2013 Navajo Oral History Project Premiere at Diné College

The life stories of five Navajo elders were featured in documentary films premiered on Monday, Sept. 16, at Diné College, the Tribal College of the Navajo Nation.

The films, part of the 2013 Navajo Oral History Project, were researched, recorded, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University, Winona, Minn., and Diné College, Tsaile, Ariz.

The students and faculty of the program gathered with the five featured elders and their families for a traditional Navajo mutton and fry bread meal and then watched the student-produced films. Following each film, the student filmmakers and the featured elder gave short speeches about the project and the process of working together to record the elder's stories.

The elders featured are:
- Jake Livingston, a Navajo-Zuni Silversmith from Sanders, Arizona;
- Peter MacDonald, former Navajo tribal chairman and World War II Navajo Code Talker from Tuba City, Arizona;
- Nita Nez, a traditional Navajo rug weaver from Rock Point, Arizona;
- Della Toadlena, a retired Diné College English professor from Chinle, Arizona; and
- Baje Whitethorne Sr., a celebrated Navajo artist and sculptor from Flagstaff, Arizona.

Below are a selection of photos from the Diné College premiere event.

The 2013 Navajo Oral History project was the fifth year of the successful collaboration between Winona State University's Mass Communication Department, and Diné College's Social and Behavioral Sciences Department.

The finished documentaries are archived at the Navajo Nation Museum, The Navajo Nation Library, the libraries of both participating higher education institutions, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.

Since it began, the program has developed documentary films about 23 Navajo elders. More than 80 students from the two learning institutions have been involved.

The project is directed by Dr. Tom Grier, professor of Mass Communication at Winona State University; Dr. Miranda Haskie, professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Diné College, and Mr. Robbie Christiano, WSU Mass Communication alumnus and current WSU graduate student.

For more information on the project, contact Dr. Tom Grier via email (tgrier@winona.edu).

The Winona State University group got together for a photo just before the premiere reception began.

Pictured (left to right) are: Tom Grier, Adam Maciejczak, Elise Nelson, Robbie Christiano, Darin Strohmenger, Jolene Kuisle and Skylar Ogren. (photo by Julie Grier)

The Toadlena Family.

Pictured (left to right) are: Brent, Leanne, Della, and Leo.

Jake and Jay Livingston.

DC Student Lorencita Willie poses with WSU Students Darin Strohmenger and Adam Maciejczak.

Dr. Miranda Haskie welcomes guests to the premiere and invites them to enjoy a traditional Navajo mutton and fry bread meal.

Trina Thomas, DC student participant in the 2013 NOH project, with her nephew.

Diné College's Vice President Ron Belloli visits with Prof. Miranda Haskie.

Professor Haskie starts the program.

Diné College Vice President Ron Belloli gave a brief speech about the value of learning opportunities like the Navajo Oral History Project.

Abraham Bitok, Diné College's Academic Dean spoke of his support for this program. 

Jay and Jake Livingston enjoy watching the film about Jake's Life.

Following the film, Jake speaks while the students listen.

Pictured (left to right): Darin Strohmenger, Adam Maciejczak, Lorencita Willie, Jake Livingston.

Peter MacDonald (foreground) and his wife, Wanda, enjoy the film.

DC Student Debb Teller (left) and WSU Student Jolene Kuisle (right) listen while Peter MacDonald speaks.

Nita Nez and her family watch the film about her life as a rug weaver.

WSU Student Skylar Ogren (left), and DC Student Lyndzey Barney listen while Nita Nez discusses the making of the film which included translation help from Nita's daughter, DC Alumna Revaline Nez (right).

Della Toadlena and her family laugh during a light moment in the film about Della's life.

WSU Student Elise Nelson (left) and DC Student Lionel Harvey (right) listen to Della.

Baje Whitethorne Sr., watches the student-produced film about his life and his art.

Baje Whitethorne Sr., (left) talks, while DC Student Trina Thomas listens. 

Robbie Christiano, the graduate student assistant to the NOH project wraps up the evening with a heartfelt talk about the importance of the films and the learning opportunity for students.

The elders and students got together for a group photo.

Pictured (left to right): Jake Livingston, Nita Nez, Peter MacDonald Della Toadlena and Baje Whitethorne Sr.

Some of the group looked over silver jewlery made by Jay and Jake Livingston.

Julie Grier (left) and Tom Grier (right) pose with Jake Livingston and the new silver ring on Julie's finger, just purchased from Jake.

Nita Nez - Della Toadlena Interviews - Buffalo Pass

On Thursday, May 30, two documentary journalism teams left the Diné College campus in Tsaile, Arizona, in the morning and headed in different directions to gather more interview material for the films they are working on about the lives of Navajo elders. This is -- as regular blog readers know -- part of the 2013 Navajo Oral History Project, a collaboration between Winona State University of Winona, Minnesota, and Diné College, of Tsaile, Arizona, the Tribal College of the Navajo Nation.

One team headed north to Rock Point, Arizona to meet with Nita Nez, a traditional Navajo rug weaver. There, they would interview Nita again, with the help of a translator, because Nita prefers to speak only in the Navajo language. They also got a demonstration of her creating another work of art at her loom.

Skylar Ogren videotaping B-Roll footage of Nita setting up a loom.

Whitney Harlos and Robbie Christiano try their hand at weaving.

Skylar Ogren and Whitney Harlos each bought a rug from Nita. Robbie Christiano also purchased the rug that was in process on her loom. As soon as it is done, it will be sent to Robbie.

(Above 11 photos by Whitney Harlos)

Here's the group that interviewed Nita Nez (left to right) Prof. Miranda Haskie, Nita Nez, Skylar Ogren, Whitney Harlos and Lyndzey Barney.

(photo by Revaline Nez)

Another group drove west to Chinle, Arizona, to meet again with Della Toadlena, who retired a few years ago from teaching English at Diné College.

The Della Toadlena documentary group (left to right): Elise Nelson, Lionel Harvey, Della Toadlena, Cara Mannino, Nik Strand and Jemmisa Tsinnijinnie.

The group also did a short secondary interview with Brent Toadlena, Della's son.

The remaining documentary teams stayed back on campus and met in groups to work more on their journalism projects about their specific elders.

(above four photos by Brett Gustafson)

When the two teams returned to campus, Prof. Tom Grier took most of the class on a short drive to Buffalo Pass, a beautiful overlook in the Chuska Mountains above Lukachukai, Arizona. From the overlook, visitors can see nearly 30 miles to the east, and get a nice view of the famous Shiprock formation about 19 miles away.

(above three photos by Brett Gustafson)

Today was quite windy, and the winds kicked up a lot of dust and sand, which made it harder to see the Shiprock. For reference, here are two images of Shiprock from a couple years ago, on a clear, non-windy day.

When the group got back to campus, it was time for dinner in the Diné College cafeteria, followed by a round of disc golf, then back to the dorms to work on transcriptions and editing.

Several groups have said that work on their documentary films is coming along well. It will still be awhile before they can be unveiled. 

There will be receptions this fall to premiere the student-produced films. One reception at WSU in Winona, Minnesota, is planned for Friday, Sept. 13. And another will be held at Diné College, in Tsaile, Arizona. Details on the receptions will be publicized here on this blog and in local media around both institutions. These events are free and open to the public.