Ribbon cutting officially opens
annual event

Damion Guy competes in steer wrestling during the Navajo Nation Fair Indian Rodeo in Window Rock Wednesday. The top four contestants in each event will compete in the Final Four Showdown on Sunday. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The 62nd Annual Navajo Nation Fair officially began Wednesday morning with a ribbon-cutting by President Joe Shirley Jr., Vice President Ben Shelly, Navajo Parks & Recreation Director Ray Russell, fair manager Lia Lowly and Ashkii Happy.

Everyone is invited to the annual Navajo people’s celebration, Lowly said. More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the various events that are part of this year’s fair.

“I think every year it’s getting better and the weather is beautiful,” Council Delegate Leslie Dele, of Tonalea, said as he visited with people at Gorman Hall Wednesday. “There’s more stuff going on out there. Back in the old days, mostly everybody was watching the rodeo. Now there’s more to see.”

Shirley reflected on the tradition of the fair every year for the Navajo people during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is the one they really look forward to — the Navajo Nation Fair,” the president said. “In the old days, the elders really looked forward to the social gathering and to trade.”

He said elders traditionally would get together with friends and relatives, perhaps after not having seen them for a few years.

The largest Native American fair in the country is also an opportunity to present the great Navajo Nation to the outside world and different parts of the U.S., he said.

The fair has several highlights. Some of the highlights are appearances by Tuff Hedeman and by Spud Jones, the Navajo bull rider, Thursday night at the Championship Bull Riding event at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena.

The most popular events are the Miss Navajo Nation pageant, which draws international visitors, and the Indian rodeo, which House said is considered to have the largest payout.

Friday through Sunday, the Indian Rodeo performance starts at 1 p.m. at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena.

This is the first year that the fair brought in World Pro Wrestling and there was a good turnout for that on Tuesday night, House said.

Also on Tuesday night, this year’s fair magazine — done by Loren Tapahe — was unveiled at the Navajo Nation Museum, including a poster that is an enlargement of the cover and is available for the public.

Honoring the theme of “Navajo Women — Our Strength, Our Endurance,” a collage of women including Dr. Annie Wauneka, “Grandma” Marjorie Thomas, former Miss Navajo Nation Dr. Karletta Chief, current Miss Navajo Jonathea Tso and fifth-grader Alexis Mendivil, future Miss Navajo contestant, graces the cover of the official magazine.

Some of the women on the cover and poster will be at the fairgrounds on Saturday evening during the Night Performance to sign copies, Lowly said.

“Grandma” Thomas is also this year’s grand marshal for the parade, she said.

The theme to honor Navajo women was suggested by a long-time friend of the fair office, Lowly said. When the theme was brought up, no one objected and everyone was on-board, she said.

“Everyone was just for it,” she said.

Thursday through Sunday, the midway carnival, Nakai and Gorman Halls exhibits, and home arts and science display will open at 10 a.m. The fine arts and crafts display will be held Thursday through Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at the Gorman Hall.

On Thursday is Kid’s Day and there are several events for the children, including a youth parade at 8:30 a.m. and the Exceptional Children’s Rodeo for children with disabilities in kindergarten through eighth grades beginning at 9 a.m. In the evening, there are the James and Ernie comedy show at the sports center at 6 p.m. and the youth powwow contest at the powwow arena at 7 p.m.

Also on Thursday, a free barbecue will be held at the BBQ Pavilion at 3 p.m. The popular frybread contest will be at the Hazel Yazza Pavilion at 4 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. for employees.

Friday is Elder Day at the fair. A chile cook-off will begin at 10 a.m. at the Hazel Yazza Pavilion. Sale and auction for 4H will also take place beginning at 10 a.m. At 1 p.m., the social song and dance grand entry will be held at the Annie Wauneka Arena. Gourd dancing will be at 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the powwow grand entry at 7 p.m., both at the powwow arena. Wooley riding will take place at the 4H Arena beginning at 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The second Indian Rodeo performance of the day will begin at 7 p.m. After the rodeo, the wild horse race will be held.

On Saturday is the parade, which begins in Tse Bonito, at 9 a.m. and ends in St. Michaels, with more than 170,000 spectators expected. The frybread contest will begin at 10 a.m. for women and at 2 p.m. for men and women. At 4 p.m. will be an open registration for the frybread contest.

Also Saturday, the contest powwow grand entry will start at 2 p.m. with a second grand entry at 7 p.m. The Night Performance and the Miss Navajo Nation coronation will be at 6 p.m. at the DCJ Memorial Arena.

On Sunday, the last day of the fair, a gourd dance will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the powwow arena. At noon, the frybread final will take place. The final grand entry for the powwow will be at 1 p.m.

Information: www.navajonationfair.com