Navajo Oral History Films Premiere at Dine' College

The 2011 Navajo Oral History project documentary films were premiered on Monday, Oct. 10, at Diné College's Tsaile, Arizona, campus.

Six Winona State University students and their professor, Tom Grier, flew from Minnesota to Albuquerque to participate in the premiere and reception event. The six WSU students who traveled to Diné College were: Josh Averbeck, Robbie Christiano, Dave Dvorak, Alex Fisher, Alyssa Reimers, and Michael Ruka. WSU student Molly Golden participated in the summer Navajo Oral History project, but was unable to attend the reception in Arizona.

While at Diné College, the WSU students sat in on a couple DC classes and then got ready for the reception and premiere.

On Monday evening, the students from both DC and WSU who collaborated this past summer to create the documentary films, hosted the reception for the films. More than 100 people attend the reception event which included a traditional Navajo dinner of mutton stew and fry bread.

Following dinner, DC faculty member Dr. Miranda Haskie, started the program, followed by inspirational words from Diné College President Maggie George. Each film was shown followed by the participating students speaking briefly about their experiences. Two of the Navajo elders who were featured in the films were present-- Mitzie Begay and Harold Morgan-- and spoke about their participation.

On Tuesday, the WSU students enjoyed a workshop on Navajo silversmithing presented by Vernon Haskie of Lukachukai, Arizona.

The WSU group stopped to see many views of Canyon Del Muerto and Canyon de Chelly from the overlooks on their way to Chinle, Arizona.

On Wednesday, on their way back to the airport, the WSU group stopped at the Navajo Nation's Window Rock Tribal Park.

They also did a short hike at Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque.

Now that the receptions premiering the 2011 films are complete, the short media feature versions of the films will be made available for streaming viewing via the WSU Mass Communication department's laboratory web site: Winona360.org. The documentary films are also being archived at the Navajo Nation Museum, Navajo Nation Library, and at the libraries of both Diné College and Winona State University.

Plans are already underway for the 2012 Navajo Oral History project, the fourth year of this on-going collaboration between Winona State University and Diné College. The project will cover 18 days during June 2012 and will carry three college credits through Diné College's Social and Behavioral Sciences Dept.

Students interested in participating in 2012 should contact Dr. Tom Grier at Winona State University (tgrier@winona.edu) or Dr. Miranda Haskie and Diné College (mhaskie@dinecollege.edu).

Navajo Oral History Films Premiere at WSU

A group of people from Diné College of the Navajo Nation traveled to Winona, Minnesota, in early October to join their colleagues at Winona State University to premiere the documentary films students created this summer.

Dr. Miranda Haskie, professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Diné College, led the group which included Mitzie Begay, a Navajo elder that was featured in one of the films, and students: Trevor Foster, Lionel Harvey, Tashina Johnson, and Shawn Tsosie. Dr. Haskie's husband, Vernon, also came to Minnesota with the group. (Diné College student Jessica King was unable to travel to Winona for the reception.)

While at WSU, the Diné College students toured campus, did a mock newscast in the WSU MCOM TV Studio, and spoke to a journalism class.

The group also visited several tourist locations in the area, and enjoyed a boat ride on the Mississippi River.

Tom Grier, WSU professor of Mass Communication, and his wife, Julie, hosted the Diné College group and the WSU students who participated in the program at their house in Winona for a BBQ dinner.

The films were premiered at WSU on Thursday, Oct. 6. The four films that were created this summer were shown, then each student spoke briefly about their experience participating in the Navajo Oral History project.

Professor Miranda Haskie presented a piece of authentic Navajo pottery to WSU President Judith Ramaley.

On Friday morning, the Diné College group spent an hour visiting with President Judith Ramaley.

On Saturday, the Diné College group returned home to the Navajo Nation and prepared to host a reception on their campus.

This was the third year of the Navajo Oral History project, a unique collaboration between Diné College and Winona State University.

Plans are already underway for the fourth year of the project in June 2012.