Willis Tsosie: "Its About the Journey" Blog

​A Crow Indian friend once told me, when I completed my bachelor degree program that the accomplishment was not only about completing the work, the money spent, or the amount of time needed.  It was about the journey.  A journey of learning something new every time you walked into a classroom.  A journey of meeting new people, sharing stories, learning together, and getting the work completed.  A journey that challenged your mind, your emotions, and your toughness.  And at the end, ask yourself, was it worth it?

Yá’át’ééh.  My name is Willis Tsosie.  Ta'chii'nii – nishli, Ta'neeszahnii – bashishchiin, Kiyaa'aanii – dashicheii, Totsohnii – dashinali.  I am from White Clay, near Sawmill.  I spent time in Montana where I raised a family, completed my higher education experiences, and learned some lessons about life from Crow elders, like the one I just shared with you. 
Considering myself a lifelong learner, I had an interest in learning Navajo silverwork when I returned home to Dine’, and learned the art at Dine’ College.  The learning experience was more than using tools and creating pieces, I also learned its cultural meanings, specific protocols, and how creation comes from within.  The experience inspired me to learn more about Navajo cultural arts, so I enrolled into the NCAP Certificate Program where I learned the art of moccasin making from a respected Navajo historian and artisan.
Mr. Walters would start class with a lecture on a Navajo origin story pertaining to Navajo moccasins.  With the lecture completed and students continuing with their current moccasin project, we would soon hear Mr. Walters turned on his favorite music recordings like Glen Campbell or 70s rock from a small cassette player he brought to class.  To me, knowing the music was there created an atmosphere of learning, concentration, and collaborating.  Similar to some of you who may remember waking up to your mom or grandma talking in the kitchen while making breakfast and listening to a Navajo radio station.   And between tapes Mr. Walters would provide a few more lessons on Navajo moccasin making. 
As a student working towards a certificate program I can explain to you the details involved in making a pair of Navajo moccasins, but as a student embarking on an educational journey, the moments that are captured, like Mr. Walters music will long be remembered and becomes a part of my journey.  I think that was what my Crow friend was explaining to me.