{"id":24666,"date":"2024-11-27T18:05:31","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T01:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/navajo-cultural-immersion-day-brings-kirtland-central-together-for-butchering-of-sheep\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T04:58:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:58:14","slug":"navajo-cultural-immersion-day-brings-kirtland-central-together-for-butchering-of-sheep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/navajo-cultural-immersion-day-brings-kirtland-central-together-for-butchering-of-sheep\/","title":{"rendered":"Navajo Cultural Immersion Day brings Kirtland Central together for butchering of sheep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Kirtland
Kirtland Central High School and Kirtland Middle School students and staff observe the sheep butchering demonstration during Navajo Cultural Immersion Day on Friday. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Special to the Tri-City Record)<\/span>Curtis Ray Benally<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

With Native American Heritage Month winding down, students joined together at the Kirtland Central High agriculture barn to practice the time honored tradition of butchering.<\/p>\n

The brisk morning was welcomed with a blessing by Donovan Russell, Equity Council supervisor, before the demonstration started.<\/p>\n

Russell spoke about the life cycle of the sheep, from birth to butcher.<\/p>\n

With the help of Niaomi Benally, of Black Mesa, students were treated to a butchering demonstration.<\/p>\n

Two sheep were bought through the Intercultural and Community Outreach department using the Indian Education Grant, according to Russell.<\/p>\n

Multiple stations were prepped including blue mush, fry bread, sheep intestine cleaning and the fire for grilling.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of our students, they don\u2019t have this opportunity to see a sheep butchered,\u201d Russell said \u201cIt\u2019s mainly just go to the flea market and buy a sandwich.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benally, who was a contestant for Miss Navajo Nation, said the butcher was a chance for her to practice her public speaking.<\/p>\n

\"Kirtland
Kirtland Central High School students and staff look on as Niaomi Benally, Miss Navajo Nation contestant from Black Mesa, Arizona, butcher a sheep on Navajo Cultural Immersion Day on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Special to the Tri-City Record)<\/span>Curtis Ray Benally<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kirtland
Kirtland Central High School's Dante Yazzie, Din\u00e9 Youth Club Prince, and Nevaeh Sandoval, Din\u00e9 Youth Club Princess mix the ingredients for blue mush during Navajo Cultural Immersion Day on Friday. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Special to the Tri-City Record)<\/span>Curtis Ray Benally<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

After the demonstration, students engaged with the stations and had the opportunity to visit with educational booths from University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, Din\u00e9 College, Navajo Technical University and San Juan College.<\/p>\n

Student royalty led the stations including Miss Northern Navajo Teen Kaydence Yazzie, Mr. KCHS Dante Yazzie and Miss KCHS Nevaeh Sandoval.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey can see them like outside of the four walls,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s just to show their classmates that they can do these things, and they\u2019re part of their culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Juan College President Toni Pendergrass was in attendance and said the institution wanted to have a strong presence at the event after being invited by agriculture teacher Zane Webster.<\/p>\n

Pendergrass said it was her first time witnessing a butcher and described it as very interesting.<\/p>\n

Navajo Cultural Immersion Day was once a closed event between the FFA, FCCLA and international language classes, said Janelle Charley, KCHS student council and unity and equity club adviser.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey did what they call a project-based learning project out of it, and the kids, they really enjoyed it,\u201d she said. \u201cWe decided to make it schoolwide and in November, to correlate with Native American Heritage Month.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event also served as a way of giving back to the community and giving thanks with Thanksgiving approaching, according to Charley.<\/p>\n

\"Kirtland
Kirtland Central High School students participate in cleaning and preparing of the sheep intestines for ach'\u00ed\u00ed' (a Navajo delicacy) during Navajo Cultural Immersion Day on Friday. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Special to the Tri-City Record)<\/span>Curtis Ray Benally<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kirtland
Kirtland Central High School student, Kaniah White, wraps the sheep intestines around sheep fat to make ach'\u00ed\u00ed', a Navajo delicacy, during Navajo Cultural Immersion Day on Friday. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Special to the Tri-City Record)<\/span>Curtis Ray Benally<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Programming around equity has been a focus at KCHS, Charley said, with celebrations at least once a month circling around multiple cultures.<\/p>\n

The senior class is taking charge of the programming happening at KCHS and have voiced their interest in a shoe game for next month, Charley said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re full of so many ideas, and they try to keep the kids involved,\u201d she said. \u201cThinking, not just for the Native Americans, but for students across the community here at Kirtland Central High School.\u201d<\/p>\n

A goal of Russell was to have the tradition in student minds during the holidays.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been butchering ever since I was a kid. It\u2019s awesome. It\u2019s just been always something I enjoy doing, and my goal is to teach younger ones so that I can take a break and they can do the hard work make it easy on myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Central
Central Consolidated Schools Equity Council supervisor, Donovan Russell, grills freshly butchered sheep ribs on an open fire during Navajo Cultural Immersion Day on Friday. Other activities included Navajo cultural cuisine preparation, weaving demonstration and agricultural presentations. (Curtis Ray Benally\/Special to the Tri-City Record)<\/span>Curtis Ray Benally<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Benally said the butcher was a learning opportunity for the students and she believes as Navajo people it\u2019s a skill that is necessary for life.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring COVID, people started taking all the food from stores and my grandma\u2019s, they have a lot of sheep, so we would just butcher here and there,\u201d she said \u201cIt lasts for a long time, just one sheep, because you don\u2019t like actually all of this meat in one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weaving and beading workshops followed in the afternoon, concluding with a movie screening of \u201cCrooked Arrows.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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