Contestants take first step
to becoming Miss Navajo

ABOVE: Miss Navajo Nation contestant Danielle Goldtooth shows off her archery skills during the contemporary talent competition at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock Tuesday, September 2. BELOW: Miss Navajo Nation contestant Latasha Tom encourages the audience to join her in a line-dance during the contemporary talent competition at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock Tuesday, September 2. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The contemporary skills and talent competition brought out laughter and applause for the four young ladies running for Miss Navajo Nation 2008-2009 on Tuesday evening at the Navajo Nation Museum auditorium.

The auditorium was standing-room only and packed to capacity with spectators who came out to watch the competition, which included the four contestants competing in contemporary skills, public speaking, contemporary talent, evening gown and impromptu questions.

Each portion of the competition was timed and watched by five judges.

The contestants this year are Latasha Tom from Blue Canyon, Ariz., Rikki Jane Watchman from Yahtahey, Danielle Coralynn Goldtooth from Farmington and Yolanda Jane Charley from Chichiltah.

“What contemporary skills are is actually something you learn that can help you make a living ... because a skill is knowledge that’s acquired, that you have to work at and practice and learn,” said mistress of ceremony former Miss Navajo Nation Jocelyn Billy.

For that portion of the contemporary pageant, Tom showcased her line dancing skills to the tune of “Stars on the Water” by Rodney Crowell. Wearing a blue-and-white shirt and blue jeans, Tom made a pitch for the country and western dances and the Sugarland concert coming up at the fair.

Watchman showed how she makes pottery and displayed the supplies necessary to make pottery.

“That’s what I do sometimes to make money when I don’t have some,” she said.

Watchman demonstrated sanding the pottery to make it smooth, drawing lines on it and etching. She also showed a piece of pottery that she had decorated.

Goldtooth’s skill was photography. She gave tips to the audience on how to take better pictures, especially family portraits.

She and her mother often take photographs for weddings, she said.

“Get your family used to the camera,” Goldtooth suggested. “Keep taking pictures of your family until they get used to you doing it.”

Pictures make memories, she said.

Charley gave a presentation on methamphetamines. She said she chose to do the presentation on meth because her parents are foster parents and 90 percent of the children they get are “meth babies.”

“This is what inspired me, and I wanted to do a lot of research on methamphetamines because it’s all over the world,” Charley said. “It’s in homes. It might be your next door neighbor. All these things are going on in this community and everywhere on the Navajo Nation, not just the Navajo Nation but all over North America .”

She gave facts about methamphetamines and its effects. Charley also had before and after photos of people who became addicted to the illegal drug.

For the public speaking portion of the competition, each contestant was given three minutes to talk about what contribution she would bring if selected to wear the crown.

Tom said she would contribute her time, her support for different departments such as Special Diabetes and the Special Olympics, and her knowledge of culture.

Watchman said if she were to become Miss Navajo, she would teach virtually and visually about language and culture.
She said she may not know the Navajo language but she is learning and she would encourage others to learn as well and even to run for Miss Navajo if they cannot speak the language.

“I’m having a lot of trouble but I’m still learning,” Watchman said.

Goldtooth said that she has dealt with racism going to border-town schools, and her contribution would be to give inspiration to the people.

“Everything I have done from the past on to here has given me the experience to be able to come up and say that I am ready to do this,” she said.

Charley said, “One of the things that I would really like to share with my Diné people is the teachings that my grandmother has taught me as a child.”

She grew up with her grandmother with no electricity and no running water, which made her appreciate being Navajo, she said.

“I would like to teach our younger generation our language,” Charley said. “They tell us we’re losing our language every single day, but I don’t look at it that way.”

For the talent portion of the competition, which involves what comes naturally, Tom demonstrated how to make a no-bake cheesecake.

“I had to buy this store bought because I butchered my sheep yesterday,” Tom said to laughter from the audience.
Watchman played “Amazing Grace” on an electric guitar.
A member of the nationally-ranked Diné College archery team, Goldtooth displayed her talent as an archer, hitting the bull’s eye three times from 18 meters with her arrows.

Her coach told her she is good enough to try out for the Olympics, she said. This year she made the All American Team and previously won Rookie of the Year, she said showing her medals.

“Judges, you better smile real big for her,” Billy joked.
Charley showed her talent as an artist — exhibiting several drawings she has done with pencil and charcoal.

“I love to draw people,” she said.

After the evening gown portion of the competition, the contestants were given two minutes each to respond to a question that was randomly chosen by the young lady and read aloud by Billy.

Several former Miss Navajo titleholders were in the audience on Tuesday night, as was the vice president of the Navajo Nation Ben Shelly.

Judges for the competition included Armanda Ortega, Kendall Long, Arnold Jake, Rozanna Benally and Natasha Kaye Johnson.

The pageant will continue Wednesday evening with the traditional skills and talent competition beginning at 6 p.m. at the Navajo Nation Museum. The Miss Navajo coronation will take place on Saturday at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena on the fairground after the Night Performance at around 6 p.m.