Si’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon: The Beauty Way of Life

• In Event: Dismantling Racial Injustice IS Imagining an Indigenous Holistic Well-Being Framework for the Next Seven Generations

Abstract

For the third and final presentation of this workshop, 5 Indigenous scholars and educational leaders will discuss and walk us through their engagement with the Corn Pollen Model, placing specific emphasis on the value of the model and SNBH to their communities and their applied knowledge and experience in centering the model in their practice. For the purpose of this final presentation, utilizing counterstorytelling (Solórzano & Yosso, 2002), and operationalizing the 16 attributes embedded in the model, presenters will speak to and describe the respective challenges and successes they have had putting this holistic well-being model into practice. Through sharing story, it is our intent to center Indigenous voices, storytelling, and knowledge, to more fully understand their struggle to dream of alternative possibilities while swimming in the structural violence of white supremacy that surrounds all of us. Additionally, this final presentation is meant to inspire participants to more fully discuss and engage in the final portion of our workshop, focused on solidarity and a collective commitment to action, taking the form of small break-out groups followed by a larger group discussion.

Authors

• Bernard Chimoni, University of New Mexico

• Marnita Chischilly, University of New Mexico

• Mechelle Iron Cloud-Crazy Thunder, University of New Mexico

• Verlena Livingston, University of New Mexico

• Kyla R. Powell, University of New Mexico

• Shinae Nicole Reid, University of New Mexico