Smiles, laughter at Ashkii Happy Kids Day

By Tyson Hudson
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK – Kids’ shouts and laughter echoed throughout the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds Wednesday morning as the adults celebrated the children of Diné Bikéyah and the start of the fair.

The 76th Navajo Nation Fair kicked off with “Ashkii Happy” Kids Day, with around two dozen school buses from various Navajo communities gathered for the festivities. Parents and their children also packed the Powwow Grounds for information booths and activities geared toward kids.

After “The Star-Spangle Banner” was sung in Navajo, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Navajo Nation Fair mascot Ashkii Happy for his 39th birthday.

Kids zigzagged around the grounds and Nakai Hall in their blue, yellow, black, and red T-shirts bearing the names of “KDLO, Piñon Community School, Ganado, Hózhó Academy, Sanders, Rough Rock, and Hunter’s Point.”

Information booths, representing various government agencies and education institutions, handed out brochures and swag. Organizers of the event gave away school supplies and toys with some words of encouragement from special guests.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren spoke to the audience about the importance of education and how it impacted his own life.

Afterward, President Nygren said he hopes Kids Day will inspire kids to be whoever they want to be, regardless of where they came from. He discussed allocating funds for playgrounds as well.

“We’re going to sign a $29 million contract to update some playgrounds that are much needed across the Navajo Nation,” the president said.

He also talked about working with different groups to get 5,000 skateboards distributed at the Window Rock fair and the fairs in Tuba City and Shiprock.

At Nakai Hall, a long line of kids with their parents, teachers and chaperones queued up for free skateboards and safety helmets.

Amy Denet Deal, of Santa Fe, said 2,000 complete skateboard decks are being given away for Kids Day.

Denet Deal said funding for the skateboards came from crowdfunding, a private donor, and Wells Fargo Bank. They also partnered with Monarch Skateboards for the event.

Shawnshine Harrison, from Bisti, New Mexico, said the best part about giving away skateboards is seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces.

“They get a creative outlet,” Harrison said. “Skateboarding brings so much positivity.”

Besides skateboards and swag being given out, kids participated in musical chairs with hula hoops and tug-of-war at the Powwow Grounds. They also Zumba danced, shot some hoops, and tried their hands at chin-ups.

Samuel Thompson, of Wood Springs, Arizona, said the favorite part of being at the fair is “having fun and having fun with my friends.” Thompson is a student at Kin Dah Lichi’i Olta’ in Ganado, Ariz.

Arthur Ben, the principal of Kin Dah Lichi’i Olta’, said he enjoys hanging out with the kids and following them wherever they want to go at the fair.

Ben added, “The best part is working with children and then finding out later on … how successful they’ve been.”

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