Elder's caretaker wins Miss Navajo Nation crown

WINDOW ROCK, Sept. 7, 2008

It's a dream her grandmother spoke of and encouraged but never lived to see.

"It's what she always wanted," said Yolanda Charley, the newly crowned Miss Navajo Nation 2008-09, of her late grandmother. "She used to cut out photos of the new Miss Navajos and told me that I could be it someday."

The 20-year-old Charley was announced as the 57th Miss Navajo Nation after Grandma Thomas ran to the middle of the rodeo arena, after that arena dust settled from the Apache crown dancers and after that vibrant wave swept across the capacity crowd Saturday night during the coronation at the 62 annual Navajo Nation Fair.

Charley, of the Water Edge Clan and born for the Towering House Clan, is the daughter of Glenn and Clara Kehoe of Twin Falls, Idaho. Her grandparents are the late Matilda Wilson and John Wilson.

She graduated from Gallup High in 2006 and had since been caring for her grandfather in Chichchiltah, N.M.

"I put college on hold because I didn't want to leave him alone," she said of her grandfather. "I needed to help the person who took care of my grandmother and keep him company."

Contestants endured a grueling week of events - a 45-minute, 18-question interview by former Miss Navajos to test their traditional knowledge, a butchering contest to test their cooking skills, and a showcase of contemporary and traditional skills.

Questions from the panel, which Charley admitted was "intimidating," about the Navajo wedding basket to the Navajo emergence story to the female deities required responses - all in Navajo.

Charley said she answered confidently.

In the butchering contest, she worked alone for the first time and the past three years of practice paid off because she was even named the "best butcherer," above the three other contestants.

Her skills included a "big science-like project" in which Charley spoke on the causes and effects of methamphetamine use on the reservation for her contemporary skill and presented five charcoal and pencil drawings to fulfill the traditional requirement.

Charley, whose Miss Eastern Navajo reign ended in July, intends to continue outgoing Miss Navajo Nation Jonathea Tso's work to raise funds for the Special Olympics.

In addition, Charley said she hopes to encourage young people to learn the Navajo language, continue into higher education and promote health across the reservation.

"Our language and our culture, defines who we are as people," she said. "Our children need to take education seriously. The language and what they learn at home will help them through college."

Charley added that she plans to collaborate with nonprofit organizations such as breast cancer and veterans' groups to raise money to help their causes.

Though Charley said she fears "making mistakes," she said, "I know I have to work really hard for the Navajo people."

Danielle Goldtooth was named first runner-up and Miss Congeniality.

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