The Farmington Museum came alive on August 23 with the 2nd Annual San Juan College Native American Center Navajo Song & Dance Event. Designed as the start to powwow and Native event season, the celebration welcomed all ages for an afternoon of connection, tradition, and joy. Families and friends shared stories, laughter, and movement, while the aroma of fresh fry bread filled the air. Participants showcased routines, bridged generations, and carried on cultural traditions. Visit sanjuancollege.edu for details on future events. By Paige Sparks. This story is sponsored by Home 2 Suites and 4 Corners Regional Airport.
2nd Annual San Juan College Native American Center Navajo Song & Dance Event - https://www.sanjuancollege.edu/about/news-events/calendar/all-events/2nd-annual-sjc-native-american-center-navajo-song--dance.php
Home 2 Suites - https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/fmnblht-home2-suites-farmington-bloomfield/
4 Corners Regional Airport - https://www.fmtn.org/airport
It's very comforting. I mean, a lot of times it's always good to see family members you haven't seen in a while, and this is a place that they can gather, get food, you know, sit down at, you know, a picnic table together, catch up on stories. So it, you know, that's kind of the things that Navajos really joy and all, you know, across all tribal cultures is that, you know, they love to gather.
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I'm Brandon Ashley, and I am the director for the Native American Center at San Juan College. And we are here at our second annual Navajo song and dance at the Farmington Museum. The song and Dance is a particular social event for the Navajos, and they gather to hang out with their friends and relatives from across various parts of the Navajo Nation. And usually with that they, they bring food and of course they bring singers and drum groups here, and they also bring in arts and crafts to sell and, and to share with other folks. This is a gathering of, of all ages, so you're going to be able to see, they call 'em Tiny Tots here, and they'll be dressed in the regalia. And then you also have our elders, and they have a special category for them to participate and also kind of do a small competition with others. So it's a really great generation to see from those who are maybe two to three years old to all the way up in their eighties and nineties. One of the things that we try to do at the college is to try to make sure things are not intimidating. Someone who wants to get involved with this is usually reaching out to an elder or member of maybe the family, and they're the ones who might teach you this is the right way to do it, you know, this is the wrong way to do it. A lot of traditions are passed down through word of mouth or through through that type of storytelling. Many of these things are not written in any book per se, but here we try to keep it very simple. You know, folks who to gather together, maybe brush up on their skills as we kind of head into the fair season across the Navajo Nation. Just a very healing moment for, you know, just, just reflect on, on life and to hopefully have laughter with friends and family.
Discover more events and ways to get involved@sanjuancollege.edu. For more stories like these, visit Farmington local.news.
