Dreaming of 'ach'íí'
Meat market keeps serving the delicacies dearest to Diné hearts - and stomachs
By Marley Shebala
Navajo Times
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(Special to the Times - Donovan Quintero)
The popular Navajo delicacy made of intestine and fat is rolled and set on a pan to be sold at the Sweetmeat Inc. in Waterflow, N.M.
Sweetmeat Inc. is one of those reservation border-town businesses that deserve to be declared a Navajo Nation treasure.
The No. 1 reason could be its little-known battle with the New Mexico Livestock Inspection Board and U.S. Department of Agriculture to keep producing 'ach'íí'.
(Special to the Times - Donovan Quintero)
Sweetmeat Inc. owner R.G. "Squeak" Hunt Jr. stands next to the frozen carcasses of sheep at his store in Waterflow, N.M.
The Navajo delicacy is in such demand the company has a hard time keeping it on the shelf, but it is not considered food under federal meat inspection guidelines.
The No. 2 reason is the company's single-minded commitment to producing the meat most prized by its mainly Navajo customers - mutton.
R.G. "Squeak" Hunt Jr., Sweetmeat owner, said along with Navajos, his customers include Zunis, the Rio Grande Pueblos, and Apaches. Utes also drive in from southern Colorado.
Hunt, a tall man with a cowboy drawl, added, "We're getting quite a large group (of people) from the Middle East, Bavaria and Poland." The meat market specializes in fresh and roast mutton, cut to suit Navajo tastes. It also sells sheep liver, heart, and two varieties of 'ach'íí'.
His wife Carla, who is as talkative as her husband, added that some of their 'ach'íí' customers include Asian and East Indian doctors who work at the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock.
She whipped out several rolls of their product and discussed the subtleties of making 'ach'íí'. Using a very sharp knife, she cut off a roll while explaining that one roll consists of a length of small intestine wrapped 25 times around a section of colon.
This is the old-fashioned variety of 'ach'íí', preferred by the older generation of Navajos because it's "chewy and there's more texture," Carla said.
History in a name
"Sweetmeat" is a name sometimes given to select parts of an animal's innards, but this had nothing to do with the Hunts' choice of a name for their enterprise, Squeak said.
The company name is based on a Navajo term for something that is particularly good - "likan" (it is sweet).
Squeak recalls hearing elders especially use the term when they once again were able to eat mutton after years of going without following the herd reductions of the early 20th Century.
The Navajo name for his store, written over the door, has nothing to do with its English name, though. Squeak, who speaks Navajo, said his customers call it Tsé yaa ak aha', which means "Grease under the rock." Carla pointed to another pile of freshly cleaned intestines, glistening on a large aluminum cookie pan, and said it would be used to make another variety of 'ach'íí', made with small intestines wrapped around stomach fat instead of colon.
She noted that 'ach'íí' made with stomach fat gets "real crunchy" when it's cooked, and said they added this variety to their line in order to supply the growing demand from their customers.
One sheep yields about 25 rolls of 'ach'íí', and Squeak estimated they go through about 1,000 sheep a month. He, his son R.G. "Skeeter" Hunt III, and three other workers butcher sheep three times a week.
When asked what the initials R.G. stand for, Squeak solemnly said, "Real good-looking." Carla rolled her eyes, saying, "Raymond George."
50 years
R.G. "Slim" Hunt Sr., Squeak's father, established the business in 1958 in the same low-slung cinderblock building it still occupies along U.S. 64. It's hard to miss because there's an old-fashioned wooden wagon, painted green, sitting atop the roof.
Squeak pointed to the back where the original slaughterhouse still stands, renovated over the years to meet modern food safety standards. Its stainless steel interior is much easier to clean, he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave Sweetmeat a higher rating than the University of New Mexico's scientific laboratory, he said, but "those federal inspectors still don't understand culture." In a separate interview, Scott Bender, a Navajo Nation veterinarian stationed at Chinle, said that when the New Mexico Livestock Board turned over meat inspection to federal authorities in mid-August, the feds tried to shut down Sweetmeat because federal regulations listed sheep intestines as a "non-food" item.
"They were unfamiliar with 'ach'íí'," Bender said.
It was a real struggle to persuade the USDA to allow them to continue producing and selling 'ach'íí', despite its similarity to sausage, Squeak said.
Carla shook her head in disgust, still amazed the federal agency was so dense, noting that Navajos aren't the only people who relish sheep intestines - Hispanic people also eat 'ach'íí', which they call "burnita." The Hunts filed a written appeal of the USDA order, and the agency relented and allowed the 'ach'íí' production to continue.
Squeak said he's also requested the USDA to allow Sweetmeat to expand its product line and sell the stomach, blood and head from the sheep they slaughter.
The stomach and blood are in demand by Navajo customers who use these parts to make blood sausage, he said, and many Navajos enjoy slow- roasted sheep's head.
Squeak said he buys sheep from all over the reservation but the demand for Sweetmeat's mutton is so high that he buys sheep by the truckload from Utah, Idaho, California and Texas.
Squeak noted that they get a lot of business during the Navajo Nation campaign season, fairs and when schools celebrate Native American week or graduations.
He took down a framed 2006 certificate of appreciation from the Navajo Nation's Department of Fish and Wildlife for their support of the annual youth hunt.
Sweetmeat has been a major sponsor since the agency started its youth hunt, and converted a horse trailer into a portable refrigeration unit to hold the carcasses of any deer the kids bring down, said Gloria Tom, Fish and Wildlife director.
Each year Squeak hauls the trailer up the rugged dirt road to a campsite in the Carrizo Mountains, where the hunt takes place, and praises the young hunters for their efforts.
Then he hauls the carcasses back to his store to hang and process. A week later, the child can pick up his or her meat, which Sweetmeat has cut, packaged and frozen free of charge.
Changing times
As the couple looked over several freshly butchered sheep carcasses that were hanging in their meat locker, Squeak wondered aloud about the changing Navajo lifestyle that he's witnessed in his 56 years.
It seems like people aren't herding as many sheep and that means they're not butchering as much as they used to, he said.
He said he'll often hear his Navajo customers, usually the elders, tell their grandchildren that they used to have that kind of sheep or that color of sheep.
Squeak said he usually gives the wool to elderly Navajo women if they ask him because he knows they'll use it to weave rugs.
Sweetmeat has always been and will be a family business, but the Hunts like to think it also helps to keep a part of Navajo life alive that is connected to sheep.
Over the doorway to Sweetmeat is a hand-painted sign: "WHOA! Mutton
Lovers Heaven."
Next year the company will celebrate 50 years.
We're sorry, the comment period on this story has closed.
82 comments so far (View this week's story to comment on it)Coming home means some mutton and achii' all the time! We've been wanting to buy a lamb here in elko, nv.; but hasn't happen yet. Yeah, keep up with the supply demand. Can you ship some?
Posted by Lynn Tso on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 21:28pm | #277
My wife, (navajo) sis in law and my son would love to have some mutton and achii....Can it be shipped to Dallas?? Keep the business going...dont fret the negative comments. All of this was good eating until processed foods came along.
Posted by TD Calabaza on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 19:17pm | #276
Love, what you are doing for the Dine Nation sounds like you have a lot of supporters and esp. keeping us stocked with all the mutton we can eat, You know some of us Dine dont exercise, Feast today at the Flea Market. Thank-you God Bless
Posted by Kayenta on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 18:52pm | #275
I'm not a big fan of achii, but they serve good mutton, sometimes it's very greasy, but takes the edge off craving mutton, Good job guys and it's important to keep up with tradition James 9-7-07!!! But also important enough to watch portion size and exercise no matter what you eat!!!!
Posted by Utah Dine on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 17:08pm | #274
mutton is evil... the lamb of GOD should not be eattten this way!!! Shame on you.. SHame on all of yaaa!!!!
Posted by Captain Mormon on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 15:50pm | #273
gross.. you people make me sick...
Posted by B. on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 15:44pm | #272
can't wait to visit, bless your heart.
Posted by jobean on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 04:21am | #271
Honesty, fairness, integrity, tradition.....
Just a few things about Squeak, Carla, Skeeter, and the gang at Sweetmeat...oh yeah...and MUTTON.
Posted by The Liver Fairie on Thursday, 09.13.07 @ 03:26am | #270
Yummmmmm!!! That will be delicious when it's cooked, especially with hot tortillas, cooked outside over an open fire. We travel quite a bit due to our job and rarely get to eat mutton. We'll be heading home soon...so needless to say, we can't wait. God Bless!
Posted by Mrs. & Mrs. T on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 23:47pm | #269
That picture stayed in my mind.I can't erase it. I got to have some soon. ACHII is a delicacy these days. Thanks to stores like Sweet Meat and T&R! Loved your story.
Posted by belle on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 23:42pm | #268
thats sounds good i ate that all my life iam in montanta i don't get motton and ach'ii' i wonld like to have some right now with frybread but keep it going its a good thing for us navajo i don't have a e mail so ill keep looking on the computer for resond maybe by then ill have a e mail address thank you smith
Posted by smith on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 23:13pm | #267
Yum Yum!! Ach'ii is the most delicious part of being Dine', when I come home from Big Sky Montana, Mutton is one of the first things I have to eat. It's great that the tradition of our native food is still a big part of our lives!!!
Can you ship some to me in Blackfeet Country? PLEASE!!
Posted by Thomalisa Mad Plume on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 22:54pm | #266
Wow now that's alot of achii!! Makes me want to go back for flea market...HUMMMMMMMMM!!
Posted by goofy on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 21:19pm | #265
Ach'ii is good but what about our natives and their cholesterol...Just wanted people to be aware of the foods you eat. And to the people living in the cities -Costco and Sam's Club sell mutton too. Great for stew. Also remember to use wheat flour...Healthy choices for longer life!
Posted by CA on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 18:56pm | #264
hey that was my aunt and uncle buy mutton that day!! i thought that was funny to see them there.
Posted by april singer on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 18:54pm | #263
I would also be interested in having some 'ach'ii'shipped. Can you ship to Reno? All the comments are reallu making want to try it :)
Posted by FreedomDove on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 16:11pm | #262
Yummy....ach'ii' feast when i return from Iraq! It has been in our family dinners with no regrets.
Posted by Julie on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 15:29pm | #261
Im very glad that you have a bussiness that sell fresh mutton,and the best part which is achii.when i saw the picture on navajo times,i want to come home.but im about 22 hour of flight time away in sidney,austr,i support your bussiness ,i dont think the federal goverment or the state has no bussiness to tell us native how to eat our mutton,or where to buy our mutton.ill be coming home in october,for sure i be at your store.thank you ( keep on selling mutton)
Posted by pat jayrondo on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 07:31am | #260
That achii looks good, can't wait to go home. Keep fighting for your business to stay open. I bought couple of achii and bought extra achii to share with my friends. Keep your business open. Thanks to you and your family. I really appreciated your service - keep your business open. :) From Phoenix
Posted by DreamGirl on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 02:35am | #253
LOOKS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Ron on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 02:31am | #252
I remember feasting on "sweet meat" as a teenager and growing up in the Shiprock/Farmington area. The sheep in California never tasted that good back in the "good ol'daze", that is before and ever since the feds started putting chemicals/preservatives into the mutton and other meat. They sure know how to ruin my tradional appetite. By the way what ever happened to Mr. Shirley's economic development "vision". Why doesn't he wake up and start investing by manufactoring Navajo Mutton like some of these tribes here in California invest and manufacture fish? (What a political stooge) Thanks.
Wilbur Nelson, former N.N Presidential Candidate
P.S. Does "Sweet meat" ship orders to California?
Posted by Wilbur Nelson. Jr. on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 02:25am | #251
U Know what i'm having for DINNER......With Frybread.
Posted by KD on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 01:02am | #250
Yummy..........I'm going to have that tonight!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Ann on Wednesday, 09.12.07 @ 00:08am | #249
wow,that look better than my lunch today,hot wings... your story was great,from flagstaff,az.
i travel over 300 mile for mutton and herd them for excerise...
Posted by sjean on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 21:00pm | #248
What is next? the blood sausage, and ribs...mmmmm
Posted by Gloria Navaho on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 18:53pm | #247
Squeak,
Good work for all our of Dine people. I can't tell you enough how much my family enjoy getting together to feast on mutton, which is not very often:(
I would like some information on shipping mutton, achii, etc.. to other states. Is this something that is possible? If so, let us know.
Thanks!
Posted by lisa on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 18:10pm | #246
Mutton POWER FUREVER!!!!!!!!
Posted by EMiS! on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 17:57pm | #245
Living in the city you about hungry for mutton and achii'. Sometimes you think about home but its so far away. It is so hard to get mutton and so expensive in Salt Lake City. That's where I am living at now. Its good hear stories about achii".
Posted by M.Cruz on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 14:50pm | #244
Great story. I went to school with Slim's boys, also. Congratulations on the success of the business.
Posted by pd7benally on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 11:23am | #243
Surfing the web on my daughter's laptop and came upon the picture. I don't need to read the caption to know what that is. I can only imagine the taste and memories associated with it. I live in the metro of Dallas, Tx and go home once a year if I get lucky. No matter how many different resturants I eat at, I would trade a mutton stew w/frybread at a food stand in a heartbeat. I grew up in Kirtland and know the Hunt family as a group of friendly people. I hope they never close down. Getting cravings.
Posted by Ellen on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 08:50am | #242
i am in Las Vegas going to school at HTI and wish i were home. Seeing that achii looks very tasty and yummy. WORD FROM THE WISE: Please dont ever take the feast of a sheep for granted. Peace.
Posted by cbk on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 06:48am | #241
can you buy the achii online and get it shipped?? What is the phone number of the company??
Posted by beverly on Tuesday, 09.11.07 @ 01:07am | #240
nice story.... i remember going to high school w/ the hunt boys and their sister. great family... carry on
Posted by Dustin on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 23:55pm | #239
mmmmmm. that achii looks good feels like eating one now but im in school so there better be one when i go home. great story squeak keep the tradition alive
Posted by Nicholas Shay on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 23:27pm | #238
Thanks for all the comments. We've really appreciated hearing from so many friends.
Posted by Squeek Hunt on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 22:48pm | #237
mmm... that looks real good about now... lol
Posted by Lyn Davis on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 21:43pm | #236
Indeed mutton is good. Although we live off our lands either for work or school, we still should come home and help any of our relatives that still have sheep. Come home, not to just eat. Help upgrade sheep corrals, help during lambing season, help shear, as well as doctoring the animals.
It would also be benefical to give the sheepherder time off by helping herd the sheep while the shepard goes to visit with their relatives or shopping.
Posted by dlasvegas on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 21:15pm | #234
Oh wow... that looks so good!! *stomach growls* =(
Posted by Lence on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 20:47pm | #233
YUMMIE!!!!!
Posted by ndnchick on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 17:54pm | #232
mmmmmmmmmmm....achii! Can't wait to go home for our next family mutton feast. Our family has a feast every now and then. And we started this family tradition of having one every year...we call it our Mutton Fest cuz this year it happen around Ozzfest. :-D
Posted by Cassie on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 16:47pm | #231
Hey, I remember when I was made to hold the lining of the stomach to dry. Man I hated that but hey it paid of with "Ach ". Nobody need to hate on the Ach .
Posted by Zuniedgewater on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 15:24pm | #230
oh they better not stop producing mutton...i am a mutton eater big tyme..its jst addicting...tha greasy meat tha smell of it jst brings tears to my eyes as if i was at 2nd nite standing by tha fire...am not sure bout tha point am tryn to give but pour me a bowl n slide me a fry bread bcuz this engine is hungery...*anonymous engine*aaaayyyyaahhh.
Posted by rodge on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 10:13am | #229
ya'tahay hey sweatmeat was my grandparents meat store (rip) now i know you still excist i will be by to keep the tradition! mutton haters suk's just means more mutton for mutton lover's military readers around the world thnx for keeping peace squeak make sure the sheep are fat
the fatter the better!!!
Posted by longhair deer killer on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 09:33am | #228
its so good I saw someone stuff a whole achii in his mouth and choked on it. it looked like a shoestring coming out his mouth.And then ate it again
Posted by ellie on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 06:43am | #226
Just another establishment exploiting the Navajos, can't the Navajos open their own mutton store?
Posted by bai on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 05:01am | #224
All the years that I have served my country and The Navajo Nation. The Countries I have visited in my 19 years of proud service, I have never been so appauled,that anyone that is of Navajo descent, we should have any say in our traditional food and way of life. If you should get off the reservation or even have a chance to get off the greatest nation in the world, then let me know what type of food and people you experience. I have visited over 30 countries in my life. I have always found that our traditional food has always brought me back home. When myself and other military members stationed around the world see comments like this it make us think twice of what we are fighting for back home.
Of all request that I make, Please enjoy your freedom and your freedom of press/ expression. But remember this is seen around the world. If you don't support this war than support your troops!!!
Everytime a Troop/Sailor/Airman/Marine comes home. That traditional food is what they are looking forward to.... Thank you for the Sweet Meat!!
Posted by Socalsailor on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 04:44am | #223
the thought of Achii makes me want to barf. The taste of mutton does the same too.
Posted by Your Half-breed Solution Provider on Monday, 09.10.07 @ 02:55am | #221
When we first saw the photo of the 'ach'ii' on the front page, our mouths started watering instantly!! My kids love it!! They call it "twisters". We live here in the city and we crave for mutton and all the innards of the sheep! The only time we get to eat mutton, is when we go back to the rez. We're not from near Waterflow, but keep up the "butchering" Squeak!! Good job and keep them delicacies a comin'...
Posted by Dorie on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 23:26pm | #219
When I saw the headlines about 'ach'ii' I thought to myself, people are makeing a big issue over little things than worring about bigger things that go on in this world. God make us the people that we are "The Dine People". How we live, What we eat,and the lanuge we speak is what keeps our Culture and Tradition alive even today. No one can change the lives of The Great Navajo Nation. We are a Blessed Nation. Thak you Squeaks "Mutton Man" May God Bless Your Services that you and your family give to our People on the reservation. Keep up the great work.
Posted by From Tohatchi on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 20:36pm | #218
Mmmm........Mmmmmm good, I really need to head back home. I miss them good'ol mutton. The moment I saw the the picture "OMG" I almost took a bite right out of the picute instead. Only 2 more months to go and still counting. Joh nizhoni, keep our tradition going Squeak. It's really a shame to say to another white man to keep our tradition going. I wonder how many young folks know how to butcher out there or to even fix the meat? I know I do...........Little Water, N.M.
Posted by Urban Nnd on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 10:02am | #217
Posted by Urban Nnd on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 09:48am | #216
NOT FOOOD they say, we all grew up on achii' and doing well. This isn't a waste of time, this is a story your ancestors would have been proud of. Squaks probably more Navajo than some of us. Keep up the great work. You are who keeps us from craving! Thanks
Posted by F.W on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 05:46am | #215
Keep fighting Sqeak. We do appreciate the hard work you and your wife are doing in keeping this Navajo tradition alive. I beleive personnel working at USDA and New mexico Dept. of Agriculture should take a course in culture and traditions. This type of ignorance causes wars such as iraq.
Posted by Bubba on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 03:40am | #214
I really thought the news was different and I really liked how all the writers wrote they're articals. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Aj on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 01:22am | #213
Speacking of mutton,that sounds real good right about now from Carlsbad NM. Squeak your the Man thank you and your family for your services to Dine People all over the Rez. 'Ach'ii' is real food and u got to try it, really good stuff.
Posted by letsitty on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 00:47am | #212
Just want to thank Squeak for keeping a part of the Navajo Tradition. Mutton is very much a part of the Navajo food.
Posted by Esther on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 00:30am | #209
I would love to have some when I go back to the reservation. Especially when my relatives butcher on the weekend
Posted by leon on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 00:22am | #208
I juss luvez itz. its the bestest of rez. Shi buddiez luvez itz.i WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO GRANNY and Gramps kEE AND GRANNY AND GRAMPS LISTER. I'm out .
Posted by M. D. Lister on Sunday, 09.9.07 @ 00:19am | #207
mmmmm, I can already taste it in the mouth from the first to the last bite. Peace
Posted by mazz on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 23:21pm | #206
Wow! I really miss achii, frybread, and mutton stew. I can't wait to go back home, soon I hope. Tired of all this sushi and awamori. From Japan. Miss my mom and grandmothers cooking. Peace.
Posted by HM3 Saunders on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 13:56pm | #205
I forgot how this taste, but hopefully now that I'm moving back to N.M. (REZ) I'll be able to taste this all over again....just like my childhood dayz. As far as I remember, it was good, then again, I'm so use to all types of food from all over the world, so it should be easy to get use to it again. I'm looking forward to this along with Fry Bread. hmmmmmm, there goes my waste line.
g
Posted by g on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 10:29am | #204
mmmm...it sure sounds good!!! I wish I could have some right now here in Oklahoma!!!
Posted by gibson on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 06:42am | #203
Squeak is a very nice person and a good example of the kind of relationships we should have with many more businesses in the Farmington area. I believe he is also a staunch advocate for cleaner air in the Four Corners area. I appreciate the signs he puts up across the street form his store. These signs help educate many people, driving by, about the harmful pollutants that are deposited on our beautiful land. Great front page article, Marley Shebala must have gotten a side of mutton or two on credit and it was time to pay up!
Posted by J. Elwood on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 05:56am | #202
MAN SOME ACH'II' AND MUTTON SOUNDS GOOD ABOUT NOW OUT HERE IN IRAQ TO BAD THESE SHEEP OUT HERE ARE DIRTY AND EAT ON TRASH SO IT WOULDN'T TASTE THE SAME AS MEAT FROM A REZ SHEEP. HOPING THAT MY GRANDMA BUTCHERS FOR ME WHEN I GET BACK IN THE FALL.
Posted by CPL YAZZIE IN IRAQ on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 05:29am | #201
Man oh man how much I miss mutton and the taste of achii. Hey mutton man you think you could sell online to the navajos in Denver????
Posted by Lisha on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 05:02am | #200
Yes, the traditional way is after you eat achii, the grease from achii you rub that on your shoe. This an act of appreciation that the Great Spirit's blessing will always be yours.
Like now I am sitting here and my shoe is all greasy . Excuse me, the rack of ribs is ready.
Posted by Lew Morgan on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 03:22am | #199
Its about time they cover something other than politics. It brings back the greatest memories of my childhood. Obesity...one has to want to address their problems...not anyone else's job but their own. :)
Posted by P. Smith on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 01:53am | #198
Why did you have to show a big picture of the achii? Makes me miss home. Thank you for your store and providing good service to our people.
Posted by s.cali-chic on Saturday, 09.8.07 @ 00:37am | #197
To the detractors,
dreaming of 'ach'ii' says to me that this story is relevant for our culture. I equate it to maintaining a grasp of our language. It saddens me to hear see less and less fellow Navajos speak the Dine' language. Personally, I've never acquired the taste for intestines, but the brain... mmmm brain!
Posted by Billy G. on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 23:55pm | #196
It was good to see this article when I opened up the website for the Navajo Times. I recognized Squeak's photo right away. He not only has the best cooked mutton, but has known my dad and mom for a very long time. He helps the Dine in more ways then I can think of. His family is to be appreciated and thank you Squeak for the mutton when I go home. My mom usually ask me to drive her there to purchase mutton for stew. Cheers to you for doing an article on him. Keep up the good work!!!
Posted by Rosie on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 23:52pm | #195
good article for those individuals that are dine at heart and appreciate dine delicacy; similar to cavier. mmm learn to eat it in moderation and all is good. thank U Likan for keeping our traditional meal available.
Posted by 271REFUGE ROCK RD on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 23:28pm | #194
Why does this editoral make the front page of navajo times, since when do they start talking about what we eat whats next......maybe you should stick to you politics and gossip of racism and unfair civil rights...
Posted by mutton hater on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 22:41pm | #193
I'm always number 2...
:(
Posted by Ben Shelly on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 22:23pm | #191
brings back memories of MUTTONMAN.
sorry id eat muttonman thats too old.
my mom always eat muttonman (ewwwwww gosh)
Posted by Baby Ann on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 21:19pm | #184
Great story. I have never had mutton but I do want to try it, Dine' style of course. I hope Sweatmeat always sells what is important and loved so much. Great job guys :)
Posted by FreedomDove on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 21:12pm | #183
Mutton man is long gone.. we need some new heroes to fight for our right to obesity!!!
Martha had spoken....
Posted by Big Martha ( Pinon crips for life) on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 19:52pm | #178
And why does this make the front page?
Waste of time.
Posted by James on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 19:31pm | #175
Good Story And ach'ii'..
Posted by matt on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 19:14pm | #174
I took my father there when he was in a Nursing home in Farmington, was a blessing to see dad eyes when he could again taste mutton when so far from home. Think of father (RIP), I remember this hole in the wall....Heck of a place, Squeak and Mutton Man forever!!!!
Posted by Chizzie Boss on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 16:59pm | #173
I used to smell roasted mutton by the roadsides in Iraq. Brought back all the smells of home...
Posted by Marc Hillis on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 16:43pm | #172
Story brings back memories of.....MUTTONMAN!
YES...those were the days of old!
Squeak your my hero....I LOVE YOU MAN.
Posted by hosteen yazzie on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 16:10pm | #171
Well I'll B dam... I been drivin thru there 4 many years. Never knew this was open. Instead of runs 2 Hogback, er I mean trips 2 town even back in da day I could've grabbed sum. Kewlness. I hope they can cook it right there when ordered. hmmm. I'd bring my own bread in.
Posted by Solito on Friday, 09.7.07 @ 09:44am | #170