Arizona News – TÓ NANEESDIZÍ, (TUBA CITY, NAVAJO NATION) – Yee Ha’ólníi Doo, a Utah-based non-profit organization led by Navajo women, has recently broken ground on a new traditional Hogan in Monument Valley. The project, funded by a $12,200 grant from the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) awarded in the winter of 2023, is an important step toward preserving Navajo culture and fostering community resilience.
The Hogan, a traditional Navajo dwelling, will serve as a central gathering place for the Monument Valley community, where people can come together for ceremonies, cultural events, educational workshops, and other activities. By constructing the Hogan, Yee Ha’ólníi Doo aims to revitalize traditional Navajo practices and strengthen community bonds.
“As a Navajo-owned company, we are proud to be part of the Yee Ha’ólníi Doo Traditional Hogan Project. NTEC is committed to the economic, social, physical, and cultural well-being of the Navajo people, ” said Andy Hawkins, Sr. Manager Community Relations with NTEC. “We look forward to the completion of the Hogan and its use as a place of worship and community.
The project is being carried out through collaborative workshops, involving community members at all process stages. This approach ensures authenticity and fosters a sense of ownership among participants. The juniper logs used for construction are being harvested from the highlands of the Navajo Nation using traditional methods.
Samantha Holiday, Project Manager for the Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii Community Hogan Project and Director of the Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii Community Center, expressed gratitude for NTEC’s support. “We are grateful for the grant awarded by Navajo Transitional Energy Company under the Community Benefit Fund. This project aims to bring volunteers and center staff together in the planning, construction, and ongoing use of a Community Hogan to support the cultural needs of the Monument Valley community. The proposed project is rooted in our community’s history. It is essential in maintaining the continuing cultural identity of the Navajo people. I am pleased to see so many people interested and involved in the creation of the community Hogan.”
The Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii Community Hogan Project is committed to sustainability throughout the construction process and future use of the Hogan. The structure will be built using renewable materials and traditional techniques that promote energy efficiency.
The Hogan project is underway, with the first workshop in the series completed. Led by Navajo community grazing official Benedict Daniels, the workshop offered participants valuable hands-on training in traditional Hogan construction. Daniels, whose knowledge has been passed down through generations of builders in his family, shared insights into the cultural significance of Hogan construction.
The juniper logs used for the Hogan’s foundation and legs are harvested from the highlands of the Navajo Nation using traditional methods. Under Daniels’ guidance, participants learned how to peel the bark from the logs using tools such as axes, shave knives, and hatchets. The bark from the harvested juniper logs will be used as insulation for the Hogan, demonstrating the project’s commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness.
Yee Ha’ólníi Doo is a grassroots organization dedicated to strengthening Navajo & Hopi communities. Through culturally appropriate programs and resources, the organization empowers community members to overcome challenges and revitalize their traditional ways of life.
To learn more about Yee Ha’ólníi Doo and its mission to empower the Navajo community, please visit: www.navajohopisolidarity.org or contact Cassandra Begay at cassandra@navajohopisolidarity.org.
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