verna yazzie
a navajo woman entrepreneur

I was born and raised in Monument Valley, AZ and grew up with both grandparents who raised me with traditional teachings. We had no running water or electricity, and I still live like that to this day. I learned how to sing at a very young age from my grandmother, Bessie and learned how to weave in my teenage years. I went to boarding school in Kayenta. Navajo was my first language, and I am still a fluent speaker. I love the quiet, vast land in the desert where I learned to herd sheep and ride horses at age 8. We went sheepherding in the canyon for water for the sheep and my favorite activities were building make-believe hogans, shade homes, and roads using wood and rocks as vehicles.

Hobbies:

I love photography and sharing photos on social media. I enjoy being creative activities such as sewing and drawing postcards using pastels and acrylics. I also enjoy outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping and traveling off the beaten path. My favorite activity to do is sit outside and watch the stars using a telescope.

Education and Accomplishments:

I graduated from Ranch HS in Las Vegas, NV. I went on to complete Project DreamCatcher in 2019 as a Navajo woman entrepreneur/small business owner in hospitality and tourism. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College, Durango CO.

Purpose:

I want to teach and share the Navajo language with young children with a future goal of offering a cultural immersion retreat to teach people how to live in harmony, be humble, and live a simple, sustainable life.

goal:

reopen my hogan accommodation small business in monument valley, arizona/utah