Navajo actress to head Phoenix Native parade

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

PHOENIX — Actress, model, journalist, motivational speaker. And Saturday, Natasha Kaye Johnson will have to add a new title to her resume: grand marshal.

Johnson, star of “Turquoise Rose” and former Independent staff writer, will be the grand marshal for the Native American Connections 2007 Parade.

The parade is part of the 25th Annual Native American Recognition Days, the Valley’s annual series of events honoring Native American people. This year’s theme for Native American Recognition Day ’s host of events is 25 years of Celebrating Native American Communities and Cultures.

In the summer of 2005, Johnson was cast as the lead role in the full-length feature film “Turquoise Rose,” produced and directed by Holt Hamilton of Mesa.

That film role has opened other doors for the young Navajo actress.

In “Rez Runner,” an ABC/Disney production, she portrays a Native runner hoping to win a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

“It’s in post production now,” she said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Several other possible projects are looming down the road, she said.

Since its debut this summer, “Turquoise Rose,” which includes an all-Navajo lead cast, has sold out to audiences across Navajo Nation and drew a sold-out crowd during its premier at the Harkins Theatre in the Tempe Marketplace Mall.

People recognize her more often now, Johnson said.

“When I go to Dairy Queen or Wal-Mart, people will see me and say ‘Hey, it’s Turquoise Rose!’” she said.

Johnson began modeling in the last year of her undergraduate life, and acting seemed like something she wanted to try, she explained.

“I was just waiting for it to happen,” Johnson said.

That came with “Rose,” the first movie she auditioned for.

Now, Johnson looks to be on a roll; but don’t expect a

Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears meltdown from her. She won’t forget who she is and where she came from, she said.

“(The success) just makes me want to be a better person,” Johnson said.

From her days in the newspaper industry, Johnson knows that the media is crammed with bad news; and, she said, the public wants something else, something less threatening.

“People are hungry for good news,” she said.

She hopes to provide quality, family entertainment through her work, Johnson said.

This 25th Annual Parade is again produced by Native American Connections, a nonprofit founded in 1972 to provide basic needs services to Native people living in the Phoenix-area.

The parade features nearly 100 entries every year, including Native veterans’ groups, tribal communities, community groups, youth/college groups, equestrian teams, traditional dancers, music and bands and tribal royalty and dignitaries.

The parade will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, at Monterey Park , and ending at Steele Indian School Park at 11 a.m.
The parade will be followed by an awards ceremony that will be held during the 2007 American Indian Prevention Coalition’s Social Pow Wow at Steel Indian School Park .

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at hopkins1960@hotmail.com