Program leads to pageant win

Helping Native American elders was something this family always took to heart.

Monroe Intermediate School sixth-grade student Delaina Becenti's family is always trying to find ways to keep their Navajo background alive.

For years, Delaina has danced at many Sweetwater County School District No. 2 schools to show students Navajo dance. Although dancing is something Delaina enjoys, she and her family wanted to do more.

Tomacita Becenti, Delaina's mother had heard about the Adopt-a-Native-Elder Program and decided to look into it to see if it was something the family would be interested in participating in.

According to the website http://www.anelder.org, "the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program exists to create a bridge of hope between Native Americans and other cultures. It allows us to reach out to one another, share our gifts, and mend the broken circle of our relationship with the land and the Native Americans who hold it in sacred trust." "The Program supports the traditional Elders who live in the cultural and spiritual traditions of the Dine' people. Most live in remote portions of the Dine' (Navajo) reservation. Many live in traditional hogans, and some raise sheep as a means of maintaining themselves."

Tomacita said she and Delaina have been making trips to Park City, Utah, to visit with the elderly in this program. Tomacita said she took an interest in this program because the Delaina and her siblings do not have any paternal grandparents left to pass on the Navajo traditions.

The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program started through the efforts of Linda Myers of Park City, Utah, and Grace Smith Yellowhammer, a traditional Dine' woman. The goal was to collect food, clothing and medicine and deliver them to the elderly still living on the land.

When Tomacita and Delaina would visit with the elderly, Delaina quickly made friends, who she would dance for. It was at one of these visits when Delaina found out about the Miss Shiyazhi pageant. 

Delaina didn't know much about the pageant or the program, but she quickly found out what she needed to do an decided to give it a try.

In October, she and two other girls competed for the title. Unlike other pageants, the girls had to wait an entire month before they were told who won.

During the pageant, Delaina wore traditional Navajo clothes and sang. Delaina said she had to decide whether to sing or dance. She chose to sing because the song she selected told a story about a girl who was wearing a skirt that was too short. It was an old song many of the elderly people had not heard in a while. Delaina also had to speak in her native language - Navajo.

After the competition, Delaina went home and started to prepare for the 25th Annual Navajo Rug show and sale which takes place in Park City, Utah, each November. During the show, there are a variety of programs centered around traditional Navajo culture, including weaving demonstrations, dances, special entertainment, and a fundraising auction take place. All proceeds from the sale of rugs woven by the Elders in the Program go directly to the weavers.

The elders also bring rugs, jewelry and baskets to sell. They return home with all the proceeds from their sales.

The money enables them to buy food, firewood, and hay during the winter, the website states.

During the rug show, that announcement about the pageant winner came, but Delaina's work was not done. When she arrived at the rug show she had to give a speech about what she would do with her title if she was given it. She told those in attendance that she would gather food for the program's spring and fall food drives and money for wool and wood. The wool would allow Navajo weavers supplies to keep weaving, while the wood would be burned to keep them warm in the winter.

Delaina also wants to start a cookie drive, which is inspired by her grandfather who would always bring her cookies. She said she knows just how special a cookie can be; and wants to pass that feeling along.

Delaina was announced as the new Miss Shiyazhi and must learn to speak her native language within a year. Delaina is excited about learning her native language. Although she knows some words and phrases, she wants to learn more and has given herself that year timeframe to do so.

As Miss Shiyazhi, Delaina has already started making plans on what she can use her title and crown and sash to help people.

"I'm representing them," she said. "I'm going to help spread the word about it and get donations."

Now, Delaina is in the process of collecting money for wool and wood and food for the food drive.

Tomacita said those who want to learn more about the program or how to donate can visit with her or the website http://www.anelder.org.