Chiaz

Diné Arizona, USA

The Navaho language, also known as Diné Bizaad, is spoken by approximately 175,000 people in the United States and elsewhere. Navajo is a language of the Apachean subgroup of the Athabaskan branch of the Na-Dené language family, along with Apache. Other Athabaskan languages include Chipewyan, Beaver, Sekani, Carrier, Hupa, Slave, Wailaki, Tagish, and more. The Athabaskan language family includes approximately 44 different language groups native to the Western US and Canada all of which are endangered. (Gordon, 2005)

Chiaz grew up on a reservation in Arizona, and while many of his family lived there, he never considered it home. More often than not at odds with the government that occupies his land, Chiaz was a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, an actor in New York City, and more recently a skilled jewelry artist and mentor in Miami. Chiaz moved to Florida to be close to the tribes, primarily Seminole, who were never fully subdued and conquered by the United States.

Photographing Chiaz five years after meeting Mariano, I told him the story, expressing the sadness, futility, and deep guilt I had felt ever since meeting him. It had been an incredible honor to meet Mariano, but I had come to take and had given nothing in return. Chiaz stood quitely in his livingroom, staring out the window past the buffalo skulls and snakeskins and his other sacred objects. Finally he said, "the skins have moved, the energy is good. He is my brother and he forgives you. You have spread his image in the world, taken it to New York. You have done your best to honor him." And while I still do not feel totally absolved, these words have given me great comfort.