This Event Took Me Back Home | Navajo Song & Dance

Hello! Aaron here, the person behind the camera!

Hosted by The Phoenix Indian Center, this Navajo Song and Dance brought the rez to Phoenix! I've covered plenty of events with perfect lighting, crisp sound, and a polished schedule-but this one was different. The light colors of the gym took me back to elementary school. The voices of the MCs reminded me of summers with my grandma in Gallup. And our elders, stepping into the round dance, made me feel at home.

My parents were first-generation off the reservation, and I grew up in the city. Even though I experience every event through my camera, everyone who attended this Song and Dance brought me back home. I love being around my relatives, and I absolutely love covering Navajo Song and Dance!

Event Overview
This event was well-organized thanks to The Phoenix Indian Center! They posted a detailed map on Instagram, making parking and navigation easy. Montecito Community School provided free parking, and signs guided attendees to the gym. Inside, there were merch vendors and a free raffle signup booth, while outside, food vendors-including Emerson Frybread-served up favorites like Frybread ($6) and Navajo Tacos ($12).

I didn't eat this time, but I did grab a Sedona Sunrise for $8-super sweet drink, so I mixed it with water and it was perfect! 😊 Pro tip: Bring your own water next year, since I didn't see any refill stations nearby.

The Event Itself
The Ira H. Hayes American Legion Post 84 proudly carried in the flags and stayed for the entire event-so glad The Phoenix Indian Center invited them! The Phoenix Indian Center invited several Navajo Song and Dance Singers, and I had the chance to meet Leeyito Singers and To Nili Singers before setting up my gear.

The MCs were welcoming, and they were excited to see my big camera in action! 🥰 They suggested I position it in the middle of the gym floor, pointing at the main microphone-great advice. After about 20 minutes, I placed one of my external mics near the singers and switched between on-camera audio and the external mic. The audio came out amazing!

Big shoutout to the organizers for keeping everything on schedule! Events like this don't always stick to the flyer timeline, but this one did!

The People & Atmosphere
This event reminded me of home. My grandma was social, always taking my brother and I to places where only Navajo was spoken. I never learned the language growing up, but this was another reminder that I should pursue it.

I loved seeing everyone's one-of-a-kind jewelry and clothing, hearing the mix of conversations in Navajo and English, and feeling the energy of kids playing, singers singing, and the MCs making annoucemnet in Navajo. This is the kind of atmosphere I crave while living in the concrete jungle.

Thank you for watching! I truly appreciate all the support-I'm just another YouTuber, but I love sharing these experiences with you! 😋🎥

Checkout my instagram for a few of the many pics I've taken!