Contest revives sheep butchering
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — The most challenging aspects facing contestants
as part of every Miss Navajo Nation Pageant do not come from the
intricacies of sheep butchering, or the traditional talent of
Diné songmaking.
Karletta Chief, the reigning Miss Nation Nation for 2000-01, will
tell you the real test comes in preserving tradition. Last year,
the contestants were prepared for the early-morning sheep butchering,
only to have it canceled just before the event due to environmental
health reasons.
"It was disappointing, but they threw in another aspect of
the competition, which was carding and spinning wool," Chief
said.
Kneading dough into the roundish balls that are quick-cooked to
become frybread was also part of last year's pageantry.
This year, Chief said she and the Pageant Committee wanted things
to be a little bit different, with a return to the tradition of
sheep butchering. It captures the essence of one of the Navajos'
traditional ways of life. All meat is roasted over an open fire,
and this time, "tsii kaa shichili," tortilla bread,
was the complement.
On Wednesday morning,four contestants began their quest for the
Miss Navajo Nation crown under shady overhangs at the north end
of Gorman Hall. They are: Jolyana Begay, 20, of Rabbitbrush, N.M.;
Crystal Chee, 19, of Black Mesa, Ariz.;
Shannonlynn Chester, 24, of Greasewood Springs, Ariz.; and Floranda
Dempsey of Teesto, Ariz.
Contestants wore the traditional Navajo velvet dresses and concho
belts, along with sashes marking their locality. They wore aprons
as their only protection against the visceral aspects of butchering
a sheep. Plastic fit snugly over their leggings and mocassins.
The four remained surprisingly clean during the entire process.
Each had the ability to explain every step of mutton production
in their native language as they progressed in front of five judges
and a crowd of about 100 seated in a small set of bleachers.
"I think that's the key they're looking for," Chief
said.
Each year, there are minor or major pageant quirks to overcome.
This time, none were too distracting, though Chief said there
were to be two sheep, not just the one that showed up.
"I think there are several very, very crucial elements along
the way in this competition, and that's what the audience and
the judges notice," she said. "For instance, the initial
step, when you cut the (sheep's) throat, you have to cut it in
the right place.
They look for that."
Asked which contestant gets that task, Chief said "who's
ever bold enough to go over there, or maybe they negotiate it
amongst themselves. Usually there's a bold person among the group."
The two given the honor were Chester and Begay.
Butchering skills involve a series of ties and fine cuts. The
esophagus is tied off, and so is the anal section. The carcass
is hanged so that the breast section is easily trimmed. Filets
and tenderloins are produced.
No part of the sheep is wasted. The head is cooked separately.
Even the stomach and intestines are cooked over the fire. Since
the contestants do not have food handler permits, the cooked mutton
goes to the Pageant Committee, not family and onlookers.
"They really know what they're doing," said Alfred Nelson
of Black Mesa, watching the quartet continue their tasks on a
long table.
The entrails of the sheep can be cooked or boiled, and stuffed
with other foods such as potatoes, corn and green chile.
"It depends on where you're from," Nelson said of the
cook-or-boil choice.
Nelson, a television and radio broadcasting teacher at Chinle
High School, said the most fascinating aspect of the Miss Navajo
Nation Pageant is how the Diné culture is defying the odds
to remain intact. Hands-on skills such as mutton production is
a great way for Diné youth to pick up the vocabulary of
their language, he said.
"Most learning is done by making mistakes, going back to
what you've tried a second or third time," Nelson said.
Tradition or not, reigning Miss Southwestern Navajo, Wendy Denetyazzie,
said the grislier aspects of sheep butchering are something she
can do without. The Miss Southwestern pageant involves essay writing,
and demonstrations of modern and traditional skills and talents.
Butchering is not required.
"I've seen it done once before, when I was small, but when
they cut the throat it gets to me," Denetyazzie said.
Less squeamish was Tom Caughron of Claremont, Calif., making his
first trip to the Navajo Nation via an Amtrak trip from Los Angeles
to Gallup. Caughron, a Scottish-American, said the Scots are highly
fond of blood sausage, which they call "haggis." So
Navajo reverence for cooked innards is something he applauds,
and joked that "in Scotland, they stuff it with oatmeal and
make Scotch whiskey.
"It's the piece de resistance for a good Scottish feast."
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Chinle man arrested for murder
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Gallup Police arrested a Chinle, Ariz., man Wednesday
for the murder of Lola Yazzie of Gallup.
Lt. John Allen said this morning that Rocky Yazzie, 25, who also has
identification cards from Albuquerque and Rapid City,
S.D., was captured in South Dakota early Wednesday by the Rapid City
Police after Gallup Police filed an arrest warrant in Gallup District
Court.
Judge Grant Foutz issued a $200,000 arrest warrant. Rocky Yazzie has
not given a statement to police. Allen isn't sure if he has a previous
record.
Gallup Police Chief Daniel Kneale praised the detectives this morning.
"They did a very good job. With what they had initially, I'm
very impressed," Kneale said. "They still have some leg
work to do, but I'm proud of the work they did."
Lola Yazzie, 49, was found dead, stuffed under her bed, at her home
at 804 Alto St. in Red Hills Trailer Park on Aug. 23. She had been
dead for about two weeks.
She died of strangulation, according to the Office of the Medical
Investigator in Albuquerque after the office performed her autopsy.
While Allen isn't sure of the suspect's relation to the deceased,
Lola Yazzie's friends told police she introduced him before her death
as her nephew. Her family members, however, said they don't know of
Rocky Yazzie.
The arrest of Rocky Yazzie came through dogged investigation of the
Gallup Police with help from the FBI and cooperation of Wells Fargo
Bank and the Independent.
Allen said someone in Chinle read the newspaper and saw the description
of Lola Yazzie's vehicle. The witness called Gallup Police Detective
Matthew Wright on Monday and said her vehicle was parked in Chinle
and had been driven by Rocky Yazzie.
"We tip our hats to assistance from the media," Allen said.
"It turned out to be a key part of the case."
Meanwhile, Rocky Yazzie had been using Lola Yazzie's ATM card in Rapid
City. Wells Fargo bank staff in Gallup reported this activity to Gallup
Police, which is what led police to Rapid City.
Around this time, Rapid City Detective Tom Senesac developed numerous
leads related to the theft of her money since the time of her death.
"He's an amazing detective. If we could box this guy up and ship
him down (to Gallup), we would," Allen said of Senesac.
It was through information Senesac gathered that led Gallup Police
to believe they had the right killer, as they also were investigating
other possible suspects, Allen said.
"We don't make one of our suspects match the evidence, we let
the evidence tell us who our suspect is," Allen said.
While police don't usually describe their suspects as flowers, Allen
said of Rocky Yazzie: "He was the blossom that bore fruit."
Yazzie was found after a co-worker, Roberta Jumbo, 32, felt concerned
about Yazzie since she hadn't reported to work at Navajo Social Services
in Fort Defiance, since Aug. 10. Jumbo went to Yazzie's trailer and
noticed several notes on the trailer door that were dated back to
Aug. 18.
Jumbo met with Johnny Cuellar, the manager of Fleetwood Homes, where
Yazzie bought her new trailer. Cuellar still had a key to Yazzie's
home.
Cuellar and Jumbo met back at Yazzie's home, and Cuellar opened the
door. After the two determined something was amiss, Jumbo called the
police.
Officers found Yazzie, dead, stuffed under her bed, which was made,
according to a police report. A small bloodstain was found on the
foot of the bed.
Police were not able to tell by looking at the body what caused her
death.
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Teen pleads guilty to exposure
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Kendall Cash, the 19-year-old accused of aggravated
indecent exposure in the Grants High School hazing incident last March
in Farmington, has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of indecent exposure.
In a plea and disposition agreement with the San Juan County district
attorney, Cash agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of indecent
exposure, a misdemeanor, on the condition the charge of aggravated
indecent exposure, which is a fourth-degree felony, would be dropped.
Indecent exposure is considered aggravated if the accused exposes
himself with the intent to "threaten or intimidate another person"
while committing one of several acts including exposure to a child
less than 18 years old.
District Judge Lynda B. Eaton deferred charges for 364 days on the
condition Cash does not break any New Mexico laws or commit any similar
offenses. If Cash violates any of the conditions during the next year,
it is possible he would have to face the felony charges.
The hazing incident took place on the bus ride home after a March
6 game in Farmington. Two 14-year-old boys from the middle school
who are on the Grants High School boys' baseball team were "hazed"
by Cash and a 17-year-old boy, school authorities first reported.
Grants school authorities learned of the incident after an angry parent
called the school. On the advice of their attorney, school officials
informed the Grants Police Department, who began an investigation.
The investigation was turned over to New Mexico State Police Agent
Thomas Salizar after the initial investigation determined the jurisdiction
for the case was with the State Police.
The 41-page incident report, which is part of the public record in
the magistrate court in San Juan County, listed three 14-year-olds
as victims and one other boy as a suspect. Salizar and another agent
interviewed the principal and assistant principal, coaches, about
31 students and 20 parents.
According to the report, the younger boys were brought to the back
of the bus and told to touch Cash's penis. At least two of four boys
brought to the back of the bus touched the 19-year-old's penis, according
to the report.
On the advice of an attorney, Cash never spoke to authorities. The
Independent has attempted several times to talk with Cash or members
of his family, but they have declined comment.
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Athletes of the Week
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
The Athletes of the Week for the week of August 28-September 3 are
Chinle Lady Wildcat Kristin St. Germaine and Kirtland Bronco Dax Crum.
St. Geramine, a junior at Chinle High School, won two races last week.
In her first race of the season, St. Germaine won at the Hopi Invitational
last Tuesday. She picked up her second win with a first place finish
at the Peaks Invite Saturday.
"I have started out pretty good," she said.
St. Geramine said that it was cool to be selected as the athlete of
the week.
St. Germaine said that one of her goals for the season is to get to
the state race and to be the state champion. She said that she is
looking foreward to the rest of the season.
This is St. Germaine's fourth season running cross ocuntry. Last season
she placed 10th in the Arizona state championship.
Only a junior, St. Germaine said that after high school she is hoping
for an athletic scholarship to college. She said she would like to
attend Fort Lewis, Northern Arizona University or Adams State.
St. Germaine said that she would like to become more competitive and
more dedicated. She said that the toughest competition she has seen
is at regionals, because that is where she is matched up against most
of the runners that she will compete against in the state race.
This year at the state race, St. Germaine said that she wants to go
the right way.
"Last year I went the wrong way at state," she said.
Crum, a junior at Kirtland High School scored 18 goals this weekend
at the Round Valley tournament. The 18 goals came in four games as
the Broncos took first place in the tournament.
"It is pretty cool," said Crum of being selected Athlete
of the Week. "It is nice to get some recognition."
Crum scored six goals in the Broncos 13-o win over Pinon and then
scored the only two goals in his team's 2-0 win over St. Johns in
the championship.
"I have done pretty good," Crum said of his performance.
"I was a little suprised with my play in the tournament. They
were tough games, but I knew I could do it."
Crum said that his goals for the season are to get 10 assists and
score 40 goals. Crum said that he also has bigger plans for the season.
"I want to be competititve in district as a team, and get to
the state championship," said Crum who got a taste of that success
last year as part of the state championship basketball team.
Crum said that he will keep working hard and after soccer he will
play basketball, baseball and track. He is on the varsity team for
those three sports for the Broncos as well.
"I want to try and be the best that I can be," he said.
After high school Crum said that he is not sure what he wants to do,
but that right now he wants to do a lot of things.
"I want to be a baseball player," he said. Crum also said
that he would like to be a commercial pilot and will continue to sing
and play guitar.
Crum said that of all of his sports he thinks he is a better baseball
player, but that he enjoys basketball most.
The hardest thing for Crum in everything is not to get himself down.
"Staying positive and keepin a good attitude is tough sometimes,"
he said.
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WR finds winning combination
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
FT. DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Wednesday night, the Window Rock Lady Scouts
had the right chemistry.
Scout volleyball coach Amelia Holtsoi is still rearranging her lineup
and found one that worked last night against Chinle as Window Rock
picked up a 15-12 and 15-9 prep volleyball victory at the Ft. Defiance
Fieldhouse.
"We played a little bit better, we played more as a team,"
said Holtsoi. "I have been trying to get my rotation down. We
have a very strong front line and we just need to work on the back.
We have been struggling to find the right rotation chemistry and it
seemed to click tonight."
"We could do better," said Chinle coach Mark Whitt. "I
have to give credit to the Window Rock team. There were times that
we were a little bit disorganized but I think we depend a little bit
too much on a particular player that was sick tonight..."
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Manygoats accepts dare, comes out on top
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Former Navajo Nation Fair Rodeo all-around
champion Janelle Manygoats of Dilkon, Ariz. took up a fellow contestant's
challenge and came out on top.
Manygoats, who claimed both the Navajo Nation Fair Rodeo all-around
title and Navajo Nation Rodeo Cowboys Association finals all-around
title in 1997, took a gamble by going with just one swing of her rope
before throwing it. Manygoats, 18, gained an edge as she posted the
rodeo's fastest time of 3.4 seconds Wednesday night to grab the lead
in the second round of the breakaway roping during the 55th Annual
Navajo Nation Fair Rodeo.
"LA (Williams) challenged me to do one swing," said Manygoats
who will competing on the collegiate rodeo team at Central Arizona
this fall. "I just wanted to get the fastest time with a clean
run after I had a no time in the first round."
The rodeo continues tonight and Friday night with 6 p.m. performances
with over a record 700 contestants vying for a share of the estimated
over $200,000 in cash payoff and prizes...
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Body found near Dilkon
Navajo police suspect murder
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
DILKON, Ariz. — The death of an unidentified man found Saturday
afternoon might be a murder, but Navajo police said they are waiting
on the autopsy in Flagstaff for more details.
The man was found near Mile Post 49 around 4:45 p.m. on the south
side of Bureau of Indian Affairs Route 15 west of Dilkon without
any identification.
He was wearing blue jeans, a buttoned shirt, a choker and a necklace
with a cross.
Anyone with any information should telephone the Navajo police station
in Dilkon at (928) 657-3404 or -3408 or -3276 and ask for detective
Brad Jones...
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Recycling effort has had a 10-year struggle
Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff Writer
GALLUP — It's not easy trying to get people in Gallup and McKinley
County interested in recycling.
Just ask Betsy Windisch and John Nystedt. They've been trying for
about 10 years to raise environmental awareness and provide a place
where locals can recycle plastic, glass, newspaper and cardboard.
So they started the McKinley Citizens' Recycling Council.
"Octavia Fellin was instrumental in getting the recycling group
started," Windish said in a telephone interview. "A man
came over from the Albuquerque solid waste department and spoke
to us and got us all inspired about recycling."
So, in conjunction with "ouRs," a recycling outfit from
Williams Acres, the McKinley Citizens' Recycling Council got the
show on the road...
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New scholarship fund will give young
artists a boost
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — When a group of some of this area's top artists held
a reunion at the recent Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, one
of their goals was to help young artists.
That goal has now been partially fulfilled with the announcement
this week of a decision to award $2,250 in scholarships to area
art students.
These funds were raised as part of the "Reunion of the Masters,"
which was sponsored by the Southwest Indian Foundation in front
of the Gallup Cultural Center during the recent Ceremonial.
Bill McCarthy, director of SWIF, said the reunion turned out better
than expected and that the foundation plans not only to sponsor
a similar event during next year's Ceremonial, but has also decided
to hold another show later this year in conjunction with the Red
Rock Balloon Rally...
Taylor pushes on with drive
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Councilwoman Shirley Taylor said she is a long way
from having all the signatures needed to force a referendum about
selling the land on which the Colorado Greenhouse sits. However,
she still plans to have the petition ready by Sept. 20.
Taylor said she doesn't think her referendum drive is a political
issue, but an open government issue.
"The people of Grants should have an opportunity to discuss
and vote on the sale of this land," Taylor said. "The
petition is not a vote for or against the sale of the greenhouse
land, it is just to put the issue to a vote."
Ordinance 01-1136 was passed by the council on July 26. The ordinance
provides for the "award and sale of the 70-acre parcel of land
underlying the vacated Colorado Greenhouse facility" located
on the south side of Golf Course Road about 1200 feet east of Sakelares
Boulevard...
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Deaths
Mary Leyba
GALLUP — Services for Mary Leyba, 79, will be held at 10 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 7 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Rev. Lawrence J. O'Keefe
will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Rollie Mortuary.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. tonight at Rollie Mortuary.
Leyba died Sept. 3 in Gallup. She was born Nov. 29, 1921, in El Paso,
Texas.
Survivors include her sons, Carl Leyba of Gallup, Eddie Leyba of Moyers,
Okla., and Gilbert Leyba of Pine Haven; daughters, Rosemary Wilson
of Gallup, Eleanor Gonzales of Arlington, Texas, and Anna Marie Gonzales
and Gina Hutson, both of Yah Ta Hey; brothers, Adolfo Barraza and
John Barraza, both of Gallup; sisters, Julia Blackmon of Moreno Valley,
Calif., Ann Caraway of Winslow, Ariz., Alice Harrison of Albuquerque
and Lupe Jones of Poteau, Okla.; 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Leyba was preceded in death by her husband, Sisto Leyba; parents,
Alejo and Mary Ann Barraza; and brothers, Guadalupe Barraza, Manuel
Barraza and Michael Barraza.
Pallbearers will be Patrick Gonzales Jr., John Hutson, Adam Leyba,
Gilbert Leyba Jr., Isaac Leyba and Joseph Leyba.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Stanley Laughing
SAWMILL, Ariz. — Services for Stanley Laughing, 52, will be held
at 10 a.m. Friday Sept. 7, at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Catholic
Church, Fort Defiance. Father Gilbert Schnyder will officiate. Burial
will follow at Fort Defiance Cemetery.
Laughing died Sept. 4 in Sawmill. He was born Aug. 24, 1949, in Sawmill
into the Mexican Clan for the Blacksheep Clan.
Laughing attended Window Rock High School. He was employed with Rawlings
Construction Company and NECA. He received a certificate for heavy
equipment operator and an award from NECA for heavy equipment operator.
His hobbies include repairing vehicles, tending to livestock and traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Mary T. Laughing of Sawmill; daughters,
Ernestine Nozie and Christine Benally, both of Sawmill; brothers,
Tommy Laughing Jr. and Stenson Laughing, both of Sawmill; sisters,
Marye Yazzie, Shammie Begay and Susie Brown, all of Sawmill; and two
grandchildren.
Laughing was preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and Tom Laughing
Sr.; brothers, Richard Laughing and Frank Laughing; and grandparents,
Eli and Susie Smith and Laughing Begay and Ahasdesbah Laughing.
Pallbearers will be Nathaniel Nozie, Quintano Benally, Richardson
Laughing, Herman Begay, Harold Brown and Tommy Laughing Jr.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Sawmill Chapter House.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
George T. Livingston
CORNFIELDS, Ariz. — Services for George Livingston, 78, will
be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 7, at the Ganado United Presbyterian Church.
Paul R. Stone will officiate. Burial will follow in Cornfields.
Livingston died Aug. 31 in Ganado, Ariz. He was born Aug. 7, 1923,
in Cornfields into the Red House for the Bitterwater.
Livingston graduated from high school in Albuquerque. He served in
the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1947 with an honorable discharge. He was
employed as a laborer for the Union Pacific Railroad. He was awarded
certification of military service and certificate of recognition.
Survivors include his sisters, Gladys Chee and Mabel T. Pino, both
of Cornfields.
Livingston was preceded in death by his parents, Benny and Louise
Toadecheenie; brother, Tony Livingston; and sisters, Bessie Nez, Flora
Joe and Anna Mae Caballero.
Pallbearers will be Spencer Chee, Marcello S. Lee, Tom C. Toadecheenie,
Ambrose Chee, Joseph Chee and David Pino.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Mable Pino's residence.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Kiel Murphy Tsosie
INDIAN WELLS, Ariz. — Services for Kiel Tsosie, 15, will be held
at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, Indian Wells. Alfred Clark will officiate. Burial will
follow on family plot, Jeddito.
Tsosie died Sept. 1 in Cornfields. He was born January 1986 in Phoenix
into the Tachine for the Todechine.
Tsosie attended Holbrook High School and Ganado High School. He was
on the junior varsity football team.
Survivors include his parents, Roy and Maxine Tsosie; brothers, Eric
Desidero and Scoot Tsosie; sisters, Lisa Tsosie and Tammy Tsosie;
and grandparents, Habah and Mike Tsosie of Nazlini, Ariz.
Tsosie was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lillian J. and Tommy
Martinez.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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