Working out NCAP style: Greetings from the new intern!

A Posting by Sheryl Benally, NCAP Work-Study Intern

Yá’át’ééh Shik’éí dóó shidine’é. Shí éí Sheryl Benally yinishyé. Tódík’ozhí nishlí, táchiin’nii báshichíín, tótsohnii dashichei, honágháahnii dashinálí. Chíhootsoí denasha. I currently live in Tsaile AZ with my husband Brendan and our three year old son Eli. I am also a Diné College student, majoring in Early Childhood Education. The Navajo Cultural Arts Program (NCAP) recently hired me as a work-study intern and, let me tell you, I already feel at home with my fellow peers and colleagues.

When I was scheduled for an interview I didn’t really know what to expect but I went in with confidence. As I made my way down the NHC corridor, looking for NHC101C, I didn't realize how many times I had passed by their door. I entered the room that used to be the Learning Center and met  Christine Ami and Crystal Littleben for the first time. Boy...they looked busy! But they sure took the time to make me feel welcomed. We started talking about the program, what it was about and the tasks that I would have to do. Right away we were laughing and I felt good about the interview. I guess they thought it went well too because a few hours later I was hired.

Working with NCAP isn’t my first experience with the cultural arts. I come from a family of silversmiths, bead workers and quilters. Sadly, I never learned to silversmith but I learned how to bead earring and bracelets from my mother. I also quilt blankets, a trade I learned from my grandmothers who are all professional quilters. With my previous job at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, we held family cultural nights and I learned how to mirror sketch, beadwork and make moccasins.

My first day of work is one that I will never forget! Not only did I setup for the Roy Kady's Felted Saddle Pad Workshop, I was able to participate in it. IT WAS A WORKOUT! When I started the workshop I was thinking that we were making mini saddle pads but boy was I wrong. When the time came to make our saddle pads, we were going for the full size. We used 2 pounds of hand carded and naturally dyed wool. It was a along process but I was determine to finish my saddle pad. I didn’t have any knowledge on what materials were needed and how much work it takes to make one but now I do. I have always been interested in art and making it and now that I’m apart of the NCAP team I feel that I can express myself through it.

Warm up -

Half Time -

Time to let it dry -

Finished piece!!!

I ended my first week interning with NCAP by attending Thomas Yellowhair’s NIS134: Navajo Cultural Arts Philosophy class. His goal is to teach cultural arts philosophy by way of making artifacts and not just talking about them. So here I am – on to week two and on to my next project – Water Jug Making! I still have a way to go but I already feel the philosophy and objectives behind NCAP becoming part of me.

These NCAP objectives include providing “NCAP participants with the opportunity to acquire and engage traditional understandings of Navajo cultural arts, demonstrate their techniques to local and regional community members, explore a variety of Native American artisan marketing opportunities, and create multigenerational Navajo artisan community bonds.”  I really feel that the objective statement it on point.  I am very honored to be about of the Navajo Cultural Arts Program and look forward to our upcoming events. The workshops and classes thus far have introduced me to so many talented people. Being a part of NCAP and being around the Navajo Cultural Arts students has already made me want to relearn my cultural, language and the unique arts that we as Diné People were given. I will be able to not only learn how to do them but to also teach my family and son of what we are capable of philosophically and psychologically as Diné People.  I'm ready for a NCAP workout....are you?