Hózhó and Beesh Łigai

Ryan Dodson

Navajo Cultural Art Certificate, 2020-21, Silversmith

Spring 2021 Graduation

Balance and Silver

These two complement one another, specifically, in my journey as a learner of silversmithing this past year as part of Diné College's Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Program.

As we all battled through a tough year that was brought forth by a world-wide pandemic, silver and stamp-work provided me with a missing piece from my silversmithing repertoire. And it was also the silver that provided me with a bridge between my formal education and my informal studies by way of observing my parents as both are silversmiths in their own rights.  

Since I was young, my parents instilled in me the importance of getting an education. They explained that my education would provide for me in ways that I never imagined. This is most telling in my recent educational endeavor at Diné College. 

My first zoom class with my instructor Mr. Lyndon Tsosie was interesting. I was relatively new to zoom and so was he. As we navigated through the technology, I found myself working alone in my home on silver. Typically, with most trades, it is learned by sitting in a classroom with an instructor demonstrating various processes and circulating the room to make on site corrections, critiques and inspections. I am not going to lie - my first attempt at soldering was a disaster. How was I going to fix this without someone over my shoulder? Well, Upon further encouragement from my instructor, we figured it out. The temperature was off and my solder was not melting. So I tried again and I got it! 

Live with Lyndon on Zoom!

Amid our global pandemic, I was challenging myself to adapt to the unprecedented circumstances that many students were facing. I am not claiming that it was easy - the first time my hammer struck silver was intimidating. However, finding it within myself to be confident in each hit of the hammer allowed me to live in the moment. I like to think of myself as a planner and my meticulous attention to detail has allowed me to create events within my job title to be successful. But that type of personality always has me thinking 3-4 steps ahead, never really just sitting in the moment. So, this past year, as I sat at my bench looking at the silver, taking deep breathes, and connecting with my hammer. With each stamp impression, I found myself living in the moment. My mind was not consumed by the future. It was a new phenomenon. I was hooked.

My first workshop as the workshop leader!!!!

Over the course of the certificate program, the renewed and revitalized attitude about my culture has been the biggest benefit. My instructors embraced Navajo culture and taught, unapologetically, what it will take to be a successful student at Diné College. This has provided balance and harmony back into my life and all it took was some silver and my own creative imagination.