Totah Competition returns in full swing this weekend to Civic Middle
- The Totah Competition & Indian Market runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4 on the Civic Middle.
- The occasion has been a Labor Day weekend custom in Farmington for greater than three many years.
- Go to totahfestival.org for extra data.
FARMINGTON — With considerations over the COVID-19 pandemic having pale, organizers of the Totah Competition & Indian Market are planning a return to a full slate of actions for the 33rd version of the occasion this weekend on the Farmington Civic Middle.
The favored celebration of Native artwork and tradition, which has been a Labor Day weekend custom in Farmington for greater than three many years, was cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020 earlier than returning in a restricted trend final yr. This yr, organizers say the occasion will function with no restrictions, they usually have some particular choices deliberate to ramp up the joy.
“Final yr, we needed to scale issues down,” mentioned Robert Felson, the treasurer of the Totah Competition Basis board of administrators, referring to the lingering considerations over the unfold of the virus that led to the cancellation of a few of the occasion’s extra common sights, together with a powwow, a trend present and a juried artwork reception.
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This yr, the pageant will deliver a lot of these sights again, along with including a brand new characteristic — a Native comedy night time that includes Chizz Bah and Joshua Fournier. Felson mentioned Fournier is a well-liked Albuquerque comedian who lately headlined on the Santa Fe Indian Market.
Felson mentioned this yr’s version of the pageant will characteristic greater than 80 artists, which he mentioned is the most important quantity in a minimum of 5 years. The out of doors market that organizers began final yr in response to the pandemic proved to be so common that it’ll return this yr, permitting the pageant to accommodate extra artists and distributors than ever.
One other spotlight of this yr’s pageant would be the Hozho Vogue Present, which is being organized by Jolonzo Goldtooth of the JG Indie trend model.
Goldtooth mentioned the present will characteristic 5 Native designers — Jumbo Creations-Navajo Clothes by Wilfred Jumbo of Two Gray Hills, Cynthia Trujillo Designs of Kirtland, Sheel Designs-Up to date Clothes by Sherleen Yellowhair-Jones of Crimson Rock Springs in Arizona, Crimson Wing Collections by Shirley Pino of Santa Ana Pueblo and Goldtooth’s personal JG Indigenous Creations — who will showcase 15 seems every.
Dozens of fashions from all through the world will tread the world across the out of doors fountain on the Civic Middle in the course of the present as they show these creations.
“I feel it is an superior runway across the fountain,” Goldtooth mentioned, describing how happy he was with the concept of holding the style present in that location. “I feel that represents how water is sacred, and I respect the importance of that.”
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Serving to the fashions put together for the present will probably be college students from the San Juan Faculty cosmetology program, which is led by Tracy Caddy. Goldtooth mentioned 20 college students from this system will probably be doing hair and make-up for the fashions on the faculty the morning of the present, permitting them to realize sensible expertise as they pursue their certification from this system.
Goldtooth, who lately returned from an indigenous trend present in Australia, mentioned he realized an excellent deal from that have, and from listening to the tales of and changing into educated about indigenous problems with the aboriginal individuals there.
“It positively has modified my perspective since coming again,” he mentioned. “I sit up for sharing their tales right here in america.”
In fact, the pageant additionally will characteristic a number of different well-established sights, together with a cultural expo and Native dancing by such teams because the Zuni Olla Maidens, the Hovering Eagle Dancers, the Dineh’Tah Navajo Dancers, and Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers.
One of many pageant’s major sights is the annual rug public sale, which pulls collectors from throughout the area who come to bid on the frilly weavings. The public sale is more likely to be particularly nicely attended this yr, Felson mentioned, as a result of so many different rug auctions all year long on the Navajo Nation have been cancelled, which means there’s more likely to be each pent-up demand and provide for this public sale.
Felson mentioned final yr’s public sale featured roughly 150 weavings, however he expects this yr’s occasion to attract nearer to 250 items.
The pageant additionally consists of the Run the River 5k run and stroll in Berg Park.
Whereas no social distancing necessities or attendance limits are mandated on the pageant this yr, Felson mentioned organizers are nonetheless asking pageant guests to voluntarily don a facemask contained in the Civic Middle as a well being precaution.
The Totah Competition & Indian Market runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4 on the Civic Middle, 200 W. Arrington St. in Farmington. Admission is free. Go to totahfestival.org for extra data.
Mike Easterling might be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Assist native journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.
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