Title Holders Chronicles

MNCI_MissNavajoCouncil_1953-1954 — Miss Navajo 1953 – 1954
Ida Gail Organick

Miss Navajo 1953 – 1954

Ida Gail Organick

Miss Navajo 1954 – 1957
Charlotte Lawrence Greenstone

Miss Navajo 1954 – 1955

Miss Navajo 1955 – 1956

Miss Navajo 1956 – 1957

Charlotte Lawrence Greenstone

Charlotte Lawrence Greenstone was the only Miss Navajo to hold the title 3 times. Currently, there is now a rule set in place that an individual can not hold the Miss Navajo title more than once.

Miss Navajo 1957 – 1958

Miss Traditional Navajo:

Emma Louise Anderson

Miss Modern Navajo:

Geraldine Morgan Pete

Miss Navajo 1958 – 1959

Miss Traditional Navajo: Dorothy Curtis Fixico

Miss Modern Navajo
Vivian Linda Arviso

Miss Navajo 1959 – 1960
Miss Traditional Navajo

Elsie Curley Raymond

Miss Modern Navajo

Joy Jean Sells Hanley

Miss Navajo 1960 – 1961

Roseanne Kellywood Bahe

Miss Navajo 1961 – 1962

Miss Traditional Navajo: Lois Haskie Kansaswood

Miss Modern Navajo: Dr. Alyse Neundorf

Miss Navajo 1962 – 1963

Miss Navajo 1963 – 1964

Anna Mae Begay Fowler

Miss Navajo 1964 – 1965

Sally Ann Zah Joe

Miss Navajo 1965 – 1966

Carol Ann Yazzie Showalter

Miss Navajo 1966 – 1967

Sarah Ann Johnson Luther

Miss Navajo 1967 – 1968

Thelma Pablo Francisco

Miss Navajo 1968 – 1969

Rose McCabe Wauneka

Miss Navajo 1969 – 1970

Rose Ann Bekis Kenneth

Miss Navajo 1970 – 1971

Linda Hanove Schweigman

Miss Navajo 1971 – 1972

Genevieve Lee Salt

Miss Navajo 1972 – 1973

Janet Yazzie Caller

Miss Navajo 1973 – 1974

Delphine Curley Ludlum

Miss Navajo 1974 – 1975

Gilene Begay

Miss Navajo 1975 – 1976

Angela Barney Nez

Miss Navajo 1976 – 1977

Rosita Tsosie Holiday

Rosita Tsosie Holiday was born in Ganado, Arizona on September 11 to Joe and Bonnie Tsosie. Born to Bit’ahnii and for To’baaha. The second clans are Tsi’naajinii and ashii. She is the second oldest in her family.

To her family and friends, she is known as Rosie. Rosie attended schools in Utah, AZ, and NM. She graduated from Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona. She also attended Brigham Young University and BYU-Laie and studied education.

Rosie was chosen as “Miss Western Navajo” in 1976 and represented the Tuba City agency. She competed for “Miss Navajo Nation” that same year and won. She represented the Navajo Nation for one year.

Rosie is married to Kee H. Holiday and they are parents to 4 children. They have 9 grandchildren.

Rosie loves to read, sew and cook.

Rosie has been employed with Kayenta Health Center for 23 years.

Miss Navajo 1977 – 1978

Marilyn Help-Hood

Miss Navajo 1978 – 1979

Bobby Bia

Miss Navajo 1979 – 1980

Freda Jeli Nells

Miss Navajo 1980 -1981

Sandra Eriacho

Miss Navajo 1981 -1982

Dr. Dolly Manson

Miss Navajo 1982 -1983

Sunny Dooley

Miss Navajo 1983 – 1984

Shirley Paulson

Miss Navajo 1984 -1985

Lorene Lewis

Miss Navajo 1985 – 1986

Audra Arviso

Miss Navajo 1986 – 1987

Diane Taylor

Miss Navajo 1987 -1988

Wena Jesus

Wena Jesus ei Ashii,hi nili, To‘ahani yashshiin, Dibelizhini da bicheii do Tsi’naajinii da binali. She became one of the privileged young ladies in 1987 when she was selected as Miss Navajo Nation. Her favorite jobs have been; elementary and special education teacher. As a teacher, she has had wonderful opportunities to create lifelong relationships with students and their families. She feels she was blessed to have had the chance to be there at that critical point in their lives. She continues to feel fortunate in providing self-reliance services in her current role as a development counselor. She assists people to learn to support themselves by developing employable skills, receiving needed training, and preparing for careers.

Wena has indicated, “The prospect of working together with individuals to teach and guide them to become a willing participant to change their perspectives and transform their lives is extremely wonderful and gratifying.” In her earlier years, Wena has absorbed the Navajo traditional philosophy/teaching of “T’aa hwo’ ajit’ eego” from her parents, Martha and Wayne Jesus. Wena’s family has planted vegetables and fruits at their summer camp and she has continued this tradition with her children. Wena has raised her five children in the midst of working; mending fences, hauling water, gathering woods, and planting for the winter. Her family has increased to seven with a Mexican son-in-law and an adorable grandson. She is looking forward to increasing her family with the prospects of having more hands to support their lives in self-sufficiency.

Miss Navajo 1988 – 1989

Sophina Shorty

Miss Navajo 1989 – 1990

Geraldine Gamble

Miss Navajo 1990 – 1991

Jennifer Jackson Wheeler

Miss Navajo 1991 – 1992

Sharon Watson Murray

Miss Navajo 1992 – 1993

Tina James Tafoya

Miss Navajo 1993 – 1994

Tara Tsosie

Miss Navajo 1994 – 1995

Karen Leuppe

Miss Navajo 1995 – 1996

Audra J. Etsitty Platero

Miss Navajo 1996 – 1997

Josephine Ann Tracey

Miss Navajo 1997 – 1998

Radmilla A. Cody

Clans: Tłááschí’í (Red Ochre on Cheeks People or Red Bottom People) Nishłi
Naahiłii (African American) Bashishchiin

Nakai Diné’é (Mexican People Clan) Dashicheii/Maternal Grandparents
Naahiłii (African American) Dashinali/Paternal Grandparents

Miss Navajo 1998 – 1999

Sevaleah Begay

Miss Navajo 1999 – 2000

Victoria Yazzie

Miss Navajo 2000 – 2001

Dr. Karletta Chief

Miss Navajo 2001 – 2002

Jolyana Begay-Kroupa

Jolyana Begay-Kroupa, is originally from Ch’ildiilyésiitah (Rabbitbrush) near Fort Defiance, AZ. She is Táchii’nii (Red Running into the Water People) and born for Tsinaajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Her maternal grandfathers are Tł’ááshchi’í (Red Bottom Cheek People) and her paternal grandfathers are Ye’ii Dine’é Tachii’nii (Giant People of the Red Running into the Water People). Jolyana honorably served as the 50th Miss Navajo Nation (2001-02) and currently resides in the Phoenix, AZ where she is the Chief Executive Officer for the Phoenix Indian Center. She also teaches Navajo language classes at Arizona State University. She has also taught for Stanford, Harvard and Yale University. Language learning and revitalization efforts are her passion, as she continually aims to provide a strong lens for language and culture to always be interwoven and incorporated in all aspects of her work. Jolyana is married and has three beautiful children.

Miss Navajo 2002 – 2003

Shaunda Tsosie

Miss Navajo 2003 – 2004

Marley Billey

Marla Billey is Tachii’nii born for Naakaii Dine’e and her grandfathers are Hooghan lani and Tl’izidaalchi’i. She is originally from Sanostee, NM, Tablemesa area within the Northern Navajo Area. After her year as Miss Navajo she worked for the Office of the President & Vice-President while continuing her education with Diné College where she received her A.A. in Dine Studies and Liberal Arts, then worked with Fleet Management, and Nabinahaazlaago Initiative-Judicial Branch.

She received her BS in Management from New Mexico Tech on May 2014. Also she works part-time at IRIS/PASSCAL (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology/Program for Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere).

Miss Navajo 2004 – 2005

Jannalee Atcitty

Miss Navajo 2005 – 2006

Rachelle James

Yá’át’ééh! My name is Rachelle James. My clans are Water That Flows Together and born for Within His Cover clan. My maternal clan is Towering House and my paternal clan is Near The Water. I am
originally from Chinle, Arizona. My parents are Larry and Irene James. My maternal grandparents are the
late Zonnie and Henry Jones of Chinle, Arizona. My paternal grandparents are the late Alice and Jessie James of Rough Rock, Arizona.

Miss Navajo 2006 – 2007

Jocelyn Billy

Miss Navajo 2007 – 2008

Jonathea Tso

Miss Navajo 2008 – 2009

Yolanda Charley

Miss Navajo 2009 – 2010

Tashina Nelson

Miss Navajo Nation 2010 – 2011

Winifred Bessie Jumbo

Miss Navajo Nation 2011 – 2012

Crystalyne Curley

Miss Navajo Nation 2012 – 2013

Leandra Thomas

Miss Navajo Nation 2013 – 2014

Natasha Hardy

Miss Navajo Nation 2014 – 2015

McKeon Kova Dempsey

Yá’át’ééh ałtaał’áásiiłgóó, shik’éí dóó shidiné’é, shihastóí, shizáanii. McKeon K. Dempsey dashijiní. Ádoone’é ígíí éí Kiiya’áanii Dine’é nishłí dóó Tsédeeshgiizhnii Dine’é bashíshchíín. Áádóó Tódích’íi’nii Dine’é éí dashicheii dóó Biih Bitoodnii Dine’é éí dahshinálí. Ákwót’áo Diné asdzání nishłí.

Hello everyone, my family, and my relatives. My name is McKeon K. Dempsey. I am the Towering House Clan, born for the Rock Gap People Clan. My maternal grandfather’s clan is the Bitter Water Clan, and my paternal grandfather’s clan is the Deer Spring Clan. I am the youngest of four children with one older brother and two older sisters. I was raised by my loving mother, the late Marilyn J. Dempsey. My late grandmother and grandfather are Katie and Roy Dempsey of Oak Springs, Arizona. I am also blessed to have the teachings of my mother’s siblings, my three aunts and five uncles. I am 25 years old.

I graduated from Window Rock High School in 2008 and accepted into Santa Fe’s Institute of American Indian Arts where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in 2012 in Studio Arts with a minor in Art History. My mother and family were very supportive of my career choice and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Through my experiences in college, I began to see art as a tool that when used in a positive way can change lives. I learned and gained the skills to create, and tell my stories. During that time, I also thought about how I could give back to my community, and how I could introduce art to my community to build relations with people through their own experiences and stories.

I believe strongly in the resiliency of the Diné language and its inherent teachings as well as the impact that art can have on culture, and vice-versa. As the 2014-2015 Miss Navajo Nation, I would like to use those teachings to engage the talents of our youth with the opportunity to express culture, language, and tradition through artistic outlets. I would like to contribute to the mental, physical, social, and emotional well-being of Naabeehó Diné. My hope for the Navajo Nation in carrying out my platform is to continue seeking happiness and a healthy life, learning from one another.

I plan to further my education after my full reign as Miss Navajo Nation and earn a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy. My hope is to build a foundation for my long-term goal to advance the well-being and health of the Navajo Nation with an art therapy clinic for youth and veterans undergoing post-traumatic stress disorders.

As Naabeehó Diné, it is in our blood and clanship to live by what we create as beings. It is important for the future generation of Diné youth to speak their language proudly, and to use imagination to create and visualize accomplishments. I hope to contribute to the leadership and strength of the Diné while promoting the importance of education. I will contribute my knowledge and experiences as a scholar of fine arts to motivate self-esteem, independence, and self-determination. I would like to expose more art into the community as a tool for healing, creation, and self-expressing. In my experience, art provides a skill that engages others in learning and teaching.

I am humbled to be your Miss Navajo Nation 2014 – 2015 and look forward to serving as your Goodwill Ambassador for the Navajo Nation.

Ahéhee’,

McKeon K. Dempsey