Sisterhood in Navajoland - Dinétáh

Among the Diné, the Navajo (as many people know us), sisterhood is a sacred state of being. Sisterhood is female and always about k'é, family and female relationship(s). In the Diné philosophy the female being is always associated with "life." In the Diné sisterhood, the girl, the woman is considered a matriarch among her family unit and tribal clan relationships, she is the keeper of the ways of women and of the language of females.

Tribal Diné sisterhood is tied to nurturing the family, when a daughter is born she is called "amá yazhí," or "little mother" which means she too becomes the keeper of the children, her siblings and Diné clan cousins. A Diné girl is born into a wealth of culture and language of women, she is already "rich" in her culture. In the Diné sisterhood we have distinct expressions for our younger and older sisters in our family. The middle girl has to address her sisters of different ages ranges uniquely. She calls her younder sister, "déézhí" or my sister "shidéézhí." In the same respect she addresses her older sister as "adí" or "shadí" - "my older sister."

In the Diné epistemology we are contstantly immersed in family and our acknowledgment of our familial relationships of both male and female, but it is vital that we respect our sacred matriarchhy in the beautyful southwest. Blessings above, behind, below, above- VJYAZZIE 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

What is Matriarchland?

What is Matriarchland? Totá is the traditional Diné (Navajo) place name for what was later named Farmington in the designated San Juan Valley located in northwest New Mexico, USA. This cultural landscape is the original traditional Diné (Navajo) homelands of the People. The land, landmarks, plants, trees and waters encompass a wealthy cultural history of the Diné, but also to other Indigenous people: Jicarilla Apache, Southern Ute, and various Pueblo groups. As a multi-disciplinary artist and poet I can trace the oral history of my family’s matriarchs in this place. The land is a part of our identity and epistemologies. We will always be a part of this land, it is ours and we think of the places as our family. This photograph was designed by Venaya Yazzie who is the originator of the concept of “Matriarchland” which expressed that in the land of Diné (Navajo), belongs to the female members of each Diné familial clanship. Be Matriarch,

VJ Yazzie, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Southwest Poetry Gathering in Totá - Matriarchland

Poets Venaya Y., Sonja H., Mia S., and Landon S. stand in front of the historic Totah Theatre in downtown Farmington, NM.

In celebration of America’s recognition of National Native American Heritage month the Northwest New Mexico Arts Council hosted a poetry reading and writing workshop in historic downtown Totá (Farmington), New Mexico, USA. Among the featured poets were: Mia Sutanto (Zuni/ Indonesian Chinese), Sonja Horoshko, Landon Succo (Navajo) and Venaya Yazzie (Dine'/Hopi). This cultural event was made possible by grants from: National Poetry Foundation, Connie Gotsch Foundation, Northwest New Mexico Arts Council.

This day-long event included a poetry and writing workshop lead by Venaya Yazzie. Also, the event included a book fair and arts fair. There is gratefulness for such an event in the Totá (Farmington), New Mexico community.

Gathering of 4Corners Poets & Writers - community event!

....................................................... In recognition of National Native American Heritage Month the community of Tota' (Farmington) will celebrate those who create and write. The Northwest New Mexico Arts Council and affiliated entities are sponsors of this multi-cultural experience! EVENT DETAILS- Featured poets and writers include: Mia Sutanto, Poet ( Indonesian Chinese/ Zuni Pueblo) Zuni, NM Landon Succo, Slam Poet (Dine') Navajo Preparatory School, Tota', NM Sonja Horoshko, Painter/ Poet Cortez, CO Venaya Yazzie, Poet/ Artist (Dine'/ Hopi) Tota', NM

Memory of a one-of-a kind Matriarch.....blog post by Venaya Yazzie

Grief............ It always seems to follow behind or stand beside me. It seems to lingers in the shadows of the giant cottonwood trees. It seems to lie beside bosque at the Animas river. I have witnessed how grief has changed my life path. So, what do I do when grief becomes so grand in my path? Well, I chose to walk around it. I intentionally chose to move on and scold it away. Even though I still mourn the passing of my family's matriarch, I know I must always choose to keep going, or as my grandmother would say "keep trucking."............. It's been over three years since my "masani'" my "mom" - my maternal grandmother passed onto the next world. I miss her daily, I think of how she was, smiling and gleaming with happiness for life. I miss the everyday tasks of home life with her. She made amazing dough for bread torillas. I miss seeing her in the kitchen. I miss just driving with her beside me, telling her stories of the past - about our family and about the land and historical landscape. She was my best friend, my heart..............

I am so very grateful to have lived beside her and to have laughed and cried with her when she was here in the space called earth. Because of my faith in God, I know I will see her again....

I share this because I was honored to write a blog post for the New Mexico Humanities Council, for the Pasa por Aqui blog. I have titled my post, Pre-pandemic grief, ancestral memory, mourning the world in 2020 and healing in the present. ................................... I composed it for many reasons that I feel are universal in much of humanity's experience, both past and present. Please vist at: .................................................................................. Pre-pandemic grief, ancestal memory, mourning the world in 2020 and healing in the present

New Mexico Poetry Anthology 2023 & Venaya's Poetry

--------------------New Mexican poet and member of the eastern Dine' people groups, Venaya Yazzie (Navajo/Hopi) was selected among a myriad of other state poets to be included in the 2023 edition of the New Mexico Poetry Anthology. Venaya's poem titled, Ancestors in Us, with Us is based on memories of ther childhood at the homelands of her great grandparents, Jim and Louise Werito at Huerfano, NM.-------------------

Blessed to be a part of this wonderful anthology of creatives in the 505! A link to the New Mexico Magazine article: & A link to purchase the anthology: Museum of New Mexico Press link

Shima' Jane was a Navajo weaver

Photo credit VJYAZZIE, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2023 Family love. Shima' Jane was a weaver. She sat at her loom envisioning traditional designs, walking in the world of her creativity. Shima' Jane was a beauty way of life. She was happiness and kindness and where ever she roamed she emitted true love. She is missed. Blessings, VJ Yazzie, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Paying respect to our family Matriarch Jane Werito Yazzie

Rest in Peace Shima' Jane Werito Yazzie Hooghanlani'Asdzaa'(Manyhogans) Woman

September 1930 - February 4, 2020

She was born into the chill of autumn among the heirloom corn and Navajo melon varieties. Our family's Matriarch was the 'glue' to our family. She is truly missed each day, but we continue to live on and keep her in our memory. . In the early morning of February 4, 2020 Jane left this space of existence. We, her daughter's were with her, by her side as she left. . It's been 3 years and 3 months since that 3 am moment and I still miss her like it was yesterday. All that she taught me stays with me as I continue this walk of life. Though she is no longer walking beside me, she is with me. I carry her memory and knowledge and I continue this life. . Shima' was a tresure to all places she visited and to all humans she came in contact with. Love you Mom. . Blessings all around. VJ Yazzie, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED