Full Circle Education: My Year with NCAP

Debbie Teller-Tsosie

NCAC Emerging Artisan 2018/19 (Moccasin Maker)

When it comes to "education", everyone knows or should know what it means at least that is what I thought. At the beginning of my formal education, I remember hearing the term "Full Circle" quite often….kinda sounded cliché. I even received a Full Circle scholarship….Cliché….that’s what I used to think anyways. A little information about me. My name is Debbie Teller-Tsosie and I am Diné, a college student, an educator, an sáni, and a Navajo moccasin maker.  I came to Diné College because of the emphasis of the programming that they have in Diné language and culture.​

​ When I first enrolled, I took whatever class that interested me. This included the fine arts and a sampling of the Navajo cultural arts classes that they had then. Every experience was really good until I took the moccasin class….that was it for me. 💙💙💙 I LOVED it 💙💙💙. I always remember Mr. Harry Walters telling us that our art picks us. Mr. Walters was my first moccasin making instructor and he intrigued me with his knowledge of Navajo culture. He told stories, sang songs, a trip to Dinétah and as a result made me proud to be Diné. Just this past fall, I enrolled in the Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Program for the year 2018-2019 with the emphasis of moccasin making. It wasn't a spur of the moment decision - I have wanted to be in the Navajo Cultural Arts Program for the last three years but for various reasons, I was unable to be in the program until this past year.

,Back to “Full Circle”….My western education was complete as of last year - I earned a BA in Elementary Education. But something was missing. What was missing (and was always missing from K - 12) was the inclusion of Navajo sounds. While I got some of that in our NCAP classes and other classes at DC, this Spring I enrolled in a Navajo Singing course taught by Avery Denny. Avery is teaching songs in the hogan, Dzilbiyiin,

 Ni’hoosdzíinbiyiin, Shash biyiin. He explains in Navajo and English. Everything that I was being taught here at the college through culture, history, language, and art classes was now coming together. Inclusion is all important and now EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE. All the pieces are put together and I have an understanding of the Navajo universe.

​Weaving and the loom. Aheehee, Mr. Lyle Harvey. Baskets and the materials, Aheehee Mr. Thomas Yellowhair. Moccasins and the appropriate use of materials. Aheehee, Mr. Harry Walters. I have a true understanding of the stories that each instructor brought to the classroom.

Now come the cliché “Full Circle” makes sense and now that is what I believe.

To me, Full Circle means as a Navajo woman that I can integrate my western education and my Navajo cultural education with my identity. I plan to bring this knowledge with me to the elementary classroom and to everyday life. They all have a place in and outside of the classroom.  My year with Navajo Cultural Arts Program brought this realization to my attention. 

Full Circle.  Our Diné moccasins are sacred footwear…the top is Father Sky, the sole is Mother Earth and the sinew is lightening. The lightening is what holds the sky and the earth together. 
Full Circle. My obligation as a moccasin maker is to pass on the knowledge that was gifted to me through our program and Mr. Harry Walters.
Full Circle. I feel complete. Life is good.