Native News

This section is facilitated by our senior students Madelynski Anthony and Zachary Lacapa. This section is talking about the Native around the area or on the reservation. You get to know what's going on in the reservation, how we express ourselves, and a lot more about the Grand Canyon.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

December, 2019 By: Madelynski Anthony

It appears that our U.S President, Donald Trump recently issued a proclamation designating November 2019 as National Native American Heritage Month. The purpose of this is to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native Americans. Also to acknowledge and appreciate the important contributions of the Native people. Along with celebrating this month we also honor our Veterans. Some also like to use this time to raise awareness about missing and murdered American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Therefore everyone celebrates this month differently. This year many people all over the world celebrated Native American Heritage Month. There are many different Native American Tribes. This means that each tribe does things quite differently, and have slightly different beliefs.

As for our school, we have a variety of Native American students who belong to different tribes. Some of those tribes are Navajo, Hopi, Cherokee, Sioux, and Apache. The month of November our Native American students all participated in what we called “Native American Heritage Week.” Along with that, each student was gifted a T-shirt which had a drawing on it, that one of the students had drawn. We ended that week with a performance that the Hopi Tribe put together. We also got to listen to Miss Hopi 2019-2020 share some songs in their language. Along with that, we had a former student who graduated from Grand Canyon High School share some of her songs that she composed in the Navajo language. And that is how we got to celebrate Native American Heritage Month.

Photo Credit: critfc.org

Indigenous People’s Day - (Oct 14, 2019):

November, 2019 By: Madelynski Anthony

This year, Washington, D.C. celebrates Indigenous People’s Day on what was Columbus Day. On October 8, 2019, Washington, D.C.’s council voted to rename “Columbus Day” to “Indigenous People’s Day.” Although this is only for the year 2019. D.C.’s council is hoping to making it permanent. It’s said that there are a few places in the United States that have also made changes in the growing movement to end the celebration of Columbus Day. The council of Washington D.C. wants to change it to Indigenous People’s Day to call attention to the Native Americans who had suffered. Many Native Americans have been targeted as a result of their culture and ethnicity. Some have died through diseases, warfare, and massacre. Replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day is a good step toward not celebrating someone who caused so much suffering.

Photo Credit: Levi Rickert Miss Navajo standing with the Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and First Lady Phefelia Nez to her right and Vice President Myron Lizer and Second Lady Dottie Lize to her left

Photo Credit: Bazhnibah photography

Window Rock, AZ, just had their 73rd Annual Navajo Nation Pageant

October, 2019 By: Madelynski Anthony

Every year since 1952, the Navajo Nation has hosted a carnival. Along with that they have a princess pageant, which is also known as the Miss Navajo Nation Pageant. There are a few requirements that the young women must meet. Most importantly, they must be 18 years or older, but not older than 25 years of age. They must also not have any children or be married. All contestants must have graduated high school or have at least gotten their GED certificate. During the pageant the young women who are competing are asked to butcher a sheep and perform both a contemporary talent, e.g. playing the piano, and a traditional Navajo culture talent, e.g. singing Navajo traditional songs. They must also present a platform of how they would use the power of the office, in other words what are their goals if they win. They’re judged based on their skills and talent. The contestants are also judged on how well they can speak the Navajo language. This year it turns out that there were only two contestants. Therefore, the newly crowned 2019-2020 Miss Navajo Nation is Ms. Shaandiin Parish from Kayenta, Arizona. Shaandiin is from the Towering House People clan, born for the Bitter Water People clan. Parrish is also a former Miss Indian World (2016-2017) and former Miss Indian ASU (2013-2014). This will be the third time in Shandiin’s life that she gets to carry a title.

PHOTO/Tiffani Potter/ http://www.missnativeamericanusa.com/

Lexie Michael James, the Newly Crowned Miss Native American USA

October, 2019 By: Zachary Lacapa

The Hopi Tribal Council on September 3, 2019, Lexie Michael James, the newly crowned 2019-2020 Miss Native American USA, informed the Council that she will be serving as an ambassador of the Hopi Tribe, while carrying out her recently acquired reign. James is also a member of the Hopi Tribe from the Village of Tewa.

Before taking on the endeavor of competing for the title of Miss Native American USA, Lexie wanted to express to the Council about her plans for using the platform to bring awareness about an issue which impacts all Native communities, including Hopi. Her plans included using the endeavor towards helping her people. The Council was quick to welcome her and addressed her in a manner of great respect while she shared about her plans.

Hearing her story and intentions, the Council determined to gift her with $1,000.00 as a show of support, which was to be used for application fees and travel to the Miss Native American USA pageant.

Lexie wanted her issue to be called ‘’The journey isn’t over, suicide prevention and mental health wellness.’’ Her issue was named this because when she was chose this platform because in her past she struggled with suicide in her teen years. So she wanted to help others overcome the struggles with suicide and to help others in those times of need.