview with Village Mayor Elisabeth Lopez-Rael and Village
Manager David Jiron on Tuesday...
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Deaths
Ernest Gilbert Moore
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Graveside services for Ernest Gilbert Moore,
46, were held at 9 a.m. today, Aug. 10, at the Glendale Memorial Cemetery,
7844 N. 61st Ave., Glendale.
Moore died Aug. 1 in Phoenix. He was born April 20, 1954, in Fort
Defiance, Ariz.
Moore attended Window High School and graduated in 1971 from Moon
Valley High School in Phoenix. He was active in
high school wrestling, placing third in state competition his senior
year. He also attended Brigham Young University from 1971-73.
He was employed with Bell Telephone Co. and U.S. West for 23 years,
receiving various outstanding service awards. He was a member of the
Latter-Day Saints Mormon Placement Program. He enjoyed keeping in
shape, playing backyard football and basketball.
Survivors include sons, Christopher Steven Moore, and Eric Gregory
Moore; daughter, Jessican Lynn (Moore) Colledge; and one grandson.
Moore was preceded in death by parents, Flora and William Moore Sr.,
and brothers, William Moore Jr. and Herman Moore.
Pallbearers will be Dan Vezie, Loren Tapahe, Ken Colledge, Christopher
Moore, Lance Hughes and Henry
Moore.
Kee Hernandez
DENNEHOTSO, Ariz. — Funeral services for Kee Hernandez, 64, will
be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Brewer, Lee & Larkin
Chapel in Shiprock. Interment will follow services at the community
cemetery in Dennehotso.
Hernandez died Aug. 7 in Monicello, Utah. He was born June 13, 1936,
in Dennehotso.
Survivors include brothers, Tully Hernandez of Washington, D.C., and
Leo Hernandez of Denver, Colo.; and sister, Ella Mae Begay of Dennehotso.
Ella R. Chee
SUNDANCE — Funeral services for Ella R. Chee, 61, will be announced
at a later date.
Chee died Aug. 9 in Gallup. She was born May 4, 1939, in Fort Wingate
for the Towering House People Clan into the Black Streak People Clan.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Sofia Rivera
GAMERCO — Funeral services for Sofia Rivera, 45, will be announced
at a later date.
Rivera died Aug. 9 in Willcox, Ariz. She was born Sept. 15, 1954,
in Torreon.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Raquel "Rachel" Rivera
GAMERCO — Funeral services for Raquel "Rachel" Rivera,
18, will be announced at a later date.
Rivera died Aug. 8 in Willcox, Ariz. She was born Feb. 25, 1982, in
Gallup.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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