[birds chirping]
[Narrator] My
grandmother once told me,
in Navajo storytelling
symbols mean more than facts.
And time means nothing at all.
My story begins in San Diego.
Being Navajo, Hopi, and
Pueblo, my family stuck out.
And for me, age 11,
sticking out was something I was good at.
When I wasn't acting out soap operas
with my action figures,
Mom and I would dress up like
Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac
and dance around the house
when Dad wasn't home.
He was rarely ever home.
And if you think no one does
dysfunction like Fleetwood Mac,
you haven't met my family.
How dare you,
Crystal, you bitch!
What are you doing?
Playing w*r.
And they call
each other b*tches?
w*r is hell.
Watch your mouth in
front of your grandma,
you know how she gets.
And keep those dolls at home.
Your mom and I
have been talking.
You're gonna spend the
summer with your grandma.
Her?
No, not her.
Your mom's mom.
Over on the Navajo res.
When?
Tomorrow.
She'll take you to
the bus and then
you'll go to Arizona from there.
You said I could
go to Fleetwood Mac.
Devil music.
Stevie Nicks is a witch.
You said if I saved
my money, I could go.
And I did that.
You're going to the res.
[heartbeat]
Ah!
[Narrator] And this
is how my summer began.
Hi, Pee-wee!
Hey, P.
I'm so glad you
stopped by. Ha!
If it's okay.
If it's okay with
Magic's friend.
[Magic] It's cool.
[cheering]
Come on, everybody, jump in.
There's no pavement
to skate on out there.
You're ruining my life!
[Speaker] Okay, kids
draw out your dots.
[Kid] Don't mind if we do!
Connect the dots
Fa, la, la, la
Connect the dots
Where's Dad?
He didn't come home last night.
[Kite] Well, it's
not really cold.
[Pee-Wee] Well, come on.
How would you describe it?
[Kite] I'd describe
the weather as cool.
[kids cheering]
Ha, ha! See ya
later, Mr. Kite.
Be cool.
[kids cheering]
[funky music]
[rushing traffic]
- Excuse me.
- Yeah.
When does the bus going
back to San Diego come?
You wanna go back?
You just got here.
I bought you some
lemons for you to suck on.
With your jaundice eyes.
I know those crazy
diseases you Navajos get.
Benny Lavelle.
I'm gonna need to
see your passport
and immunization records.
You're coming to the res!
Auntie.
Ida, it's been awhile.
How ya been?
- Where's Sharon?
- Ah, who cares? I'm here.
Well kid, I guess
this is where you go.
A pink-eyed Indian
can't do much.
- You got everything?
- I found this on the floor
on the back of the bus.
A woman's hat.
- Anyone?
- Isn't that your mom's hat?
[Narrator] Aunt Lucy was
my mom's youngest sister.
Mom always said, stay in school
or you'll end up
like your Aunt Lucy.
She got by selling
jewelry and sleeping
on people's couches.
[funky music]
You should see
the earrings I bead.
My mom doesn't let
me pierce my ears.
Enya. What's this?
Oh, gosh.
The men I date give
me the worst gifts.
Just give me the cash.
Fleetwood Mac, you like them?
No.
Well, I think
they're freaking cool.
And Stevie Nicks is gonna
wear my jewelry one day.
She's a witch.
[light music]
[Lucy] Your uncle Marvin is
out on the ranch these days.
[Benny] Marvin?
Ignore him. He's half Hopi.
Alrighty, I'll be back.
Sooner than later.
You're just gonna leave me here?
I'm coming back, silly.
[rushing wind]
[engine starting]
[tape distorting]
[creaking door]
[sheep bleating]
[Narrator] Years had passed
since I visited this place.
In between the dust
and the stained walls,
were the photos of my
aunties and uncles.
Beauty queens and bull riders.
[light music]
[speaking Navajo]
[speaking Navajo]
[Narrator in English] My
grandmother always spoke
to me as if I understood her.
English was something
she refused to learn.
I'm sure she thought one day
I'd answer her back in Navajo.
[speaking Navajo]
[speaking Navajo]
I'm not hungry.
I want to go home.
[speaking Navajo]
[Grandmother in Navajo]
Did you hear the sheep this morning?
[Uncle in Navajo] No.
[Grandmother in Navajo] You should
finish shearing before it gets too hot.
Ok.
[insects chirping]
[In English]
Are you a cowboy or a cowgirl?
I'm just Benny.
How old are you?
Eleven.
How many girlfriends you got?
You play with dolls?
They're action figures.
They look like dolls to me.
That shed, you stay out.
Only cowboys go in there.
Are you just gonna stand there?
Where's the sheep?
They go out every morning
and come back before sun down.
Who brings them back in?
We're re-doing this
corral all the way around.
Best to do it in the mornings
before it gets too hot.
We'll need to secure each piece.
Come here, hold this piece up.
[hammering]
Lift it higher, for Christ sake!
Go grab another one.
[plank falling]
Damn it.
[rushing wind]
I'm pregnant again.
Who's the father?
Hopefully it's not me,
because I don't wanna
be the father right now.
It's definitely not you.
Oh, whew!
[ice cream truck tune playing]
[dog barking]
[insects chirping]
[vehicle approaching]
[light music]
[in Navajo] Dropping the baby off, again?
Why is it that you are leaving
by yourself?
Come here, baby.
Just let her drive off.
She's not happy with her own life.
[in English] The Navajo gypsy.
[light music]
[in Navajo] It's okay, my baby.
You will have a nice summer here.
[in Navajo] Who is this?
He is your cousin.
Why is he here?
He will be spending
the summer with us.
[light music]
[in Navajo] You will sleep well tonight,
my grandson.
Tomorrow you will rise early
after a good night's rest.
[sheep bleating]
[in English] You say wanna learn how
to ride, now's your chance.
Now hold on with your left
hand and raise your right arm.
Here we go.
I can't believe.
Stay on it.
Hold on!
I want off.
Come on, city boy.
Stay on it!
God damn city Indian.
You can't even stay on
a bull for two seconds.
Go barrel race with the girls.
[bleating sheep]
[light music]
[speaking Navajo]
[speaking Navajo]
[light music]
[in Navajo] He's still here?!
[in Navajo] Yes, he still is here.
He is your cousin.
His home is here.
He is not a stranger.
You too.
This is also your home.
This is why you come to stay here.
You should not go around
with your hair hanging down.
Let me tie it.
[in English] When are you gonna be
finished with that rug?
[in Navajo]
What is my grandson saying to me?
[in Navajo] I don't know.
Turn around.
It's not good to have your
hair pulled tautly from your forehead.
You're a beautiful woman.
Always fix your hair like this.
Yes.
Good, my child.
You are ready now.
You need to learn to weave
and the importance of carding wool.
The strings are said to be the rain.
And this zigzag is called
the male lightning.
The threads are never strung
on top of the other.
It is said this is the female.
Remember it.
That is what we are told about the loom.
[in English] Kiss me, Sam. Kiss me!
Why do you play with dolls?
You speak English?
I got in trouble playing
with dolls one time.
They were Hopi Kachina dolls.
And I made them kiss.
Are you Dine'?
What's your clan?
Salt?
Are you sure?
Yeah, Salt.
Well, don't just say, "Salt?"
Say, "Salt."
I am a Salt Clan.
Say, "At Shi Ei"
I am At Shi Ei.
Where are you from?
San Diego.
You live over there with Shamu?
Shamu's there, yeah.
My dad's gonna
take me to see Shamu.
Have you met Shamu?
Many times.
We have annual passes.
What's an annual pass?
You get to go to the
park anytime you want.
You get to see Shamu
whenever you want?
Yeah.
You're a liar.
I've got things to do.
[light music]
My Dad's supposed to write me.
Uncle Victor?
Are you Frybread Face?
[in Navajo] Stupid.
[In English] My Mom told me
stories about you.
You're wooly rider.
Just sheep!
I haven't been a
wooly rider in years.
That was baby stuff.
I just need 39 dollars
and a ride to Winslow.
39 dollars?
I'm going home.
Then go.
[Marvin] Shat!
That guy. He does
not live in Hozho.
Uncle Marvin?
He smells like chaa'.
Chaw-E?
sh*t.
Where are you going?
I've got things to do.
Are you coming or not?
I didn't put on my hiking shoes.
You're weird.
Should we bring some water?
We're herding sheep, not
visiting the medicine man.
Too bad Aunt Lucy isn't here.
She can run.
She always catches that truck.
I hope she comes back.
They say Aunt Lucy is a...
What's that?
A lesbian.
What's a lesbian?
A woman with hairy underarms.
You don't have any
hair under your arms.
Because I'm not a lesbian.
[sighing]
I'm gonna have my
[Navajo word] out here.
[dog barking]
Reba, what are you doing here?
You're not a sheep dog.
My dad named her
after Reba McEntire.
She has big, red hair and
her face looks like a goat.
Can you say, [speaking Navajo]?
Lizzy-ja... no.
Terrible.
You like Reba McEntire.
Powwow is better.
My dad's gonna take me to
a powwow in Albuquerque.
I was supposed to go see
these guys this summer.
Is that why you wanna go back?
Yeah.
Mick Fleetwood is the
best drummer in the world.
Clearly you've never
been to a powwow before.
Stop staring at Jeff Bridges!
Junk.
[speaking Navajo]
She wants to know if
you need school clothes?
I wear uniforms everyday,
white shoes is all.
[speaking Navajo]
[speaking Navajo]
[speaking Navajo]
[in English] She says your teeth
are white like snow.
Does that TV work in there?
Marvin has bad credit
at the video store.
We can't rent anything anymore.
The only movie we
have is "Starman"
and it has a late fee
from last Christmas.
He needs to get
the generator out.
You hook it up.
I'm a kid, I can't.
You were supposed to
help with that fence today.
You two are just in the way.
There's work around
here, not a vacation.
You and your bad credit.
That's why we can't
have any fun anymore.
What's wrong? You
don't eat mutton?
You don't look at
the head, you eat it.
Sorry there's not a
Chuck E. Cheese around.
Chuck E. Cheese?
Yeah, your cheii, Chuck E.
He's not my cheii!
[in Navajo]
Is Chuck E. my grandfather?
[in Navajo]
Hury up and eat. Stop your talking.
[in English] See!
Your Auntie Lucy
is coming tomorrow
to take you to Gallup to
sell her cheap jewelry.
I wanna sell with you guys.
You're coming with me tomorrow.
Ignore him.
I can hook up the generator.
[light music]
What should I do with this?
[Starman] The baby will know.
That's Jeff Bridges.
Goodbye, Jenny Hayden.
[in Navajo] Why is that white woman
at the bottom of the crater?
[in English] Shh!
[clicking]
What happened?
He left, that's it.
[in Navajo] There is no reason to
watch this. This movie made no sence.
[funky electronic music]
[Narrator] I had
a dream that night.
I got on a bus and
went back to San Diego.
My mom and dad took
me to Fleetwood Mac.
And we sang along to songs as
we did when things were good.
And they held hands.
And Grandma was there too.
She was holding mine.
I never wanted her to let go.
Are you even doing that right?
I don't know.
Where's this rodeo
we're going to?
Crownpoint.
There's a bus station
at the rodeo grounds.
My mom used to work down
the road in the gas station.
I just need 39 dollars.
You know, if you
told them you ran away
and you're going back home,
they'll give you a free ride.
My mom told me to say
that in an emergency.
[grunting]
[clattering]
That guy.
He does not live in the Hozho.
I don't care where he lives.
Hozho, dummy.
It's not a place.
In Navajo it means harmony.
Something like that.
My dad said it was a good thing.
Hm.
Do I live in Hozho?
Diigis boy, maybe one day.
What time does that bus
leave from Crownpoint?
You're scared of mutton,
but you're not
scared to go alone?
We're not staying the night.
I might need to change
or something later.
See you later, Benny.
See you tonight,
here, at the house.
Hurry up.
[honking]
How come it has no windshield?
Because I made it that way.
[rattling vehicle]
[singing in Navajo]
Get out and help.
[horses whinnying]
Get my rope.
[crowd murmuring]
Go up there and wait.
Why?
Because they don't allow
city boys back there,
you might get hurt.
Go!
[crowd cheering]
Want a pickle?
How much?
50 cents.
Okay.
[Announcer] From
Crownpoint, New Mexico
Dale is an up and
coming bull rider.
[crowd cheering]
Dale Riley, okay,
wow. What a ride.
Next up we have Earl Bege.
Earl won the National
Indian Rodeo last year,
back in Las Vegas.
[crowd cheering]
Now we've got Marvin
Johnson from Pinon, Arizona.
[crowd cheering]
Marvin is a regular
in the rodeo circuit.
You might know Marvin's
older brother, Victor,
who's been a state
and national champion.
[Crowd Member] Somebody
ask him where his brother is.
Hey Marvin, you should
try barrel racing!
Come on, come on!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd groaning]
[ominous music]
Come on, boys, let's get him up.
Come on.
Bring him over here, come on.
[in Navajo]
He is still disoriented.
He will have difficulty eating.
[in English] It looks like he's gonna
have a lot of problems
biting and chewing.
He's gonna need a blender.
[doctor continuing in Navajo]
We don't own a blender.
[rattling doll's head]
[in Navajo]
Do the belly side first
then the head.
[in English] This is Marvin's job.
Why didn't he do this?
[in Navajo] Do your work.
You too grandson.
Hurry up with your chores.
[in English] She wants you to
finish it up today.
You're a better builder
than your uncles, Benny.
What should we call this one?
Enya.
Enya.
I'm gonna cook Enya for lunch
if you don't help me, girl.
Put the wool in that bag.
You can't even make bread.
[sheep bleating]
Who's this?
Oh, sh*t.
That baby's here.
Aunt Sharon and Uncle Roger?
Uncle Roger has big balls.
His pants are too tight.
Every time he sits down
he pinches his nuts.
Hey!
[in Navajo]
All I'm hearing is Rodger's name.
Stop talking about him.
[light music]
[in English] If it isn't Frybread Face.
And California,
here I come Benny.
Yeah, eh.
Greasy faced girl,
she needs a wash.
Oh my gosh, you
kinda look greasy.
[groaning]
What's the baby's name?
Your cousin's name is Marshall.
Like the store?
No, you little gypsy!
You should have
named him fashion.
[in Navajo]
When does that on get a job?
[in English] Excuse me?
I make and sell jewelry.
That jewelry's just cheap.
Your sister's earrings
snapped in Gallup
on the side of the road.
She almost got runned over
by a bus full of Chinese.
Shouldn't your baby
be talking by now?
Marshall is too young to talk.
My dad said I started
talking at 10 months.
You don't believe a word
that man says to you, do you?
I mean, look where he's at now.
If her dad said she
started talking at 10 months,
then she started
talking at 10 months.
Don't talk to her like that.
My dad said you
had your tubes tied.
You see, why would
you believe him?
What are tubes tied?
Like when grandma makes Achii
with the sheep intestines.
You're making me hungry.
Don't drop him.
When are you gonna have a baby?
She needs to focus on
making better jewelry
before she starts breeding.
I didn't know you
could support a family
by consistently placing
last at the rodeo.
You hush, you!
Don't talk, just
ignore her, Roger.
She's just ooch'iid.
Jealous?
She thinks she's all that,
but she's just all wet.
Please.
Get a job.
No job Julie.
[baby giggling]
Has your baby
ever laughed before?
You made the baby laugh.
Now you have to cook for the
celebration of its first laugh.
Who made me laugh first?
Who knows.
Just be glad it wasn't
your Auntie Sharon,
she can't even make a pop tart.
[Grandmother speaking Navajo]
[Grandmother speaking Navajo]
[in English] What's wrong?
A sheep is missing.
Hm.
If only you did
that fence right.
[dog panting]
Go away, Reba!
[squeaking wheels]
A bit of blush to accentuate
our family cheekbones.
Do I have our family cheekbones?
We all have our
family cheekbones.
Well, maybe not Marvin.
When are you going to Phoenix?
Nosy girl.
You heard me talking
to Grandma, didn't you?
You're leaving?
Nobody stays here, Benny.
We have lives outside of here.
I wanna stay here.
My life is here.
And every time I come visit
I'll help your eyebrows out.
[chuckling]
The best beauty
schools are in Phoenix.
But you make jewelry.
I need a job that
makes money, Benny.
Do you really think
I can make a living
selling these ratty old
bracelets my entire life?
Grandma says if you go too far
on the white man's paved
road, you'll lose your way.
Yeah.
What would you call your salon?
Hm...
Beauty by Lucy.
Alrighty, your hair is
bothering me, turn around.
Let me fix this up.
You have beautiful hair.
Take care of it.
Hair is our memory.
It represents that we're
part of our people.
That we're Dine'.
Long hair is full of knowledge.
Here we go.
Now, wave like Miss Navajo.
Let me see.
Oo!
[speaking Navajo]
[In English] Beautiful, beautiful.
When you wake up, you'll
look even more beautiful.
I can sleep with this makeup on?
I do it all the time.
The night you were born
it was snowing and your
dad came to the house here
to let Grandma know.
And Grandma got outta
bed and got all ready
to go to the hospital.
We followed your dad
and I had to drive.
It was snowing so hard
that I could only see
your dad's tail lights.
And Grandma was singing
and praying all the way.
When we got in Chinle
the snow had stopped.
Just before the sun came up.
And it was so pretty.
And your dad named you Dawn.
I thought that was
Grandma who named me.
No, it was your dad.
Why did I tell that story?
Oh, because I woke up in
the middle of the night
and I didn't need
to apply any makeup.
I was ready, because
you never know.
Do you like being
called Frybread Face?
Frybread, it's
round and it's greasy.
What do you think?
But it sure is good.
[chuckling]
[Lucy] You're making me hungry.
[Benny] I bet we're
all hungry for frybread.
[dog panting]
[light music]
Fry!
Fry!
[funky music]
[humming]
Ha, ha!
[sheep bleating]
[funky music]
[singing in Navajo]
[birds chirping]
[Fry in English] Breakfast!
What happened to your face?
Everyone's looking for
the sheep you two lost.
Shut up and eat!
How can I when I have
Alice Cooper looking at me?
This coffee tastes like sh*t.
You're not even a
cowboy, take that off!
And what'd I tell you
about touching my sh*t?
You were in that
shed, weren't you?
[clattering]
Stop it!
You're only here because
your parents wanted you to become a man.
Ha, doesn't look like
that's gonna happen.
That's not true.
His mom left his dad.
They're divorcing!
[chortle]
Shut up!
You think you know everything!
You don't!
Your dad is in jail, locked up!
What's going on in here?
He's a crook who
stole money from people!
A disgrace to our family!
Marvin!
- Ah! Dumb little fucker!
- Benny, put that down.
Marvin, let him go!
Try it again you little f*gg*t!
What the hell is wrong with you?
[slamming]
He's threatened by you.
I know, I've seen it before.
I hate it here.
Nobody's keeping you here.
You can leave
whenever you want to.
I didn't even
wanna do this fence.
I didn't even wanna herd sheep.
Neither does he.
Then why is he here?
Probably the last in our
bloodline to herd sheep.
Your grandma's getting old.
[sighing]
He says I'm not a cowboy.
He says I'm not a man.
If it's anything like him,
I don't wanna be
any of those things.
Maybe he's still trying
to figure it out himself.
You know what you gotta do.
[creaking fence]
How did you get
that out of his room?
He'll even be more angry at us.
He'll leave us alone for awhile,
if Grandma found
out he has this.
Nasty.
Here.
I hate this doll.
You carry it
around all the time.
My mom made it.
I wanted a real one.
She sold the body and
bought the head for it.
All they had was white.
If your mom made it, wouldn't
you carry it around too?
Some summer, huh?
Just an average summer
for a Frybread Face.
Your name is Dawn,
you can tell people that.
I know my dad's in jail.
I just don't like
other people knowing.
The same way you don't
like other people knowing
about your parents.
I'm sorry.
Come on, Shamu.
We've got things to do.
Benny!
Look.
[bleating sheep]
Lucky those coyotes
didn't get it.
Wanna drive?
[funky music]
[engine starting]
This is the easy part.
You know how to drive?
Press the gas all the
way down to the floorboard.
Nothing's happening.
The gas, not the brakes.
What? What?
The right one,
[speaking Navajo word].
[screeching tires]
Whoa.
[speaking Navajo]
[in English] Oh my gosh, Shamu,
just press the gas!
[revving engine]
There ya go! Keep it going.
Relax, Shamu.
[Benny] What am I
doing? What am I doing?
[Dawn] You're driving slow.
Come on, the sheep's
getting away.
Drive like we're going to town.
One hand on the wheel and
a cigarette in the other.
Here, take it, now!
Oh my god, Shamu,
you're a terrible smoker
- and a terrible driver.
- Here, why don't you smoke?
Oh my gosh, my water would
have broke if I was pregnant.
Stop being dramatic.
There! There's
that ugly thing.
- There's Enya right there!
- [bleating sheep]
How do I get over there?
Turn the wheel!
You're doing it, Shamu.
Come on, keep going!
Woo!
[thudding]
Whoa, whoa. You ran
over a casket, Shamu.
[chuckling]
Turn up the radio.
I swear, Shamu, you
are getting better.
[funky music]
Keep your hands on
the wheel, Shamu.
There.
[funky music]
Stupid sheep,
why'd you run away?
Ugh! You got us in
trouble already.
We did it, bro, we did it.
We brought it back home.
You weirdo.
We found the sheep, we
didn't walk on the moon.
You're a terrible driver, Shamu.
[bleating sheep]
Shut up.
My oh, my.
Where have you been!
Where was it?
[bleating sheep]
Take her back to the house.
[speaking Navajo]
[Sharon in English] You just
wasted our time!
[light music]
[Lucy] Crazy.
[Grandmother speaking Navajo]
[Roger in English] Where was it?
[chuckling]
[rushing traffic]
[light music]
[crackling fire]
[light music]
[chirping insects]
[light music]
[in Navajo]
It is called the Weaver's Path Out.
It's like a doorway,
like the opening of your thoughts.
Your thoughts become part
of what you are creating.
Those thoughts are then
transferred through the opening.
That is the readon for
the Weaver's Path Out.
Tell your cousin this.
He does not understand my words.
[light music]
[in Navajo] Early at dawn
is a good time not wash your hair.
Avoid using the White Man's
shampoo. It will destroy your hair.
From the stories told to us
a long time ago,
our hair was never to be cut.
My grandson, you have
nice hair. Let it grow out.
You can learn the Din way of life.
[light music]
[crackling fire]
[Narrator in English]
In my dream that night,
my grandma and I spoke
to each other in Navajo.
And I understood her, I spoke it.
It was as if I had spoken
this my entire life.
And each word that
came out of my mouth,
I felt stronger.
[hammering]
[grunting]
[hammering]
Hey.
Hago.
Take that inside for me.
[in Navajo]
Spin the wool. It will connect nicely.
As it twists,
the yarn will hold together firmly.
See, look at it.
[in English] When you go to SeaWorld,
do you pet the dolphins?
You can, I don't. They stink.
Are there sharks?
Yeah, they're in the aquarium,
but you can't pet
those ones, though.
Duh!
[in Navajo]
What is it that you brought in, grandson?
[in English] Grandma says unwrap it.
[in Navajo] That is the likeness
of your great-grandfather, my father.
I talked to your uncle
about it, and this is what he made.
But he made the cheeks a bit slight.
[in English] She said that's her dad.
She told Marvin
and he carved it.
She said he should
have bigger cheekbones.
But don't tell Marvin that.
[ice cream truck tune playing]
This is great-grandpa?
Yeah, it's kind of like Han
Solo where they bronzed him.
[truck stopping]
[ethereal music]
What?
[ethereal music]
[engine sputtering]
[ethereal music]
I found her in Flagstaff.
Go away.
Fry and everyone thinks
your Uncle Victor got her but
I found her in a
mall parking lot.
She was covered in
oil, just a puppy.
I brought her back here and
she just followed
your grandma around.
Grandma liked her.
And I would always
listen to Reba McEntire.
Your mom helped me
when I was growing up.
We didn't have a dad.
Your mom being the oldest
took care of all of us.
Victor, Sharon, Lucy and I.
I can see why she
doesn't wanna come around
as much anymore.
City life is much easier.
If you're so miserable
here, then leave.
[chirping birds]
[light music]
[Together] What
should I do with this?
[Starman] The baby will know.
[Together] Goodbye,
Jenny Hayden.
[light electronic music]
Goodbye.
[light music]
[singing in Navajo]
[Narrator] Grandma
used to tell us
to dump our bathing water
near her favorite tree.
But that day, I thought
of something different.
[light music]
Grandma would say, "Treat
your car like your horse."
"It gets you places."
I knew Marvin had a
complicated relationship
with this horse.
[in Navajo] Thank you eveyone
for coming to be with us today,
for the baby's First Laugh celebration.
My grandson made
the baby laugh for the first time.
The baby will give aeay small gifts.
The main item used is natural rock salt.
This has been practice or generations.
This is not salt from the market.
It is made from Mother Earth
for this purpose.
We are told when food was scarce,
natural rock salt
was used for gift-giving to guests.
The use of natural salt rock is
so that the baby will grow to be friendly,
and understand clan relationships.
And will not become
a selfish or difficult person.
[baby cooing]
[bleating sheep]
[crowd murmuring]
[in English] Isn't this better than
a Fleetwood Mac concert?
Well, that's it.
Marshall's gonna miss you.
You tell that mother of yours
to get her chaa'
together and come back.
[Benny] Is that baby gonna
sleep all the way to Phoenix?
[Roger] Dang, I hope so.
[Sharon] Roger!
[Roger] I mean, that
baby is real good.
Auntie Lucy.
Fry, I'll see ya soon.
Next time I'll give
you a nizhoni makeover.
Hey, that's a good
name for my salon.
Nizhoni means beautiful.
I wanna be Miss Navajo.
You are Miss Navajo.
And you take care of this
one while I'm gone, okay?
You're beautiful.
Don't let anyone tell
you any different, okay?
Any advice for me, Auntie?
Be somebody.
Or be somebody's fool.
Mr. T said that.
Mr. T speaks the truth.
I made these for you.
Don't tell your mom.
[speaking Navajo]
[in English] You know what Enya
means in Navajo?
What?
Giver of life.
[chuckling]
No it doesn't.
No, it really doesn't.
Walk in beauty, kid.
Gotta get going!
Jeff Bridges is gonna miss you!
Who?
Keep your head up, Jeff Bridges!
[Sharon] Get in!
Bye, Aunt Sharon!
You Navajo Ronald McDonald!
Bye Uncle Big Balls!
Bye, Lesbian!
Bye, Auntie Lucy.
[ethereal music]
Welcome to Desert View Cafe!
We have some specials for you.
Just let me know if
you have any questions.
[in Navajo] Do you have some of this?
We do not have any.
What about this?
We ran out of that too.
So I guess there are none.
What about this?
Good choice.
[in English] One Spam and potato special.
[clattering dishes]
Someone's coming.
[in Navajo] Who is it?
[approaching car]
[in English] Mama!
[sheep bleating]
[speaking Navajo]
Mom?
[birds chirping]
Frybread Face.
Her name is Dawn.
[in Navajo] You're not Staying the night?
I have work tomorrow.
I just came to pick him up.
[in English] Can't we stay one more night?
Next time, Benny.
Where are your things?
[squeaking wheels]
[sheep bleating]
That's the bitch that ran away.
There's always one.
Don't you know how
much better it is
for you to be here, dummy?
Good job on the fence, guys.
[squeaking wheels]
Come on, Benny,
time to go home now.
Uncle.
Hey, Benny.
[light music]
[Narrator] I wish I'd said
goodbye to my uncle that day.
I didn't know it would be
the last time I'd see him.
As a kid, you think
everything will be
in its place when you return.
[in Navajo] We'll meet again soon.
Take good care of your son.
[light music]
[in English] Shamu!
You're a terrible driver
and you don't eat mutton.
Am I closer to Hozho?
Yes, Shamu.
[Mom] We've gotta go!
That band you like,
with that witch.
Mm-hm.
I like them too.
[light music]
[in Navajo]
We'll meet again soon, little one.
Remember what you learned this summer.
It will all come together for you in time.
Take care of yourself and your mother.
[in English] Ma.
Who made me laugh first?
Grandma.
[Navajo for Grandmother] Shimasani.
[in Navajo] Grandmother!
Grandmother!
[light music]
[engine starting]
[light music]
Stop.
[light music]
Mom?
Are you a lesbian?
Get some more waters.
[light music]
[Narrator] Before
my grandmother passed,
she lost her eyesight and
couldn't weave anymore.
The last time I saw her,
I took both her hands,
just like that dream.
I didn't wanna let go.
I think about the rug
she wove that summer
and how she wanted her
children and their children
to continue the craft.
I think about family
and how we're a group
of great contradictions.
Frybread, my cousin Dawn, told
me to say my clans out loud
with strength and clarity.
The two of us
meeting that summer,
where the dirt road ends
and the paved road begins.
Hozho is said to be
the most important word
in our Dine' language.
Balance and beauty.
It's what my grandmother lived
and hoped that each of us
would someday experience.
Allowing to each find
it in our own way.
[light music]
[Grandmother speaking Navajo]
It is like the doorway.
Like the opening for your thoughts.
That is the reason
for the Weaver's Path Out.
Everything has an opening,
just like our home.
[funky music]
[singing in Navajo]
[funky electronic music]
[ethereal music]
[light music]
Frybread Face and Me (2023)
Moderator: Maskath3