NCAP Blog

NCAP
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Academic Programs
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate
    • Navajo Cultural Arts BFA
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Dual Credit
    • Indigenous Visionaries
    • Apprenticeship Program
  • Community Outreach
    • Exhibits
    • Workshop Series
    • Conversation Series
    • Language Series
    • Radio Series
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Online Resources
  • People
  • Contact

Basket Making - Worth the Allergies

1/9/2019

0 Comments

 

Brandon R. Dinae

NCAC Emerging Artisan 2018/19 (Basket Maker, Moccasin Maker, Silversmith)

​Yá'át'ééh t'áá ánółtso. Doone'é nishłínígíí éí Bit'ahnii dóó Hooghan Łání bá shíshchíín. Tł'ógí Táchíi'nii dashicheii dóó Kinłichíi'nii dashinálí. 'Akot'éego diné nishłį́ dóó Tsé Digóní keehasht'į́. Béésh łigai atsidí dóó kéłchí ayiilaa dóó ts'aa' ayiilaa baa da’ííníshta'. Brandon Dinae yinishyé.
(Hello everyone. I am from the Many-Folded-Arms-People clan born for the Many-Hogan-Peopleclan. My maternal grandfather is from the Browned-Banged-Weaver-People clan and my paternal grandfather is from the Red-House-Peopleclan. I am Navajo and I live in Mitten Rock, NM. I am studing Silversmithing, Moccasin Making, and Basketry as part of this year's Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Cohort. My name is Brandon Dinae)
​I’ve wanted to learn to make baskets for years and the NCAP has given me the chance to learn from individuals who have been making baskets for years. In the Fall, in addition to our basket making class with Thomas Yellowhair as our instructor, we have also learned about baskets and basket making in our NIS129 Navajo Cultural Arts Materials and Resource class. As a cohort, we were instructed on harvesting K'į́į́' (sumac) for our Tóshjeeh (water jug) project. This meant jumping in a van and actually going on a hunt.  We got to meet NCAP alumni, Waycee Harvey, who is also a basket maker. He accompanied our cohort on the trip to teach us how to find sumac and split it.

I learned a lot of things that day... especially about pollen. Little did I know that K'į́į́' has a very potent reaction on some of its hunters. The pollen for the sumac can induce allergic-like symptoms and, it turns out, I was not immune. For me, this was strange because I’m not allergic to anything - at least not anything that I know of. During gathering, my nose insisted on dripping and I didn’t know why I was sneezing profusely. After we gathered what we needed, Waycee showed us how to spit the sumac. While getting used to the taste of the sumac branches our workshop leader informed the class that our reaction to the plant was caused from pollen of the K'į́į́' Bi'áád (female sumac). Thanks, Teach 😂! Now I know what sumac pollen feels like.


The trip was a success and I had picked enough K'į́į́' for the weaving portion of my project.  Once we got home, I worked on splitting and gathering jeeh (piñon sap). In class, I learned from Thomas Yellowhair how to sew the jug, attach handles, and cover the piece with jeeh, making it water proof.

​I am extremely excited for spring and learning to weave the ts'aa (ceremonial basket).
0 Comments

Navajo Basketry for the Younger Generation: Recap on NCAP Community Outreach

5/1/2018

1 Comment

 

Waycee Harvey

Emerging Artisan, 2017-18 Cohort (Moccasin Maker/Silversmith/Basket Maker)

Picture
Hi everyone, my name is Waycee Harvey and I am a member of the Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Cohort. I wanted to share one of my favorite NCAP experiences with you. On November 7th, 2017, as part of Native American Heritage Month, NCAP brought me to Tsehootsoi Middle School to present and demonstrate Navajo Basketry for the students. With no experience of presenting and demonstrating my art, I took on the challenge not knowing what to expect. I was nervous on the day of the presentations, but I grew more comfortable with the environment after each group students. I was just so amazed with the interest and eagerness these kids showed to learn about the philosophy of Navajo Basketry and the process of making a basket as well.

So, we arrived at Tsehotsoi Middle School on the morning. I had my baskets and other necessary items in hand, then proceeded on into the school. As the NCAP program assistant and I got into the classroom, we were greeted by a young group of students. They were well mannered and eager to hear about basketry. After a quick introduction from the teacher, I was asked to begin my presentation. As usual, I began by introducing myself the traditional way: stating my clans, my name, where I’m from, and what I’m presenting. I then began to tell the origins stories of Navajo Basketry.

Picture
 I proceeded on with the history of Navajo Basketry, all the way from the emergence and the recreation of our “Ts’aa’.”  As I was going on with the story, I also mentioned the patterns and colors incorporated in baskets and explained the significance. I was amazed with one student, I would ask a question for the whole class and she answered with great accuracy. So, I got to the point where I felt it was necessary to show them how a basket is stitched. At the time, I had a basket which I was working on and I showed them all about the various kinds of stitching. I had no clue how much interest they would have until I got to the that part. All the students looked closely as I stitched the last ring, which was the cedar stitch.

Picture
At about this time, I began wrapping up my presentation and I wanted to know what the students have learned. So, I pointed to symbols on the basket and asked them what it represented, to my surprise the class answered correctly. I still had 2 more groups to present to on the same topic. It was just a repeated process for each group. Before departing the school, a group of kids came up to me and handed me and thank you card signed by an entire class. Inside of that card was an envelope, I didn’t think anything of it or bothered to open it until we arrived back in Tsaile. Inside that envelope was 17 dollars, which all students contributed to.
 
This experience has given me an idea of what to expect in future demonstrations and I strongly feel I’ve executed my objective satisfactorily. The students were awesome as well, they made this presentation memorable for me. I’ll carry on this motivation to every demo, presentation or workshop I lead in the future. 
Picture
You could learn how to host workshops too! Just join the next NCAP cohort, starting in August 2018. It is a 24 credit hour program over the course of 2 semesters. Worth it? I would say so! Just contact Christine or Sheryl from NCAP for more information!!

And if you are interested in checking out some of my basketry - don't forget to stop by my WH Moccasin & Basket Design facebook page!
1 Comment

Ashkii Bida' Moccasin and Art: Trip to the Heard Museum

4/16/2018

0 Comments

 

Brent Toadlena

Emerging Artisan, 2017-18 Cohort

Greetings Friends and Relatives! My name is Brent Toadlena and I am a member of the 2017-2018 cohort of the Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Program at Diné College in Tsaile, AZ. I am Naashgali (Mescalero Apache) Clan and my Dad is Ashiihi  (Salt) Clan. I am an experienced Moccasin Maker - I have even run moccasin making workshops for NCAP in the past. But coming into the program as a student I decided to switch things up a bit and I enrolled in the basket making cohort. It has been a great experience being in the program. I have become exposed to so much more about Navajo arts than I thought I ever would. Every experience has contributed to my development as an artist in astounding ways.

One of my favorite experiences has been going to the Phoenix Heard Museum Indian Market. On the weekend of March 2, 3, & 4, I traveled with my peers to Phoenix. Although I have traveled to Phoenix a  lot and even occasionally visited the museum, I had never really attended the Indian Market until this year. Around 1986 or 1987, when the market was in its infancy, I came to one of the first events that eventually became the Indian Market today. Back then, the event was very small and Native Americans did not have to pay admission to attend. So when we were told we were attending this year’s event, I was anxiously anticipating the event.
          
To say that the Market had grown is an understatement! Never having seen the enormity of the event that is held nowadays was overwhelming. Sheryl, the NCAP Assistant, had a whole agenda for us. The first evening we attending the Best of Show reception where we got to mingle with people. I got to reunite with an old friend from San Felipe Pueblo who is a potter. We had not seen each other since 1998 so we were able to catch each other up. The best of show exhibit was amazing! I particularly liked the photography and will make plans on entering the show in that category in the future.
            
Saturday I went to all the booths and made some good connections with certain artists such as Joe Cajero, Jr of Jemez Pueblo, Eric Fender of San Ildefonso Pueblo, and Sally Black, world famous Navajo basket maker. One of the best things I saw was a young teenager splitting feathers to make arrow fletching! His skill was mesmerizing! Another contact who is important to mention is Sarah Greenfield, who I found out is one of the board members of the museum. She was my Jr. High School Counselor. I’d like to talk with her about helping me get a moccasin making demonstration set up at the museum - so keep an eye open for that. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I liked that our NCAP family was able to spend this time together and have a great time. I definitely have some ideas about how I will get into this venue!

If you have time during the Navajo Cultural Arts Week, swing by Monday evening to the RC Gorman Room on the second floor of the NHC from 5-8pm. I'll be hosting a Sumac Splitting Workshop there! AND stop by the NHC Museum to vote for your favorite pieces. The winner will receive the "Community Choice Award."
Picture
Sumac Splitting Workshop - Monday 5-8pm RC Gorman Room, Kinyaa'anii Library
Picture
My two entries: Brother and Sister, waterjugs
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Apprenticeship Program
    Basket Making
    Certificate Program
    Dual Credit
    Emerging Artisan
    Ephraim Anderson
    Harry Walters
    Holistic Well Being
    Indigenous Visionaries
    Lyndon Tsosie
    Moccasin Making
    Navajo Cultural Arts Week
    Navajo Weaving BFA
    NCAP Intern
    NCAP Staff
    Peyote Fans
    Sewing
    Silversmithing
    Sue V. Begay
    TahNibaa Naataanii
    Tammy Martin
    Valene Hatathlie
    Weaving

    Archives

    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

Socials

        ALL PHOTOS IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. PHOTO IMAGES USE IS SUBJECT TO PERMISSION BY THE NAVAJO CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. NO FORM OF REPRODUCTION IS PERMITTED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE NAVAJO CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. 

Featured Pages

Academic Programs
Community Outreach
Blog
Contact
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Academic Programs
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate
    • Navajo Cultural Arts BFA
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Dual Credit
    • Indigenous Visionaries
    • Apprenticeship Program
  • Community Outreach
    • Exhibits
    • Workshop Series
    • Conversation Series
    • Language Series
    • Radio Series
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Online Resources
  • People
  • Contact