PRESS RELEASE - Spetember 14, 2010
CONTACT: Daniel Vandever, Public Information Officer
Phone: 928-810-8510
Email: dwvandever@gmail.com

Photos by Daniel Vandever

The Future of the Navajo Nation Fair

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – While the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena went back in the past to present the Navajo people with Ronnie Milsap and Earl Thomas Conley; the Window Rock Sports Center presented the Navajo people to the future.

Poets, MCs, break-dancers, DJs, and skateboarders introduced themselves at the 64th Annual Navajo Nation Fair to each other, their families, and most importantly all of Navajo Nation.

As part of the fair’s Youth Entertainment, Indigenous Youth Collective organized the Ceremonial Elements event that sought to recognize the youth and their passions.

Their passion was poetry, their passion was dance, and their passion was expressing themselves in a way that didn’t involve a bucking bull or dressing up in buckskin.

The future began its introduction with a poetry slam on Friday night, a competition where individuals express their emotions in poetic fashion. The youth talked about growing up in single households, the comfort of living on the “rez,” and most importantly they talked about who they were and where they fit into society.

The winner of the 1st Annual Poetry Slam was Bobby Dues of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dues, a member of the Sioux tribe, had to pass through three rounds of poetic slam to be crowned champion.

Dues heard about the event through his sister, who resides in Albuquerque, and was appreciative of being able take part in the inaugural event.

“Thanks for having me in your town, it’s beautiful out here,” stated Dues. “It’s been a good opportunity to meet new people and perform poetry.”

In the transition of the poetry slam to the mc battle, break-dancers took the spotlight. They danced to the beats of disk jockey Cloudface, and gave those in attendance a preview of what would be happening the next night during the b boy competition.

With 12 contestants vying for the best MC on the night and $500 cash prize, each MC rhythmically rapped who they were and why the deserved to be on the stage.

Voting to see who would be crowned champion was determined by the cheers of the crowd, and when it was all said and done, Christopher A. Mike Bidtah, better known as Def-i ended up master of the ceremony.

To win the event Def-i had to go through four rounds of competition. The first round, participants had to create their own flow from a beat by Cloudface. In the second round rappers were presented with two different beats, and had to adjust to each pace. In the third they picked three objects out of a bag and rapped about each object, and in the final round they had to rap acapella.

Def-I, a resident of Albuquerque, but originally from Shiprock, was happy to win the cash prize, but he was even happier to take part in the youth’s events.

“My profession is dedicated to the youth and the future,” stated Def-i. “Having events like this allows people to grow and explore who they want to be.”

Also included in the first annual Ceremonial Elements was a graffiti art competition, a DJ battle and a concert by St. Louis rapper, 40 Cal.

On Sunday, skateboarders were also included in the event as a skateboard competition, hosted by Doug Miles and Apache Skateboards, was held at the Navajo Nation Museum.

More than $3,000 was paid out to contest winners, but the highlight of the three-day event was the recognition of a misunderstood group of Native youths.

“It’s good that this event is happening because it’s not like the other mainstream stuff going on,” stated St. Michaels resident, West Begay. “Usually when I come up here I just get in trouble so I just stay away.”

The future shined bright at the 64th Annual Navajo Nation Fair.

For more information please visit www.navajonationfair.com or contact the Fair Office at 928.871.6647.

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