NORTHERN NAVAJO

NATION FAIR

SUNDAY
SEPT. 27, 2015

THE DAILY TIMES

FARMINGTON, NM
www.daily-times.com

Northern Navajo Nation Fair has larger budget in 2015

Daily Times file photo

Participants in the traditional trail ride go down U.S. Highway 491 on Oct. 4, 2013, toward the Northern Navajo Nation Fair in Shiprock.

Director: Were putting a lot more money into our events

By Dan Schwartz
The Daily Times

FARMINGTON The
104th Annual Northern
Navajo Nation Fair has a
larger budget this year that
officials say will be spent
on events.
The events include a
rodeo, pow wow, animal
shows and tests of
endurance. Also, for the
first time in a decade,
there will be a concert,
which will feature Eddy
Raven.
Were putting a lot
more money into our
events, Fair Director
Robert Felson said.
Officials have nearly
$470,000 in this years fair
budget, about $100,000
more than it had last year,
Felson said.
The Shiprock Fairgrounds open at 7 a.m. on
Oct. 1, and the first event,
which is at 8 a.m., is junior
rodeo. Events throughout
that day include Elder
Fest, various Youth Day
activities, a music festival
and a City of Fun Carnival.
On Oct. 2, the fairgrounds open at 8 a.m.
for a 4-H livestock show

in the morning. Fairgoers

can participate in an
endurance contest that
ends at noon and cheer
on bull riders in the
evening. There will also
be a karaoke contest,
gourd dancing and public
speaking presentations.
The fair s parade
begins at 8 a.m. on Oct. 3,
and the fairgrounds open
two hours later. Events
that day include a rodeo, a
talent show, a food eating
contest and the Eddy
Raven concert at 7 p.m.
On Oct. 4, the last day
of the fair, officials will
host, among other events,
a wild horse race and a
grand finale for the song
and dance. Also on the bill
for most days are gourd
dance contests.
Felson said the fair
began in 1909 and has provided a chance for the 19
nearby chapters to socialize. But more than just the
chapters are invited, he
said. Native Americans
and non Native Americans
from around the country
attend the fair, which
draws more than 100,000
people, he said.
Its an open invitation
to anyone, he said.

Daily Times file photo

Braydon Yazzie, of Crownpoint, practices his roping skills before his competition on Oct. 2, 2014, at the Northern Navajo Fair in Shiprock.

2 Sunday, September 27, 2015

NORTHERN NAVAJO NATION FAIR

Farmington, New Mexico

The Daily Times

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Inspired by the community

Jon Austria/The Daily Times

Jonathan Curley poses for a portrait on Sept. 17, 2015, at his home in Shiprock.

Fairs poster artist pays tribute to Shiprock

By Noel Lyn Smith
The Daily Times

SHIPROCK The artwork selected as the poster

for the 104th annual
Northern Navajo Nation

Fair is paying tribute to the

community of Shiprock.
Artist Jonathan Curley
moved with his wife to
Shiprock eight years ago
and since then he has
noticed the unity that ties
the residents.

Everybody takes part

within the Shiprock community, he said in an
interview last week.
The untitled piece,
completed in aerosol paint
and acrylic on canvas,
depicts a pair of

YeiBiChei dancers in the

colors of yellow, green,
orange and purple.
Curley, 34, explained
that the deity on the right
side receives the peoples
offerings then unites with
the deity on the left, which

releases the blessings.

In the upper left corner
is a hummingbird, serving
as a messenger.
Between the deities are
layers of blue, red, white
and yellow symbolizing
the varieties of corn and

prayers coming together as

one.
Mother Earth is depicted in green at the bottom
of the painting and growing from it is a corn stalk.
see

ARTIST on page 4

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The Daily Times Farmington, New Mexico

Subscribe to The Daily Times online at www.daily-times.com

NORTHERN NAVAJO NATION FAIR

Sunday, September 27, 2015

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Jon Austria/The Daily Times

An untitled painting by Jonathan Curley is pictured Sept. 17, 2015, at his home in
Shiprock. The painting was recently chosen as the poster for the 2015 Northern
Navajo Nation Fair.

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