The one day that everyone looks forward to is the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Parade.
It is like many other parades, but is very much unlike many parades. We have a marching band, the Navajo Nation Band. There are politicians, The new president and vice president of the Navajo Nation. We have soldiers, all Native Americans, and this year we had only one Code Talker from World War II.
We also have many queens (some who are already queens and others that are competing for queen). There are princesses ranging from four years old to high school. All of them wear their sashes telling what region or school that they have been elected from. To be a queen or a princess, one must be Native American and know the culture and the Language. They also must be able to do the traditional things such as weaving, sheaving and slaughtering a sheep.
Also, there are other Tribes that join us here in Gallup: the Zunis (who are south of us), the Apaches, and the Aztecs (who come all the way from Mexico). The Aztecs are very colorful with their many colorful feathers. It is so nice to see the children joining in the dancing, and then we know that the traditions will continue.
Although the parade lasts but two hours, it is so much fun to see the different tribes, to shake their hands and to watch the fun!
