Navajo-France Association

What is your name?
Haneelia Max

Do you live in Navajoland?
Yes, in Tuba City, Arizona

Have you ever lived outside Navajoland?
Yes, in Flagstaff, Arizona

Do you work in Navajoland?
Yes, we own three businesses in Tuba City, Arizona

What is your occupation?
I am an optician. I fabricate prescription eyeglasses for people.

What are your hobbies?
I like to read books, travel to different parts of the country, and do arts and crafts when I have time. I love to watch my grandchildren.

What do you like the most in your culture?
I like the fact that we have a clan system that helps us to greet one another as a relative. You always have family wherever you go.

What do you want to preserve in your culture?
Our clan system, our language, our ceremonies, our arts and crafts such as weaving rugs, sash belts, basket making, traditional foods, and organically grow food. There is so much I want to preserve of our way of life. The most important is the philosophy of “HOZHO”.

Do you think other cultures know about yours?
I think so but maybe very few. Maybe they just know what they see on those horrible John Wayne movies. Maybe our silversmithing work and rug weaving.

What would you want to explain to them?
We are people with a proud culture. Hozho is the foundation of everything we do, think and say. We have to strive to stay on the good path of life no matter what comes our way. Hozho is love, harmony, happiness, respect and balance.

What would you like to share the most with other cultures?
Our philosophy of Hozho. Hozho has to start with the family between the parents and children, then
outside the family with families and friends.

What do you think about exchanges between the Dine and other cultures?
I think it would be very good to share different cultures. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised when cultures from other parts of the world are similar.

Do you think Art can link people from different cultures?
Yes, definitely.

Would you like to discover Art from other cultures?
Of course.

Do you think other cultures can support the Dine Culture/Tradition/Social Preservation?
Yes.

We support Traditional Preservation of the Dine including Environment, Culture, and Social Preservation, what are the great objectives for you to keep the Dine people on that way?
My husband and I teach our children and grandchildren basic knowledge about respect for themselves and others and respect for Mother Earth. Earth is our mother, our home, our “church”, and our nourishment.

Would you like to know about the Tradition and Modernity Preservation of other cultures?
Yes I would.

Thank you, Haneelia !