'Aha'anee Days'
Annual gathering a homecoming for many Navajo

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

NAVAJO MOUNTAIN, Utah — Navajo elders and the traditional way of life the Navajo people once lived were remembered and celebrated last weekend at the 42nd Annual Pioneer Days.

While a majority of families who attended the two-day event were from the Navajo Mountain area, many drove in from all over the Navajo Nation to participate.

From the early morning to late-evening hours, families visited with one another underneath small traditional shade houses and canopies, eating watermelon and munching on snow cones. The sound of cheer and laughter could be heard throughout the day, as people swapped jokes, recalled childhood memories, and teased one another.

Hard rains Friday evening didn’t stop families from camping overnight, and the humidity from the sweltering heat on Saturday didn’t stop others from enjoying a steaming bowl of mutton stew with frybread, and a hot cup of coffee.

Among the festivities was back-to-back watermelon eating contests, tug-of-war contests, and foot races. People cheered enthusiastically when the elderly women raced for purses, or when the elderly men sprinted to the finish line for a watermelon or can of Folgers coffee.

But the horse races were the hands-down crowd favorite.

“The horse racing is always the highlight of everything,” Ella Bryant-Yazzie, 50, of Tuba City said, taking a break from cheering underneath her umbrella near the finish line.

Saturday afternoon, the horse races were dominated by young women, as young as 14 and 17 years old. The crowd showed their approval when the women sped passed the men.

Barbara Begay, from Kaibeto, was among the mass of people who roared with delight as the young ladies took the lead in the races. It made Begaye think of her own mother, who used to come to the same races long ago.

“She said several times, she won,” Begaye said, smiling. “Ever since I can remember, they used to have horse racing events at squaw dances. I guess that’s why I enjoy the horse races.”

The horse’s races have remained a popular event since as far back as the 1800s. Forty-two years ago, the late councilman Harold Drake recognized the crowds of people the races drew and decided to center an appreciation celebration event for the elders around the races.

“Harold Drake was the one who started this,” Fredson Bedonie, 73, said.

Bedonie remembers his early 20s when he and his brothers had horse races with the Paiutes not far from where the races are held today.

“We were just having fun, herding sheep with horses you know,” Bedonie said, laughing. It was not long after, he said, that Drake began the 1st Annual Pioneer Days. His family has been coming ever since.

“His dad used to always get a blanket,” said Sarah Bedonie, 68, referring to her husband’s father. Bedonie remembers when all the elderly were presented with gifts like Pendelton blankets, felt hats, wedding baskets, sash belts, and moccasins, and everybody was served stew and mutton.

“They used to have free food, now we pay for it,” Sarah said, laughing.

She remembers anticipating the event, and how she would sew special outfits for her children to wear.

“I used to dress them up in Navajo outfits, moccasins and all,” Bedonie said as a smile crossed her face. “They used to walk in the parade and they won races.”

Her adult children smiled as their mother recalled memories of years ago. Her son, Fred Bedonie, recalled his eagerness to race for the candy.

“When I was younger, there used to have this plane drop by and throw out all this candy,” he said, as he worked on a float with his family to honor the veterans.

He wasn’t the only one whose fondest childhood memories of the event centered around the treats and goodies.

Andrew Endischee, 49, of Navajo Mountain, used two words to describe what he remembered of Pioneer Days as a young boy.

“Candy rush,” he said.

It seems that the foot racing for candy has remained the event that children still look forward to the most. Throughout the day, children sprinted toward a sea of stuffed toys, school supplies, and candy at the end of the finish line, as their parents and grandparents cheered.

“This is cool,” Thyis Begaye, 6, of Kayenta said as he finished the race, getting himself two bouncing balls and shirt full of candy. Other children, like A.J. Johnson, 9, Cheyenne Whitethorn, 7, Chante Whitethorn, 3, and Johnson Whitethorn, 5, indulged in simpler pleasures, spending most of the day swimming and playing in the large puddles of mud separating the spectators from the event.

Dean Endischee, 47, remembers as a young boy when he and his family would ride horses from Inscription House and then to the foothills of the mountain in the early morning, before the horse races began. The event is a special one for him and his family.

“It’s real nice,” Endischee said. “Everybody gets together.”

Randy Eubanks, who was raised in Navajo Mountain, makes the trip to Navajo Mountain each year from Phoenix, where he lives in retirement. Being at the event brings back fond memories of his youth, and he recalled a time when he helped to bring over 23 wild horses from Escalante Mountain.

“My education was out in the weeds herding sheep,” Eubanks said, adding that he is Cherokee.

“He turned into a Navajo,” said Willie Grayeyes, 62, of Paiute Mesa, Utah, who jumped into the conversation. The long-time childhood friends greeted and hugged one another, and began reminiscing about their younger days.

It was a common sight Saturday. Friends and families who hadn’t seen one another for some time hugged one another and addressed each another in endearing kinship terms. For many families, the event served as a family reunion.

“That’s the reason that we come,” said Janice Sampson of Kaibeto , whose husband is from Navajo Mountain. Sampson said she enjoys celebrating the elders. “This is where you still see culture,” said Sampson. “People still dress traditional and very few places you see people dressed traditional.”

Corlivia Begaye, 28, said they decided to come up from Mexican Hat to visit with family.

“My grandma is from here,” she said. “I wanted to get to see relatives that I haven’t met.”

The event didn’t just attract locals. Students and professors with the Christian Veterinary Mission Fellowship from North Carolina State University were among a number of tourists. The group has been coming to Pioneer Days for the last five years, and schedules their yearly visit around Pioneer Days. This year, they brought school supplies as prizes for the foot races.

“We meet the people on the farm and we go out and see the people again,” said Sam Galphin, taking a break from perusing through the galore of vendors with students.

“We come every year, and its gotten bigger,” said Fredson Bedonie. “Its new people that are here.”

And while many locals acknowledge that the event has grown, and has become somewhat commercialized, the main thing is that the elders are still being recognized.

Elders and veterans were recognized at the event following a parade, and many community members shared special words about the importance of honoring the elders. Elders gathered at the front of the announcer’s booth where a traditional song was sang over the intercom, and were then presented a number of appreciation gifts from Blue Bird flour, coffee, soda, with a select few presented with saddle blankets and Pendelton blankets or pillows.

“It’s really called, “Aha’nee Days,” said Willie Grayeyes, correcting the English event name of Pioneer Days. “It means 'Remembrance Days.’”