Cultural symposium focuses on strength of languages, culture

Peyton Hatathlie, Miss Tuba City Elementary School, sings the National Anthem at the 2019 Winter Solstice Cultural Symposium Jan. 23 in Tuba City, Arizona. (Photo/Tuba City Unified School District)

Peyton Hatathlie, Miss Tuba City Elementary School, sings the National Anthem at the 2019 Winter Solstice Cultural Symposium Jan. 23 in Tuba City, Arizona. (Photo/Tuba City Unified School District)

TUBA CITY, Ariz. — More than 500 participants attended the 2019 Winter Solstice Cultural Symposium Jan. 23 at Tuba City High School themed, “Culture and Language Strengthens Wellness within Families.

Several notable presenters were featured and spoke about culture, language, student support systems, winter stories and oral traditions.

Delma Glasgow, federal projects director, explained this year’s symposium focused on the wellness of families, students and staff. She hopes attendees will in-turn use what they have learned to promote a greater emphasis of language and culture for wellness and healthy choices at home and school. The goal is to empower students to think about their futures, plan, set goals and to strengthen their identities so they can face their challenges.

“We want [students] to know that there are people [out] there that they can count on,” said Glasgow referring to challenges that students may face. “Students have their families, they have their strength and their culture.”

Glasgow is doing her part to help students recognize the importance of their language and culture, and to learn how to fall back on it for a source of strength.

Saraphina To’ahani-Adson, school board member, said in order for students to have strength, they must have a support system. She explained teachers have the power to make a positive impact on students and they need to realize how much of an impact they have. She encouraged teachers and staff to establish bonds with their students.

“You’re their support system, listen to them and get to know them,” she said to the teachers, staff and family members in attendance.

With culture as the main theme, Theresa Hatathlie, human resources director, spoke about how culture exists in many forms — in the home, at school, socially, amongst friends and many other places.

photo

(Tuba City Unified School District)

Hatathlie made reference to the school district as a culture and said “there’s a sense of familiarity, a sense of loyalty and a sense of family.” She also made reference to the school district’s mission of being “unified in culture, technology and its commitment to education” and that “every stakeholder is prepared to achieve a lifetime of personal, cultural, civic excellence and to enrich the community.”

“What is culture?” she asked. “It is the customary beliefs, social forms and material traits of a racial, religious or social group. Culture is what you make it and culture changes with time.”

The symposium provided a morning and afternoon session. Presenters included: Valencia Edgewater, Lyle Harvey, Edward Little Sr., Elroy Watson, Damien Jones, Royd Lee, Dr. Evangeline Parsons-Yazzie, Kris Beecher, Brandon Benallie, Judy Keyonnie and Saraphina To’ahani-Adson.

An afternoon session featured Navajo entertainer Radmilla Cody and comedians James and Ernie. Cody spoke about making choices with partners, identifying unhealthy situations, how to get help and the strength of k’é (kinship). James and Ernie spoke about ways to be strong in language and culture, family support, setting goals, decision-making, reaching dreams, overcoming substance abuse and being strong.

Glasgow said the presenters were selected based on their varying presentations about culture and their appeal to a younger audience. She said the line-up of presenters ranged from a forensic computer expert, to a business owner, to a law student and a Diné College professor.

The school district currently has several Native language instructors with a majority being Navajo language teachers and one Hopi language teacher with another yet to be recruited. The Navajo language teachers include: Mariah Billy, Lola Begay, Tammy Richards, Belinda Bedonie, Louise Kerley, Susie Robbins, Ella Bedonie, Roy Lee, Susie Store and Violet Tso. Arvis Myron is the only Hopi language teacher. The program also includes a Navajo government class taught by Valerie Tsinigine and a Native American studies class taught by Emerald Byakeddy.

Glasgow thanked all the people who helped to make the symposium a success, she thanked the junior ROTC program, the maintenance staff, the Native language instructors, the administration and teachers for providing input and helping to make the symposium possible.

The Native American Studies Department organized the event. To learn more about the symposium, contact Clarissa Nockideneh with the Native American Program at (928) 283-1183.

Information provided by Tuba City Unified School District

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