Ernest Becenti, a Navajo medicine man, and Clintion Jim, executive staff assistant to Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr., say a traditional blessing on Sunday during the opening of the Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo. The rodeo begins today and lasts through Friday. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

BUSY DAY: ABOVE: Fort Wingate volunteer firefighter Ryan Joe extinguishes a brush fire between the 28 and 29 mile markers on Interstate Highway 40 Sunday afternoon. The fire raged for about 10 minutes and burned about a half an acre before firefighters were able to get in under control, backing up traffic along the interstate in the process. Officials were unsure of what caused the blaze, but said a burning cigarette could be the culprit. BELOW: A firefighter hooks a hose up to a hydrant as a puff of smoke rises from the roof of The Fellowship Church Sunday. The fire occurred on the corner of Ford Drive and Morgan Avenue around 3:15 pm. The extent of damage was not known at the time of the incident. [Photos by Brian Leddy/Independent]

Andrethia Bia demonstrates spinning wool at a weaving workshop in Red Mesa, Ariz. A year ago, Bia learned the weaving process, even though she was around it for 23 years since the age of 7. She says she is attempting to hold onto tradition and wants to be able to pass it on to future generations. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent] Full Story