Diné worried Oprah taping could create further stereotypes
People tickled by star's visit, question why powwow was made primary focus

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — While Oprah Winfrey's visit to the Navajo Nation tickled and thrilled people across the reservation, some Navajo people are concerned that the filming of Navajos performing a powwow may have snowballed further stereotypes for Native Americans.

Because it was not explained to Oprah on camera that powwow is not traditional to the Navajo, people feel that audiences who see the taping will be misled, and other Native American tribes, especially Northern tribes, will be upset to see Navajo's attempting to represent something that is not originally theirs.

"That's how the misconception of Native Americans gets started," said Roy Kady, 40 of Teec Nos Pos. "People (who watch the show) will say, 'Oh, the Navajos are the ones who do the powwow.' Especially coming from a powerful individual like Oprah. People listen to her when she speaks. What will people think? What will they conclude?"

Like many of the people who attended the event, Kady is a fan of Oprah, but was confused as to why powwow was the first thing explained to Oprah. Kady said he has friends who go to powwows and has nothing against powwows, but could not understand why it was emphasized.

Kady came with the non-profit organization "Dib Be'iina, Inc." (Sheep is Life), who provides carding and weaving tools to Navajo families so that they can carry on traditional rug weaving as a means of income. The organization brought five sheep, along with charts and information explaining in detail how sheep are an integral part of Navajo life and economy. The organization was disappointed that information about powwows came before the significance of weaving and sheep in Navajo culture. Kady also believes the wrong impression was given to Oprah about Navajo and that the social ills on the reservation need to be portrayed along with the culture and traditions.

"Oprah is a wonderful person, a great humanitarian, but they showed her the wrong outlook of things here," said Kady. "(The Navajo Nation) is not all glorified and candied up here."

He believes that the visit became somewhat romanticized and will create further confusion about Native people and their way of life.

Even though the event was on Navajo land, Cora Maxx-Phillips, Presidential staff member and narrator for the event, said that the taping was not just to represent Navajo, but all Native Americans.

"They (Harpo Productions) did not only want to reflect on Navajo, in their minds, they wanted Native American culture. Powwow is as diversified as you can get," said Maxx-Phillips. "Their conclusion was to do powwow, they wanted to do powwow to the very end."

Further stereotyping
But some spectators disagree, saying that clumping all Native people together is what leads to further stereotypes.

"They talk about stereotyping and misconception; that's what they did," said Randy Williams, 40. He was unsure and confused about the portrayal of Navajo's performing a powwow, but said that it was good that she at least came out.

"It was good for the nation; it was just poor planning," said Williams. "If another time a celebrity comes again, there will be more planning."

"That (powwow) was out of the ordinary," said Ryan Williams, 17, of Window Rock. "That is only during fair time. It's nontraditional"

Allen Rockie, 50, of Tuba City, who is a veteran with the Western Navajo Veteran's Organization believes that the overall event had a positive impact, although he thinks it could have been better planned.

"I think it was pretty good. At least its a start," he said. "It was not only for Navajo, but for all Natives."

"People interpret however they want to interpret the event," said Maxx-Phillips. "They (Harpo Productions) wanted a flare of the mixture of the whole Native American culture."

"I love Oprah, I love her show," said Isabel Deschinny, 62, of Oak Springs. "But we're not giving her the real look of the Navajo people."

Deschinny expressed excitement and happiness that Oprah was on the Navajo Nation, but was confused and disappointed that powwow became the focal point of the taping, since it is not a traditional practice done by Navajo people. Deschinny felt that powwow shouldn't have superseded the traditional Navajo dancers, and focus that there should have been primary focus on the significance of rug weaving to Navajo.

"It (the taping) will be given to the world to know why didn't they have someone do the background checks on all that?," said Deschinny. "We should (have) give her the real stuff that is here."

Deschinny displayed a variety of dye charts, plants, weaving and carding tools, and rugs to show the taping crew. She has been weaving since she was 14 years old, and teaches traditional Navajo weaving courses at the University of New Mexico-Gallup. She has also written a book on Navajo dyes and plants. Her close friend Henrietta Lynch, 74, came in from Oak Springs with Deschinny to help her out.

"We're the rug people," said Lynch, very confused. "How come that's all left out?"

Both women said they support powwow on Navajo, but feel that it should not have been the first and primary thing presented to Oprah.

"I'm disappointed in a way," said Lynch of Ft. Defiance. "That's not us. Navajo's aren't powwow people."

Both women said they still had a good time, and were excited to see Oprah.

"I thought I was going to get a car," Wilson joked, saying it was her birthday. Both women laughed, and said they will continue to watch Oprah's show everyday since they find her show to be interesting and empowering.

Pushing powwow
Although there were attempts were made to inform Harpo Productions that powwow was not Navajo, officials said they were adamant about making it the focal point.

"That is something that was communicated prior," said Maxx-Phillips. "Every time we talked to them, they kept indicating they want to do the powwow."

"We went strictly according to their directions," said Maxx-Phillips. "When they (Oprah and her filming crew) were still down (near President's office) there, word was sent to me to get that powwow going."

The organization was hoping for a diversification of culture; however, Maxx-Phillips said it didn't happen, since Oprah left earlier than expected after her crew became concerned about security issues. She said the filming crew did get some footage of traditional Navajo dances, although Oprah was not in the filming.

Prior to the visit, the Navajo Nation Department of Tourism was also contacted by Ray Dotch, producer for Harpo Productions, earlier this month about the possibility of having a powwow.

"I told him that powwow is not originally part of Navajo culture," said Roberta John, Administrative Services Officer for the Navajo Nation Department of Tourism. After Dotch had asked where there was going to be a powwow on the reservation, John she explained to him that they usually don't have powwows in the middle of the week, and that powwows are not originally Navajo. She suggested the Navajo Trail Pollen Dancers, out of Canyon De Chelly, but John said Dotch insisted that it had to be on the reservation and it had to be on May 31st.

"I tried to steer him towards Navajo dances," said John. "It seemed he was just in a hurry. He was adamant, saying it had to be powwow."

No fair
John said she suggested filming during the Navajo Nation Fair, since there would be traditional dances, night performances, and a powwow, as well, but they said it would be too many people and they wanted a controlled event. John said that Dotch asked if the tourism department could sponsor a powwow that could be controlled, but she said she explained to him that they are a government entity and cannot sponsor events.

John said they stated their purpose to visit the nation was basically to interview and talk with elders. Ironically, an Elderfest sponsored by the Navajo Area for Aging Program was being held in Fort Defiance the day of Oprah's visit, but Harpo Productions did not attend the event. John was also confused as to why they wanted to focus on powwow, since it is relatively new to Navajo people.

"I don't remember powwow being given to us," said John. "Other tribes probably might wonder."

John said that the taping of the powwow could raise issues and questions with other Native tribes.

"It's something that happened so quickly (the taping)," said John. Because the event was not planned well, John believes an inaccurate picture of who the Navajo people are was given.

"With a major, major event like this, some people appreciate it, some people will misconstrue what was taken here," said Maxx-Phillips.

George Hardeen, Communication's Director for the Office of the President, said that Navajos are dynamic and what makes them unique is that they are able to adapt, which is what they did with powwow.

"We're in a Catch 22," said John. "We're saying we're not powwow, but it's pretty much become mainstream in Navajo."

Powwow pictures and events are listed on the official Discover Navajo Web site, which John believes is where Harpo Productions came up with the idea of focusing on powwow.

"We're just here to promote them (powwow participants) if its a tourism related event," said John.

Despite the visit being cut short, Maxx-Phillips feels that the event was positive for Navajoland and Native Americans.

"It was unbelievable that she came," said Maxx-Phillips.

Maxx-Phillips shared a story with spectators about how Native Americans were referred to as "Red Indians" at a United Arab Emirates conference on the East coast about a year ago. The event had over 71 countries in attendance, who were exposed to stereotypical names for Native people.

"Some countries were calling us the John Wayne Indians," said Maxx-Phillips. "This is one way (the taping) to offset how we are labeled by the outside world from other countries."

Maxx-Phillips doesn't know of a future visit or taping by the show, and said they will be doing a follow-up with Harpo Productions to ask when the show will be aired. She said that dancers were compensated by private donors, and that Harpo Productions paid fees to the Navajo Nation government for the filming. Maxx-Phillips did not know the amount.