Diné Pride “We Are Sacred” Diyingo ‘Adaanitsíískéés
As we concluded the month of June and the last of Pride celebrations for the month, I decided to take a road trip back to my tribal reservation to cover and document the third annual Diné Pride.
The Navajo Nation is the largest sovereign tribal reservation in the United States. I grew up on my reservation, and have always considered my tribe to be conservative and extremely religious due to the encroachment of Christian beliefs brought onto our tribal community. But as a tribal person and a supporter of equality, I feel obligated to share the amazing achievements our Navajo LGBTQ2S individuals are striving towards — which aim to generate an inclusive community within the Navajo Nation.
On Friday, June 28, 2019, the Diné Pride kicked off their two-day celebration in Window Rock, Arizona. The first day started with a symposium at the Navajo Nation Museum with remarks from Alray Nelson, Chief Operating Officer of Diné Pride, and a welcome prayer from Andy Nez, Founder and Executive Director of Diné Pride along with Sheridan Cowboy, the Diné Pride symposium director. The theme this year was “Sacredness Before Stonewall,” to reaffirm and acknowledge the history of…