<![CDATA[DZABAHE JEWELRY - Blog]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:13:20 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[ARTISAN AND CO-OWNER BESSIE SMITH (DZABAHE) IN THE NEWS!]]>Tue, 14 Sep 2021 01:28:23 GMThttps://www.dzabahe.com/blog/artisan-and-co-owner-bessie-smith-dzabahe-in-the-newsMany of you may already know, my mom DZABAHE (Bessie) has been interviewed by various news media for the past few months and I wanted to share with you those articles. Please click on the links below!
Lost Lives, Lost Culture: The Forgotten History of Indigenous Boarding Schools, The New York Times (July 20, 2021) featuring Bessie Smith (AKA Dzabahe)
​​Legacy of Indigenous Boarding Schools In Colorado Includes Unmarked Graves And Generational Scars, CPR News (August 2, 2021) featuring Bessie Smith
Why residential schools in U.S. have remained part of the country’s buried past, National Post (July 31, 2021)
Boarding School Healing video produced by NARF in 2017 featuring Bessie Smith
Video Link (You Tube)
]]><![CDATA[Hózhó jí Oodaał - Walk in Beauty -as told by Bessie, Diné, 83]]>Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:35:36 GMThttps://www.dzabahe.com/blog/hozho-ji-oodaal-walk-in-beauty-as-told-by-bessie-dine-79“Understanding and bringing awareness to your life’s journey; surrounding your space, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally with positive spiritual energies.”
 
When I was a child, there were many ceremonies and other traditional Navajo ways that I fully practiced daily. At dawn, the breaking of light coming from the east, I ran to the east, stopped on top of a hill; facing east, I then opened my corn pollen bag to offer honor to another day by sprinkling the fine powder in a clockwise motion as I began my Hózhó ji’ oodał prayer. Upon finishing, I marked the pollen in center of top of head, forehead, chest and feet. I turned clockwise; the direction the sun travels and ran home feeling blessed and happy!
            In the evening, just before sundown, I ran west to thank the creator while applying yellow corn pollen in prayer.  Running was always encouraged by my father to bring about oxygen into my body as it is one of the most important elements of life. He also taught me to pray/meditate for positive energy to surround me to protect my thoughts, well-being and overall good health. He also said, “drink water, listen to your elders, focus on how you conduct yourself, have respect for all beings, the elements of the earth (water, air, fire and earth), know your clan, understand and practice relationship and that all living beings are sacred.”
            My prayer was “In beauty may I walk, on the trail marked with pollen may I walk, and with dew about my feet may I walk.” I meditated for positive energy to surround me and that it will guide my body and mind to be healthy in my daily journey.
 
In my mothers’ (Bessie) 79 years, a lot has happened. She assimilated and adjusted to a non-traditional Diné life so she can acquire education, start a career and raise a family; the daily practices of her early life were put on the wayside. Yet, she does remember her Dad’s teachings, her beauty way of life.
The desire and satisfaction of making jewelry embodies her early teachings. We’re both blessed to be living long lives and doing what we love to do; making jewelry with stones, shell, wood and other earth elements is part of the way we live in the loving way.
]]><![CDATA["BE IN THE KNOW"]]>Mon, 20 Aug 2018 20:54:11 GMThttps://www.dzabahe.com/blog/be-in-the-knowThe Indian Arts and Crafts Act is implemented by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB). The act is a truth-in-advertising law that provides criminal and civil penalties for marketing products as "Indian made" when such products are not made by Native Americans. The Act protects Native American artisans, businesses, Tribes as well as consumers. It also protects the integrity of Native American cultural heritage and the economic self-reliance of Tribes and their members.
If you have questions or additional information regarding the Act, I would like hear from you.
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For more information go to:
 ​https://www.doi.gov/iacb/iacb-publications​
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