My niece Angela is the love of my life, a vivacious toddler and my world revolves around her. I tell everyone I know how meeting her changed my life. I witnessed her entering the world and felt in an instant, between her first breath and cry, my heart grow. It grew exponentially, in such aContinue reading “The Angel(a) of My Life”
Author Archives: Jaclyn Roessel
Presence Hand in Hand
The women in my life all sew. I am continuously reminded of them especially remembering their hands. My mom’s hands are smooth and soft. I still hold her hand when I cross the road as it is a comfort knowing she is by my side reaching back to help me keep up and always thereContinue reading “Presence Hand in Hand”
In My Father’s Land
I entered this world through my mother but it is in my father’s land I live and call home. A place called Round Rock, a very small community in the heart of Diné Bikeyáh (Navajoland) in northeastern Arizona. This is the place where I grew up and lived when I was small. The place ofContinue reading “In My Father’s Land”
Rising Star: Reflection
I love sparkle. My mom calls me a raccoon and sometimes a magpie because I am continuously distracted by all things glittery. It seems fitting a recent award I was honored to receive is called the Rising Star Award, something shiny. Given by the Arizona Humanities Council, the award recognizes a young professional, student orContinue reading “Rising Star: Reflection”
Tears for the Future, Tears of Hope
A Native American proverb states, “You can’t see the future with tears in your eyes.” I love the poignancy and strength of the phrase. It denotes what, we as Navajo or American Indian people need to remember. We have to understand not only the reality of our present circumstances but also see our future isContinue reading “Tears for the Future, Tears of Hope”
We Belong to One Another
This a special Valentine’s Day note of gratitude and admiration to the women in my life: I have been blessed with the gift of interacting with some amazing women. Women who are dedicated to making our community better, raising awareness about women’s rights and issues and furthering the understanding of diversity. I have listened toContinue reading “We Belong to One Another”
The Purpose of Giving
This is my first Christmas without my Nalí Asdzaan. As I prepared for the season, I was reminded of times we shopped together. She was adamant about getting gifts for people. It was important to her that her family knew she was thinking of them and cared. She would buy dishes for an auntie whoContinue reading “The Purpose of Giving”
Changing Seasons
As I write this email, I am dreaming of snow. I religiously call my Dad every Sunday. Even though we touch base through the week, our Sunday calls are special. He told me yesterday morning that my hometown had its first snow of the season. Living in Phoenix you acclimate to having only 1 ½Continue reading “Changing Seasons”
Origins of the Kinaalda
As a little girl, I never dreamed of my wedding day. I did however, dream of my Kinaaldá. Young women often note how they imagined their wedding day since they were in elementary school. Some recount with certainty what their wedding dress would look like or the song playing to their first dance. I wasContinue reading “Origins of the Kinaalda”
Grownup Navajo: A Journey
In April, I lost my Nalí Asdzaan (paternal grandmother), a woman whose essence was what it meant to be a traditional Navajo woman. She was the epitome of Navajo education and a trailblazer. She was also my teacher and because of her I was raised as a traditional Navajo woman in modern society. In my careerContinue reading “Grownup Navajo: A Journey”
Grownup Navajo 