Ách’ii’-maker wins crown
The Little Miss Southwestern Navajo Pageant was held on Sept. 19 at the Southwest Navajo fair in Dilkon, Ariz. Pictured is outgoing Little Miss Southwestern Navajo Aiyana Yazzie and the seven contestants that competed for the 2014-2015 crown. (Times photo — Shondiin Silversmith)
ABOVE: The Little Miss Southwestern Navajo Pageant was held on Sept. 19 at the Southwest Navajo fair in Dilkon, Ariz. Pictured is outgoing Little Miss Southwestern Navajo Aiyana Yazzie and the seven contestants that competed for the 2014-2015 crown.
Kin Dah Lichi’i Olta student is new Little Miss Southwestern Navajo
DILKON, Ariz.
The newly crowned Little Miss Southwestern for 2014-2015 Miya Sam pose for a photo with first runner-up Riley Yellow. If Sam is unable to fulfill her duties as Little Miss Southwestern, Yellow will step in and take over her duties. (Times photo – Shondiin Silversmith)
Nothing proves you’re a Navajo princess like sheep intestines.
At least that is what the newly crowned 2014-15 Little Miss Southwestern Navajo proved when she won over the judges with her ach’ii’-making skills.
Miya Sam, 7, from Ganado, Ariz., snatched up the title after she showed off her modern and traditional skills to the four-judge panel. She earned a total of 186 points out of a possible 200.
For Sam’s traditional talent she and her sister, Miral, set up a toy kitchen on the fair’s song-and-dance grounds. After she tied her apron on she acted out the processes of making ach’ii’. She pulled out some Tupperware holding her ingredients.
She soon held the sheep fat and intestines, letting the judges know exactly what she was doing in Navajo, before wrapping the fat to make ach’ii’.
Sam even joked that she would make ach’ii’ at the flea market and sell it for $6.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow