Dear World,

We are a group of young Diné People, Indigenous to what is now called the Southwest United States, who are working to re-plaster and re-inforce a ceremonial hoghan. This structure will be used by one of the ceremonial leaders in our community to carry out our traditional ceremonies and cultural functions. The hoghan represents the womb of a mother and our people have been building this sustainable architectural technology for tens of thousands of years according to our Creation Stories. We are also incorrectly known as “Navajo”.

With every handful of mud-based plaster that we shape over the top of this structure, we affirm over and over again the beauty of our culture, our people and our ancestors. We believe in these things even if the rest of the world has forgotten the importance of these stories, these technologies and the people who steward this land.

We are excited to partner with you all to fund the many days of work that lie ahead of us. We as leaders are not making any money from this but we are paying the crew a humble amount ($10/hour) so they can be supported as they take time from their homes to recreate a beautiful space for this ceremonial helper to conduct his ceremonies and share our traditional knowledge.

We also need a few materials and to fix some of the crew’s trucks to help them be able to make the 4 hour drive and then back and forth to the sand, clay and rock sources.

We are happy to share that all of the materials to conduct this sustainable architecture will be locally sourced, shaped, and chiseled. This is the way our ancestors did it. They always knew that all we needed was right here. That Nihimá Nahaasdzaan, Our Mother Earth, gave us all we need to not just survive but to thrive.

Thank you for considering helping us breathe more life into our traditional ways as Diné People. We say special prayers not just for our Nation, but for our beautiful Pueblo, Ndé, Nuuche, Numu, neighbors, and all Indigenous peoples the world over. We hope and pray that all of these technologies can take their rightful place as leaders in the world towards a more humble, sophisticated, sustainable and regenerative future. It is the only way forward. We can not escape our predicament with all the rocket ships and jet fuel in the world. We must face this situation with love, courage and faith, and respect for those cultures who exemplified how to live both comfortably and sustainably in one place for tens of thousands of years.

We are with you all!

Thank you for your prayers!

Diné Bina’nitin Dóó O’hoo’aah Team