Diné College Joins Kids Day and Elder Fest at Northern Navajo Nation Fair
SHIPROCK, NM, October 2, 2025. The Diné College staff gathered on Thursday, October 2, for a full day of events, including Kids Day and Elder Fest, as part of the Northern Navajo Nation Fair. The activities celebrated family, culture, and community engagement under the fair’s theme, “Families are our Strength.”
Kids Day, held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., offered a range of activities for young attendees. Joni Thompson, Tsaile Recruitment Office, was present throughout the Day to connect with community members and provide information. Valadia Mejia, the Dual Credit Program Coordinator, and Renae Ben- Workforce Intern was also in attendance to engage with attendees.
Running concurrently, Elder Fest honored the community’s elders from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with an attendance by Sonja Morgan from the Shiprock Campus Recruitment Office. The event featured a special showcase of Navajo Cultural Arts presented by members of the DC Artisan Club. Demonstrations included moccasin making by Catherine Harrison and silversmithing by Samuel Sumpter. Venancio Aragon demonstrated weaving.
The Northern Navajo Fair, held from October 2-5, is the oldest and most traditional of all Navajo fairs. For generations, the Navajo people of the Four Corners have gathered in Shiprock to celebrate the harvest and honor their traditions against the backdrop of Shiprock Pinnacle.
The Northern Navajo Nation fair in Shiprock brought the community together with festivities, rodeos, and traditional song and dance performances, highlighting the shared pride in Diné heritage. As an integral part of the community, Diné College staff showcased their talents and skills, cultivating connections, encouraging local engagement, and promoting the college as a hub for education and cultural preservation.
