Diné College's museum gets face lift for 45th birthday
By Shondiin Silversmith
Navajo Times
TSAILE, ARIZ., Dec. 5, 2013
(Times photo – Shondiin Silversmith)
TOP: The Ned Natathli Museum at Diné College in Tsaile, Ariz. has a permanent exhibit called “Navajo Way of Life.” Iina is a slice of the exhibit.
BOTTOM: Tanya Jesus from Fort Defiance observes pieces by Don Whitesinger, fine arts instructor at Diné College, at the college’s museum exhibit “Navajo Way of Life.”
After years of blank walls and vast empty spaces, Diné College's Ned Hatathli Museum has been resurrected with new exhibits for everyone to enjoy.
"It was stagnant for so many years. There were no exhibits on display," said Diné College Museum Curator Nonabah Sam. The Ned Hatathli Museum now looks like a professional museum.
"We're able to finally share the space that I think a lot of people knew was there but it fell asleep for a while, and now it's reawakened," Sam said, adding that the setup of the museum will be the biggest different people will notice.
"I've been here for almost two years and to see the museum come this far in such a short period of time is really exciting," Sam said. She and her staff, she said, put their heart and soul into the project and they hope everyone will appreciate it.
"Its definitely been a journey to get here," Sam added.
The grand re-opening of the museum took place on Nov. 21 at Diné College in Tsaile, Ariz. as part of the college's 45th anniversary celebration. The theme for the opening was "Celebrating Nitsahakees, Nahat'a, Iina, Siihasin: From Traditional Navajo Aesthetics to Contemporary Navajo Art."
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