'Bingo!' at Nahodishgish

Driving along the bumpy, dirt road towards Dalton Pass, approximately 10 miles outside of Crownpoint, I arrive at Nahodishgish Chapter House.

A majority of people living on the Navajo Reservation knows what a chapter house is used for: a place for community and governmental meetings, a dance hall for local talent - or a place to play bingo.

According to the Web site bingo.com, the game started out as "beano," with people playing at local county fairs, using beans for markers. Eventually, because of someone mistakenly yelling the words "bingo" instead of "beano," the name has since stuck.

With its origins going as far back as the 14th century in Italy, it has literally come a long way to the borders of the vast Navajo Reservation. On any given evening, signs will beckon players to homes, hogans, schools or chapter houses to partake of the game.

On a typical Friday night, this pastime repeated its historical footprint at 6 p.m. at Nahodishgish.

Arriving five minutes before the designated starting time, I walked into the building and noticed immediately how serious the people take this form of entertainment - there are only two empty seats and the game hasn't even started yet.

I feel a bit of hesitation and discomfort standing by the door. The feeling subsides when a woman sitting across from one of the empty chairs waves her hand and motions for me to sit.

Genevieve Chee, 60, is from Crownpoint, and says she can't remember how long she's been coming to bingo.

The game starts with the announcer welcoming everyone, sitting amidst prizes, which range from bags of flour to 12-packs of soda, snacks, cookware and homemade desserts.

"Tell the kids to be quiet!" Chee assertively says, chuckling as children run by.

I don't know what the announcer means as he says, "straight-a-ways." But I buy a bingo card anyway.

I don't have a card dabber either, as I see that Chee and her friend, Sistah Thomas, 63, have two each. I look around and see many different types of dabbers people use.

Thomas, a retired weaver, usually brings Chee along with her, she says. They laugh as they tell me they are the Navajo version of "Thelma and Louise."

Chee sits the third game out and watches as me and Thomas play another round.

"Sometimes we'll skip games," she says, smiling.

I later realize the bingo game was actually a fundraiser, helping to pay the cap and gown fees for two graduating high school seniors.

A combination of a social get-together and helping those in the community with a need, bingo serves to bring people together while contributing to a worthy cause.

This isn't the first time Gloria Jim has held a bingo fundraiser either. With donations from extended family and friends, Jim managed to raise enough money tonight to help with additional costs for her son and a friend.

"We had a good turnout tonight," she said. "It's easier to make money when we all help. And we always have a good time."

I eventually discover this is a family organized event with every member of the family pitching in - the announcer is Jim's husband and the card distributors are her children. Intermittently throughout the night, Jim's son, Jerrickson, 11, stepped in for his father to announce some games.

"They ask him to help (announce) at the Iyanbito Chapter," Jim says, smiling.

Four hours later, we will have played a total of 11 bingo games, with two raffle drawings, four free games and two scavenger games.

My butt feels stiff from sitting for so long and I can already smell the fry bread grease and popcorn soaked in my clothes.

I have never played bingo before, and I can firmly say without hesitation it was a good four hours spent.

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