As a young child, I had very low self-esteem and was very ashamed of being an Native American Indian. I did not like the color of my skin. I was very shy and was behind in school.
I had very little confidence. I struggled for years to better myself in every aspect of my life. I wanted to be proud of me and being Navajo.
So, I started to listen, ask and learn from my mother. We started by stringing cedar seeds, gathered from under the juniper tree which was the start of a long hard process to get it on a blanket to sell on the road side for food to buy for dinner each day.
When I had my children, I wanted them to be very proud of themselves and their heritage. I would sing to them in Navajo while they were tied in their traditional Navajo cradle-board. As they learned to walk, I started to have them learn to dance. I had help from our families in teaching them songs, dances, sign language. They also went and had many ceremonies done to help them to learn of the Spiritual way of life of the People.
Eventually, we contracted with the Utah Board of Educations and the Utah Arts Council to perform at schools and city festivals This was a great blessing to them and helped them to become very proud of who they are as Native American Indians.
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