Inauguration ceremony draws 300 people, focus on Navajo language kicks off event

Navajo Nation Judge Victoria R. Yazzie gives the oath of office to the 23rd Navajo Nation Council before a crowd of about 300 people at about noon at the Window Rock, Ariz., High School sports arena, which seats 6,500 people, on Jan. 13, 2015. Photo/Marley Shebala

Navajo Nation Judge Victoria R. Yazzie gives the oath of office to the 23rd Navajo Nation Council before a crowd of about 300 people at about noon at the Window Rock, Ariz., High School sports arena, which seats 6,500 people, on Jan. 13, 2015. Photo/Marley Shebala

FORT DEFIANCE, New Mexico - A powerful traditional Navajo prayer by Avery Denny, a hataahlii (chanter), opened the inaugural ceremonies for the 23rd Navajo Nation Council, Election Board, and Education Board at the Window Rock High School sports arena Jan. 13.

Denny's prayer, which was conducted entirely in the Navajo language, called upon the Four Sacred Mountains and the various deities, including White Shell Woman, for protection for the tribal leaders from jealousy, hatred, sickness, pain and sleepless nights.

He also prayed that the newly inaugurated officials would have positive, beautiful and good thoughts and words for their people, the Dine' Fundamental Laws, traditional knowledge, tribal sovereignty, truth, planning, life, and the Navajo language.

Denny's invocation honored this year's inauguration theme of "Navajo leadership - A Sovereign Nation."

Before he prayed, he also spoke briefly in the English language, which he called his "second language."

Denny urged the crowd of about 300 people of all ages to "stand by" and "pray" for their council so they'll do a good job, especially since they face many obstacles.

"We have been under this historical trauma by invasion, genocide, manifest destiny." he emphasized. "And we have been westernized by this foreign education. It's good but also we have lost our identity, our language. Our language gave us that identity.

"With our Navajo language, we can reclaim our land, our sovereignty. Navajo Nation sovereignty was not given to us by any man. It was given to us by our Great Spirit to live here with the land for thousands of years before Europeans set foot on this continent."

"We are Dine'," he said as the people broke into applause and cheers. "That's number one. We can't deny it. We cannot escape it. We cannot hide no more. We have to bring out our true self. With our language we can do that."

Denny noted that the Navajo language would also provide healing.

"These elected officials here, our delegates, will face that historical trauma, that devastation, problems that we have in our communities," he added.

In his welcome address, Council Speaker Pro Tem LoRenzo Bates, who represents the New Mexico Navajo Reservation communities of Nenahnezah, Newcomb, San Juan, Tiis Tsoh Sikaad, Tse'Daan'Kaan, and Upper Fruitland, recognized the reservation's veterans for asking that the Prisoner of War and Missing In Action flag be among the flags posted "to honor and to give respect to the many prisoners of war who suffered and to our fallen soldiers, who gave everything for our country."

Bates asked the people to remember and to pray for the "brave men and women" serving in the military.

His words were met with applause.

Bates also thanked the people for traveling long distances to honor the council, the election board and education board.

"Each of us has a gift and honor, an honor bestowed upon us by our people, our communities by the casting of their ballots to represent them and to serve them," he said. "It is an honor that comes with great adversity, growth and success."

In times of adversity, Bates said it is the families of the elected officials that will provide guidance, support, words of encouragement and prayers.

He said the council had a prayer at dawn to ask for blessings and strength for the new leaders, the Navajo government and the Navajo people.

Bates respectfully acknowledged the suffering and sacrifice of past Navajo leaders so that there could be a strong and proud Navajo Nation today.

He thanked the Council, Election Board and Education Board for stepping forward to help the children and elders.

Dr. Jennifer Denetdale, University of New Mexico at sAlbuquerque, associate professor, who gave the inaugural address, said in an interview after the inauguration that she tried to lay out three eras in Dine' history that reflected Navajo Nation building and sovereignty.

Denetdale explained that one era is the 19th century, which involved Navajo ancestors' fight to protect our land and people.

The second era she said is the "Navajo activism" of the 1960s and 70s, which was about self determination and established the modern Navajo Nation.

Denetdale said the third era is present history and the Navajo Nation's involvement and presence in the international forum at the United Nations.

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