After exit report from the accreditation team visit

This is a good day. Many happy people! The college received a positive report following months of very intense hard work on the part of administrators and faculty and other staff members. It's fun to publish all these positive photos from Dine College.

Dine College 40th Anniversary Rededication

This was really special to see. Much was done in tribute to the elders who had the foresight to dedicate their lands to be used for the Tsaile campus of Navajo Community College that was first housed at Many Farms in 1968. The original landbreaking and dedication ceremony at Tsaile was in 1971. Many people who were there attended the rededication on April 13, 2008. The same cane (or fire poker), contributed by Edward Bahe Harvey, used ceremoniously to plant the seed of education in 1971, has been used in ceremonies since that time and was used again for the rededication. Mr. Harvey, too, was honored. College employee and medicine man, Avery Denny, explained the significance of the symbols used in the ceremony. He said that 40 years ago, we realized that western education was not providing everything needed by Navajo young people. "We begin everything important by calling on the Holy People....Today we replant the seed in our songs and prayers and philosophy....healing education." College President Ferlin Clark talked about the significance of prayer for traditional Navajos who pray at first dawn's light, all through the day, and again at night. There was humor, too, especially when re-telling the stories of the people (now elders, but many are still here) who went to Washington, DC, to explain about the wish of Navajos (joined by other tribes) who wanted to have their own tribally controlled institutions of higher learning. Comments like what makes you Navajos think you can run a college? were heard at that time. But hearing the stories now, one has to understand that there was so much belief and determination on the part of the folks who were sure this was a good thing that there was no way to stop the progress.

new friendships and old friendships renewed

This spring I have gotten to know many new people, and it has been very special to again be with folks who were co-workers and friends back in the first years I was here. Agatha was in charge of Student Services when I was here in the summer of 1989. Since then, she has worked in many different capacities, always focused on serving college students here at Dine College. Bertie was the secretary in the department where I worked from 1990-1993. After that she went on to more education and is so dedicated now as a special education teacher and coordinator in the Chinle district. As mentioned in other blogs, Bertie and I have enjoyed many times together this spring, both Baha'i activities, as well as college and community events. The three of us, Agatha and Bertie and I sat together for the 40th anniversary rededication of the college and then met with other "old time staff members" for our own lunch after we all helped serve lunch to over 500 community members who attended the celebration. Lots of good sharing and laughing. (A few days earlier, I took the training, and I now have a Navajo Nation food handler's certificate.)

White Man's Kachinas

This is not the best photo I have of these, but this one is available now, of the electric towers that dot the landscape all over out here. Many Navajos live without electricity which is so expensive to hook up because homes are often spread far apart, maybe miles. When my sisters and Mom and I first traveled around this area after I started work in 1990 at what was then Navajo Community College, one sister decided these look like whiteman's kachinas. If you are unfamiliar with the term, mostly from Hopi and Zuni cultures, you'll get a wonderful list of links if you google it. At any rate, the reason this term came up again this spring is that when I was driving with a Navajo friend, we passed these towers that are in this photo. I shared our family comment, and she responded, "Oh, yes. Whiteman kachinas.......headless!"

POSTERS

I've always liked the billboards and posters in this area, reminding the viewer that this is indeed a unique place with scenery and culture much different than other places. All four of these posters hang in the Student Union Building, outside of the Student Services Division.

back again......still here

I had trouble getting into my own blog last night, but now today, it's working. Thanks, Cathy, for suggesting I be patient.

Blessing Way Ceremony

Now there is lots of activity to celebrate the college's 40th anniversary. These days are part of why I wanted to be on the main campus this spring. Last Friday night, I attended a Blessing Way "last night" ceremony from 10:15pm to 5:20am. This was another one of those special learning experiences that are unique, especially for non-Navajos. There were about 30 of us in the Hogan, and I was the only white person, and one of few who didn't understand the words of the prayer songs that went on for most of the six hours of the "official" ceremony. (Today a co-worker told me, "You're not a white person. You're more like a brunette Navajo!") Not only was the medicine man singing, but over half the men and women there often sang along, and this was beautiful, even though I didn't understand most of the words. The lady next to me translated a few of the songs. Individual songs went on for 15 or 20 minutes.
The first hour (10:15 - 11:15) was preparation, including spreading out of "stuff" many people brought to be blessed by corn pollen and prayers all night. I added to the pile a small purse with symbolic personal things: Baha'i prayer book; phone (off) representing communication with family/friends; pen representing writing; camera; a few dollars. And the thing I was most pleased to put out there, in addition to the items in the small denim purse, was a spiral bound thick book, a copy of the Self-Study Report from the college in connection with the important Higher Learning Commission of North Central Accreditation visit later in April.
Earlier, I was the last one to leave the college office on Friday, and I'd just seen this report here in the conference room. Thinking it was probably a division copy, I took it and left a note that I had it with me and would return it Monday. After it was in the pile of items blessed all night, I wanted to keep this copy if possible. The beautifully done books are in limited supply, but on Monday the Dean (my boss) said I need to have one for my work, and it has evolved that now there is another one here in the conference room for the division, so I can keep this one that was in the Blessing Way.
I'm posting a link here that I hope will take you to Dine College main site. This spring is such a special time here, and there are links from the site to additional information about the 40th anniversary celebrations.

Area of so much Beauty

Skipping ahead, I'm going to post a couple recent blog journals and later will go back and fill in more from earlier weeks. I keep thinking how I wish that you could all see and experience what I'm seeing and what I'm experiencing. As I drove that beautiful road between Tsaile, AZ, and Window Rock, AZ, (Rt 12) on my way to Gallup, NM, last weekend, this struck me again. I never tire of the beauty of those huge red rocks on the eastern side of that route. I know photos cannot really do justice to the view, and I try to internalize the sight so that I'll remember how it really looks when I'm away from here.