Agatha Spencer – Diné College

Agatha Spencer – Diné College – Living History

Navajo Oral History Project

 

This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2012.

Navajo Oral History: Agatha Spencer

It contains stories Agatha Spencer of Chinle, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about her life.

From a young age, Agatha Spencer had a passion for helping the youth of the Navajo Nation. When she was 23 years old, Agatha began her career with the brand new Navajo Community College which later became Dine College, the first tribal college in the United States.

 Agatha Spencer of Chinle, Arizona

Agatha shares her stories about being an academic advisor at the college and the importance of keeping Navajo culture alive in today’s Western society.

Agatha Spencer of Chinle, Arizona

Project completed by:

Lionel Harvey – DC

Ashleigh Clyde – DC

Elisenda Xifra Reverter – WSU

Laura McCormick- WSU


 

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation Museum, Navajo Nation Library, Winona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

Harold Morgan – Navajo Oral History

Harold Morgan – Navajo Tribal Council Liaison

 Living History

Harold Morgan - Navajo Oral History

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

Harold Morgan lives with his family in Sawmill, Arizona. He is a thoughtful and deeply spiritual man who has faithfully served the Navajo Nation for nearly three decades as Legislative Assistant to the Navajo Tribal Council.

Harold Morgan - Bell

Harold Morgan rang the bell 21 times to start the Navajo Council meetings.
Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

During this time, Harold has worked under seven Tribal Chairmen or Presidents and helped Navajo Nation governing leaders through periods of transition.

This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2011.

It contains stories Harold Morgan of Sawmill, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about his life.

Project completed by:
Lionel Harvey – DC
Alyssa Reimers – WSU
Michael Ruka – WSU

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation MuseumNavajo Nation LibraryWinona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

Joe Vandever – Navajo Code Talker

Navajo Code Talker Joe Vandever

Navajo Oral History Project

Joe Vandever - Navajo Code Talker

Photo by Elisenda Xifra Reverter

Joe Vandever Sr. lives in Haystack, New Mexico. After growing up near Grants, New Mexico, he was recruited into the 297th Platoon of the United States Marine Corps.

Joe Vandever - Navajo Code Talker

Photo by Elisenda Xifra Reverter

Joe was enlisted as a Navajo Code Talker, traveled on 16 different ships and saw action on several South Pacific islands during World War II. Returning from the war, Joe served the Diné people as a medicine man, practicing his spiritual rituals and beliefs that he still holds closely today.

Project completed by:

The project team working on a documentary film about Joe’s life includes Shannon Bolte and Joel Farber from Winona State University, and James McKenzie and Shawn Tsosie, Diné College students.

This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2012.

It contains stories Joe Vandever Sr. of Haystack, New Mexico, told the students during several hours of interviews about his life.

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation MuseumNavajo Nation LibraryWinona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

 

Jack Jackson – Navajo Oral History

Jack Jackson – Navajo-Retired State Legislator

 

Jack Jackson - Navajo-Retired State Legislator

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

Jack Jackson Sr. lives in Navajo, New Mexico. After several years as an educator, Jack served nearly two decades in the Arizona State Legislature as a representative and senator.

Jack and his twin brother organized the All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association. In recent years, Jack has served as a leader in the Cultural Affairs department at Diné College, and on the Board of Directors of the Diné Development Corporation.

Jack Jackson Interview

Jack Jackson, Sr., is of the Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House) clan.

During the interview, Jack explained some details about the Navajo creation story and the importance of the cornstalk in Navajo culture. He shared a wealth of knowledge about the founding of Diné College and the vision for the institution as a way to serve the Navajo people, while helping maintain traditional Navajo ways.

Project completed by:
Josh Averbeck – WSU
Alexandria Fisher – WSU
Trevor Foster – DC

This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2011.

It contains stories Jack Jackson Sr. of Navajo, New Mexico, told the students during several hours of interviews about his life

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation MuseumNavajo Nation LibraryWinona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

 

 

Mitzie Begay, Navajo Oral History

Mitzie Begay, was Navajo-Cultural Liaison Ft. Defiance Hospital

Mitzie Begay, Navajo Oral History

 Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

 

Mitzie Begay – Navajo-Cultural Liaison Ft. Defiance Hospital – Living History Video

Mitzie Begay lives in Fort Defiance, Arizona.
Her title is cross-cultural coordinator for the home-based care program at Tséhootsooí Medical Center, formerly known as Ft. Defiance Indian Hospital, for over 30 years.

Project completed by:
David Dvorak – WSU
Molly Golden – WSU
Tashina Johnson – DC

Michael Ruka – WSU

This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2009.

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation MuseumNavajo Nation LibraryWinona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

 

 

Mitzie Begay - Navajo-Cultural Liaison
Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

In her work, Mitzie helps bridge gaps between traditional ways of healing with modern medicine.

She meets with Navajo patients and caregivers and helps build understanding and comfort with difficult medical decisions while ultimately respecting each patient’s cultural values.

Mitzie Begay-NYT-article

OUTREACH Gina Nez, right, and Mitzie Begay visited Jimmy Begay (no relation), 87, a “code talker” in World War II, who signed an advance directive on end-of-life care.
Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Mr. Begay has signed the poem and the advance directives, and so has Mitzie Begay.

“Traditionally, it’s our belief to always have a positive attitude,” even when someone is dying, she said. “The family has a five-day sing” — a Navajo ceremony — “drink herbs and paint their bodies. All these things are done for the patient, and then we know we did all we could.

“After a patient dies, you don’t hang on, because the deceased is no longer on Mother Earth. You wash up, take your corn pollen and go on with life.”

Courtesy of The New York Times
By BEN DAITZ, M.D.
Published: January 24, 2011

 

 

Code Talker Samuel Tso – Navajo Oral History Project

Code Talker Samuel Tso was born on June 22, 1922, at Black Mountain near Many Farms Ariz.

Code Talker Samuel Tso at  Hogan

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

Tso was Zuni Tachiinii and born for Nakai Dine’e.
He enlisting in the USMC in March 1943, Code Talker Tso went through basic training and Navajo Code Talker school.

He served in the USMC 5th Marine Division. He signed on with the Recon Company and was sent to the Pacific Theater. He served in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Pelelui, Guam, and Okinawa.

He was discharged as a Private First Class and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the Victory Medal of World War II, the USMC Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Code Talker Samuel Tso - camera

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

 

After his March 1946 discharge, Code Talker Tso continued his education earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

As a teacher and then as a teacher supervisor, Code Talker Tso worked there thirty years.
Code Talker Tso remained active in education, serving as a school board member for
Many Farms High School in Many Farms, Arizona.

Code Talker Samuel Tso at home

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

Code Talker Tso traveled throughout most of the U.S. conducting presentations about the
Navajo Code Talkers and about his life experiences before and after the war.

He holds several relevant documents about the Navajo Code Talkers and contributed to the Back to the Battlefields documentary. Code Talker Tso was a member of the Marine Corp League and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1677.

Code Talker Tso was also a leader in the Navajo Code Talkers Association and the
Navajo Code Talkers Foundation.

Samuel Tso passed away at age 89 on May 9 2012 at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, N.M.

Source: The Navajo Nation Government


This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2009.

It contains stories Harry Walters of Cove, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about his life.

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation MuseumNavajo Nation LibraryWinona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

 


Navajo People Website Links:

Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

 

Beulah Allen, Navajo Medical Doctor, First Miss Navajo

 Navajo Oral History project – Dr. Beulah Allen

Navajo Medical Doctor and the First Miss Navajo Nation

Beulah Allen, Navajo Medical Doctor, First Miss Navajo

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

Beulah Allen, one of the first Navajo medical doctors, and the person who helped create the Emergency Medical Service providing ambulance and quick response medical care across the Navajo Nation.

She was the first Miss Navajo was Dr. Beulah Melvin Allen, in 1952. She was crowned at the Navajo Nation Fair, the largest fair held on the Navajo Nation, which had been established three years earlier.

Hometown: Kinlichee, Arizona
Education:
Rehoboth High School, 1989
B.S. in Accounting/Finance – University of Arizona

Clans:
She is Born to(Nishlí): Bitter Water People (Tódích’íi’nii)
Born for (Báshíshchíín): Red Running Into The Water People (Táchii’nii)
Maternal Grandparents are (Dashichei): Start Of The Red Streaked People (Deeshchii’nii)
Paternal Grandparents are (Dashinálí): One-Walk-Around People (Honágháahnii)

Miss Navajo 1952-DrBeulahMelvinAllenMD

Photo courtesy of Miss Navajo Council

This film contains stories Beulah Allen of Wheatfields, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about her life.

 


This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2009.

It contains stories Harry Walters of Cove, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about his life.

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation MuseumNavajo Nation LibraryWinona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

 


Navajo People Website Links:

Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation