So I didn't get to post anything Friday because as I thought, we were scrambling to put the finishing touches on our float for the parade Saturday.
I thought everything turned out great even though the women painted on the float looked like Geishas to me. I asked if we were going to get darker paint for her face, but I got looks like "What are you talking about, we are this color." I mean, some of the Navajo are darker than me! But anyway...
She had blue eyes of all things, but no one seemed to think this was odd; so I quickly shut my mouth and kept on painting.... The morning of the fair, I was up at 2:45 because we were all supposed to meet at the transportation department to leave at 4am. I guess me being the military brat that I am, when I'm told to be somewhere at a certain time, I'm there and usually at least 15 minutes early. Well I forgot who I was dealing with and that everyone functions on Navajo time, which usually means everyone is 30 minutes late. We were supposed to leave at 4 and didn't depart until 5am!!! I thought I would KILL someone as they all strolled in with no care in the world. Everyone knows I HATE being late - for anything!!!! I digress.....
So the fair is held every year in beautiful Window Rock, Arizona; a town about 20 minutes from where I live. The fair lasts from August 31st to September 8th. There are pow wow and ceremonial contests, bull riding, a carnival, fry bread contests and various vendors selling jewlery and arts & crafts. The parade was a 4 mile route with 180 floats!! Our district was the 107th one. The theme this year was all about the women- "Navajo women, our strenth, our endurance." Everyone had to display that slogan on their float somehow. I swear I've never seen so many floats and Natives in one place. There was an estimate of 30,000 Native Americans there that day.
The parade started promptly (surprise!!!) at 9am and somehow I got talked into riding on the float! I thought it was really disrespectful since I'm not Navajo, but all I kept hearing was "C'mon, everyone thinks you are anyway!!" hahaha! Lucky I did, cause that parade lasted for 3 hours and at some points, going uphill! Overall, I thought it was a great experience. You can check out the fair's website for more info at www.navajonationfair.com and I've posted more pictures on http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm154/quidama/
I thought everything turned out great even though the women painted on the float looked like Geishas to me. I asked if we were going to get darker paint for her face, but I got looks like "What are you talking about, we are this color." I mean, some of the Navajo are darker than me! But anyway...
She had blue eyes of all things, but no one seemed to think this was odd; so I quickly shut my mouth and kept on painting.... The morning of the fair, I was up at 2:45 because we were all supposed to meet at the transportation department to leave at 4am. I guess me being the military brat that I am, when I'm told to be somewhere at a certain time, I'm there and usually at least 15 minutes early. Well I forgot who I was dealing with and that everyone functions on Navajo time, which usually means everyone is 30 minutes late. We were supposed to leave at 4 and didn't depart until 5am!!! I thought I would KILL someone as they all strolled in with no care in the world. Everyone knows I HATE being late - for anything!!!! I digress.....
So the fair is held every year in beautiful Window Rock, Arizona; a town about 20 minutes from where I live. The fair lasts from August 31st to September 8th. There are pow wow and ceremonial contests, bull riding, a carnival, fry bread contests and various vendors selling jewlery and arts & crafts. The parade was a 4 mile route with 180 floats!! Our district was the 107th one. The theme this year was all about the women- "Navajo women, our strenth, our endurance." Everyone had to display that slogan on their float somehow. I swear I've never seen so many floats and Natives in one place. There was an estimate of 30,000 Native Americans there that day. 
The parade started promptly (surprise!!!) at 9am and somehow I got talked into riding on the float! I thought it was really disrespectful since I'm not Navajo, but all I kept hearing was "C'mon, everyone thinks you are anyway!!" hahaha! Lucky I did, cause that parade lasted for 3 hours and at some points, going uphill! Overall, I thought it was a great experience. You can check out the fair's website for more info at www.navajonationfair.com and I've posted more pictures on http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm154/quidama/
2 comments:
LMAO! Awww, sweetie, you didn't know about Indian Time?? I shoulda helped get you ready. That's awesome!
Sounds like you're having an amazing time, are a valuable asset to the community and are learning and I'm sure teaching a great deal. I'll keep checkin' in on you and will post a link to my own blog on my Facebook and MySpace soon. Take care! Indian time....lol
did you win the bull riding contest? =) yum, fry bread...sounds good
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