Second time does it for Ronda Joe

WINDOW ROCK

Second time is the charm for Ronda Joe after she was announced the 2016-2017 Miss Navajo Nation at Dean C. Jackson Rodeo Arena during the 70th Navajo Nation Fair and Rodeo on Saturday night.

In 2014, Joe lost to McKeon Dempsey, but 2016 was her comeback year. Not only did she win the coveted crown, Joe was also named the best at the sheep butchering competition.

“I’m honored to be your new Miss Navajo,” said an emotional Joe to the crowd. “I will do my best to help our Nation to revitalize our language and our culture. I look forward to the duties that I will have.”

Like so many young girls, being crowned Miss Navajo was the ultimate goal Joe strived for. She held various school royalty titles; she also served as Miss Navajo Technical University in 2013.

“She has always had this dream of becoming Miss Navajo Nation, ever since she was a little girl,” said her mother, Matilda Deschene. “She held a lot of different titles before.”

A single mother, Deschene said that it was her father (Joe’s cheii), who was Joe’s father figure, and the one who influenced Joe to someday run for Miss Navajo.

“My dad, who passed away five years ago during the Window Rock fair, was a father figure for her,” said Deschene. “A lot of the teachings came from him and it was always my dad’s dream to have her be a representative and ambassador for our Nation.”

After six years the Miss Navajo Nation coronation has been absent from the cultural night of the Navajo Nation Fair; instead it had been held in a sweltering hot tent that could only hold so many people behind Navajo Arts and Crafts.

This year, the crowning came back to the fairgrounds and in front of what was said to be 12,000 attendees who witnessed the unveiling of a brand new crown. The crowd got to see the crown designed by Lukachukai silversmith Tommy Lowe, being placed atop Joe’s head.

“I was sitting there thinking, All these people, did you all fit into that little tent by NACE? I’m glad we’re back here at the Dean C. Jackson rodeo arena,” said Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez, who, along with his wife Phefelia Herbert-Nez, announced the new ambassador.

As the coordinator for both the cultural night and the Miss Navajo coronation, JT Willie has been a part of the Miss Navajo festivities and had championed for the crowning to take place at NACE. It was during his tenure at Navajo Arts and Crafts that the coronation was held behind the jewelry store and was free to the public. He was also one of the main forces behind the popular Miss Navajo limited edition Pendleton blanket.

“I’m very impressed with the number of girls (eight) competing,” said Willie. “I was looking forward to this year’s pageant, and next year’s as well. I’m looking forward to seeing the pageant grow and make it what it once was.”

The talent who performed during the cultural night came from various tribes, diversifying what the crowd was seeing. Each act, although different from one another, was a crowd pleaser whether it be dancing or singing.

“What I tried to do is be more Navajo-based and reteach the Navajo culture because they come to this event annually,” said Willie who was in charge of booking the performers.

On the list of performers were the Davis brothers, whom you might’ve probably heard being played when pumping gas at various Navajo petroleum designated gas stores throughout the Navajo Nation. From Many Farms, Ty and Shawn Davis grew up in a traditional home learning to sing, chant, and drum. However, with a unique Navajo sense of humor, they have created and shared hilarious observations and have written lyrics based upon those observations, and they don’t skip a beat when it comes to their comedy routines.

“We sit for hours and laugh and make up lyrics, then after a while it becomes a song,” said Ty Davis. “This is a great crowd. I’m glad our stuff made them laugh.”

Another Navajo singer that came to perform was Jay Begay, accompanied by his hood-dancing sons. As he played, his sons showed how talented they were at dancing with choreography 100 percent entirely original. Begay noted that world champion hoop dancer Tony Duncan, a member of the Apache and Arikara/Hidatsa Nations, who also performed during the coronation, influenced his sons.

Former Miss Navajo Nation Radmilla Cody came back to the place that she was crowned nearly 20 years ago and sang for the crowd. She told the audience of her recent trip to Canon Ball, North Dakota – a trip she made to support the No Dakota Access Pipeline protestors.

And in true Radmilla Cody fashion, as is expected of the humble and beautiful former Miss Navajo Nation, she reiterated the meaning of K’é and reminded the crowd of this year’s theme.

“It’s important that you understand this beautiful system known as K’é,” said Cody. “K’é doesn’t discriminate; it’s beyond knowing clans or clan groups.”

And in theme with K’é, when Joe was announced the winner, she made sure to acknowledge the other seven young ladies – all of whom she had competed against this past week. As an only child, she made sure to emphasize the sisterly bond that ad been formed among them.

“I met these amazing girls,” said Joe. “They’re the best sisters I could ever have. They made me feel like they were my very own sisters.”