NAC-SNM 40TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION – Commemoration and celebration of where it all started.

August 10, 2022

Tree Meadows, Shiprock, New Mexico, Navajo Nation, USA

NAC-SNM 40TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION

A new beginning – a renaissance, if you will.

~ Michael Burgess (Comanche), Emcee
Commemoration and celebration of where it all started five decades ago—the humble Dayish abode at Tree Meadows, Shiprock, Navajo Nation. NAC-SNM and the fellow NAC community joined together to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. A new beginning – a renaissance, if you will – as the commemoration celebration occurred two days after the start of its 41st year of service (inc. 07-27-81). The Commemoration Task Force had the distinct pleasure of honoring Navajo NAC relatives who left an indelible mark on the Native American Church-State of New Mexico’s evolution, formation, and service over the years.

TREE MEADOWS
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TREE MEADOWS
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NAC-SNM Next Gen team was out in full force for the commemoration and blessed the event with vibrant and youthful energy. Next Gen team members manned all aspects of the celebration—compiling and creating PowerPoint content and presentation, greeting guests, showcasing commemorative items, creating table centerpieces, catering delicious noon meal (and serving guests), speaking from the podium, gifting honorees, setting up tipis, carving the moon, laying out the tipi wood, purchasing food items, preparing ceremonial breakfast, holding principal roles in the prayer service . . . and so much more! As we look to the next 40 years, NAC-SNM is in good hands (thanks Dad/Nali/Chei Frankie Dayish)! The Task Force tips their hat to the Next Gen team for superb engagement and leadership.

I. The Opening Ceremony.

“Early on in the commemoration, the Committee said thank you to early supporters of NAC-SNM Chapter and of our elder, forgive me but I am going to say his name, Frankie Dayish. Frankie made a lot of acquaintances with our people in the Midwest, Oklahoma, Montana, Texas, and Nebraska. This is a commemoration of the support for this chapter – honoring and remembering the ones that supported NAC-SNM in the early times,” said Mike Burgess. With those eloquent words, the commemoration celebration was underway. Upper Fruitland Color Guard posted the NAC-SNM organization and United States flags. Josh Pinto rendered songs for our beautiful colors. Dr. Russell Blackbird offered a moving invocation in his Omaha language. Nelson Begaye offered a warm welcome to receive guests and honorees.

MIKE BURGESS
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UPPER FRUITLAND COLOR GUARD
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JOSH PINTO
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RUSSELL BLACKBIRD
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NAC-SNM COLORS
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NELSON BEGAYE
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LINDA BENALLY
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II. The Purpose.

“Our past is important for the present and the future because it shapes events today and projects its influence into tomorrow,” said Linda Benally, Task Force Chair. The year-long commemoration preserved stories of the NAC through honoring and telling elders’ oral stories. Linda explained that in Cheyenne Arapaho, 4th generation leaders, such as Charlie Haag and Wilbur Goodblanket, spoke about their patriarchs. Many in the NAC know of Charlie and Wilbur’s fathers and several know of their grandfathers, but many are less familiar with their great-grandfathers. We heard oral stories, teachings, and about special moments they spent with their elders.

Linda noted that elders are our most precious resource as they can help us teach our children right. To illustrate, she shared the experience she had in Rocky Boy, Montana with Earl Arkinson, Bobby Murie, and Francis Eagleman. Linda said, “I had ease and peace and experienced the love of family, parents, and grandparents as Earl, Bobby and Francis sat with us, prayed with us, listened to us, talked with us, laughed with us, and encouraged us.” These are treasured moments that no words can fully describe.

FRANCIS EAGLEMAN
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EARL ARKINSON
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ROBERT MURIE
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DR. RUSSELL BLACKBIRD
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She shared that in fulfilling our purpose of the NAC Ambassador Tour, the path led us to relative Russell Blackbird and his wife Anne. They joined us in Walthill, Nebraska to honor his late father Elmer Blackbird, and as good relatives do, they joined us in support in Farmington, NM for the commemoration event. Friendships from a time past rekindled.

The purpose is to say thank you and make our best effort to remember our dad’s teachings and ways and friendships. Of significance, we traveled this path with our mother, Hazel, siblings, children, and grandchildren. We heard the song carriers, the oral story tellers, the keepers of the drum, various tribal languages, and we experienced indigenous lands and people, and strived to achieve one in prayer. The children and grandchildren heard the stories of each region we visited and now they carry it in their heart, and it is now part of their story. Our family is enriched by the experience, and we grew in many ways during this time, including the addition of a new grandchild, Diana Kay, who was born in March 2022.

JAIME & DIANA KAY
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III. Fellowship with Four Corners Region NAC Organizations & NAC-SNM Year in Review.

Following the collaboration with Cheyenne Chapter No. 1, NAC of Omaha Tribe of Macy, Nebraska, and NAC of Rocky Boy’s Reservation, NAC-SNM invited NAC chapter representatives from the Four Corners region (AZ, UT, CO) to the commemoration. The celebration included remarks and presentations by Sarah Fanman, Monument Valley NAC; CJ Woodie, Steamboat Halfmoon Fireplace; and Terry Knight, NAC of Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. More to come on chapter presentations in a future article.

TERRY KNIGHT
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SARAH FANMAN
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CJ WOODIE
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Leo Dayish, President, shared NAC-SNM’s incorporation story, his late father’s vision, and how his father advised and led the organization for five decades. He shared the contributions of Lewis C. Jones and Eddie Hill (both early and unrelenting supporters of dad Frankie), and prior officers including Frank Dayish, Thomas Yazzie, Nelson Begaye, Arnold Williams, Ed Yazzie, and Loretta Hill. He shared heartfelt stories about the unbreakable relationship that Frankie and Robert Billy Whitehorse formed in the early 1990’s, which lasted up to Uncle Robert’s passing in 2020. He also recounted the various events that were part of the commemoration, including the Amada Cardenas webinar, children’s poster contest, Veteran’s Day event, the Ambassador Tour, and monthly prize drawings, to name a few. He thanked all those who supported along the way.

IV. The In Memoriam Tributes & The Closing Ceremony.

ROBERT BILLY WHITEHORSE
EDDIE HILL
FRANKIE DAYISH

Tribute was honorably made for Eddie Hill, Robert Billy Whitehorse, and Frankie Dayish. Remarkable life stories of each given by Leo, Leathan, and Terry Dayish. This was followed by remarks by family members Mary Hill, Arlene Whitehorse, and Hazel Dayish. We learned from Arlene and Hazel as they told their life stories as seen through their eyes and their experience–indeed, a showcase of resiliency of Native American women.

TERRY KNIGHT
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Terry Knight rendered inspirational closing remarks. He stated that his grandson Darwin Whiteman, Jr. asked him to stand in his stead, “I think of him and wish him a good and safe trip to Aberdeen, South Dakota as he travels on behalf of our Ute Tribe tribal council.” Mr. Knight also said he thought about his grandmother – looking around the room today and thinking about what transpired today. “I want to thank all the women, all that you go through for the family, children, grandchildren. Thinking along with what my sisters (Hazel & Arlene) said today, they have a lot on their mind, they have witnessed a lot and put up with a lot for their families. I want to express my gratitude to the women-folk and all the ceremonies that we have – they have a big part, standing by us, supporting us all the time. We lean on them without knowing. I want to acknowledge the women-folk and those things today.” With these words and teachings to which we all aspire, Terry Knight went into prayer to close the NAC-SNM 40th Anniversary Commemoration program.

Looking ahead with toolkit in hand filled with history and knowledge. Rollin Haag, Jr. (Cheyenne) and Sam Dee (Navajo) led us in prayer in tipi meetings as they followed the pattern laid by our founder and their elders. Thank you, Rollin and Sam, for paving a way for NAC-SNM for many more years to come. Your prayers and support are with our Next Gen members who are tooled up and prepared to lead NAC-SNM as they look ahead to the 50th Anniversary of NAC-SNM.

Extending gratitude and appreciation. Much gratitude to the generosity of those who lent their expertise and time: Joy Avila, Dolores Brandon, Tom Maroukis, Dr. Stacy Schaefer, Michael Burgess, and Juan Carlos Avila.

We thank all the donors and volunteers including Alyce Joe and family (Nenahnezad/Shiprock), Casey Tanner (Tanner Sweets), Andy Kellywood (Photographer), Harry and Neva Jones, Etta Arviso, and Kerlena Tso and family.

We also say thank you to Terry Knight, Sarah Fanman, and CJ Woodie for their participation.

Thank you to Rollin Haag, Jr., Sam Dee, Malcolm Whitebird, Jr., and the prayer service principals. The commemoration celebration would not have been possible without you—thank you!