Miss Navajo Nation 2003-2004 |
- Hometown:
Sanostee, New Mexico - Age during reign: 20
- Education: Shiprock HS, May 2001, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) majoring in Astrophysics and Mathematics with a minor in History
- Clans:
- Nishli: Táchii'nii (Red Running Through Water People)
- Bashishchiin: Naakaii Dine'é (Mexican People)
- Dashichei: Hooghan Lání (Many Hogan People)
- Dashinali: (Red Goat People)
Ya'at'eeh shik'ei, shidine'e. My name is Marla Billey, I am twenty years old of the Red Running Through Water People and born for the Mexican People. My maternal grandfathers are the Many Hogan People and my paternal grandfathers are the Red Goat People. This is how I distinguish myself as a young Dine' woman. I am originally from Sanostee, NM, and currently reside in Table Mesa, NM.
I am the daughter of Marilyn and Leo Billey. My maternal grandparents are Roselynn and the late Wilson Duncan Sr. of Sanostee, NM. My paternal grandparents are Betty and Thomas Billey of Table Mesa, NM. I have three older siblings, Leondro Duncan, Randy and Karmen Billey. I am also an aunt to Leonardo, Leondra, and Nicole Duncan.
Upon graduating from Shiprock High School in May 2001, I continued my education at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) in Socorro, New Mexico. I have completed two years, majoring in Astrophysics and Mathematics with a minor in History. This past summer I also attended Dine College majoring in Dine Studies. My goals are to pursue a Master and Doctorate degrees in Astronomy.
I am also the former Miss Northern Teen 1998-2000 and former Miss Northern Navajo 2000-2001. My hobbies and interests are reading, horseback riding, traveling, meeting new people, watercolor painting, attending rodeos and country, concerts, stargazing, walking, running, caring for livestock, and weaving.
As Miss Navajo Nation, it will be a blessing and an honor to serve the Dine' People. I will contribute My Dine' knowledge and teachings to promote healthier lifestyles for our Dine' youth, adults, and elders. May you all continue to walk in beauty with your corn pollen, fireplace, and Bible. Ahehee!
PROJECTS & NEWSLETTERS
Navajo Times Article
Outgoing Miss Navajo Nation Shaunda Tsosie places the crown on the new queen, Marla Jean Billy, during the coronation on Saturday night at the 57th Annual Navajo Nation Fair. (Times photo - Paul Natonabah)
By Levi J. Long
The Navajo TimesWINDOW ROCK - Constellations and nebulas aren't new vocabulary terms to the 2003-2004 Miss Navajo Nation, Marla Billey.
A junior majoring in astrophysics and mathematics at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, N.M., Billey was crowned Saturday night in front of hundreds of people at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena at the 57th Annual Navajo Nation Fair and Rodeo.
"I was so nervous that it was actually happening that it took me a second to realize that I'm the new Miss Navajo," Billie said after the coronation.
Billie is the 51st Miss Navajo since the competition began in 1952.
Billie competed against three other Navajo women for the title and also won Miss Photogenic and Miss Most Applause.
Billie is from Sanostee, N.M., and her clan is the Red Running Through the Water People, born for the Mexican People Vlan. Her nalis' clan is Many Hogans and her grandfather's clan is Red Goat People.
Her parents are Marilyn and Leo Billey from Sanostee. Her grandparents are Roselyn and the late Wilson Duncan, also from Sanostee. Her nalis are Betty and Thomas Billey from Table Mesa.
Billie plans to pursue a career with NASA after she gets a doctorate in astrophysics.
Last summer she was an intern at Goddard Space Flight Center in Washington D.C. with the New Spin Program which seeks minorities for the space program.
"They were wondering why more natives aren't in the space program," Billie said. As an intern Billie served as a cultural liaison between the Navajo people and her mentors.
"Some natives are taught not to go into the space program because elders say you aren't supposed to walk on the moon or travel in space," Billie said.
However she said that with her traditional Navajo upbringing, she knows there's a way to bridge Navajo culture with astronomy and the space program.
During her reign Billie wants to have stargazing nights with lessons on Navajo astronomy.
She said a fifth-grade field trip to Kennedy Space Center in Florida sparked her interest in the space program. Mixed with her interest in math and science, she also has held other titles, most recently as Miss Northern Navajo 2000-2001.
She also said that she'd like to advance veterans' housing issues because they don't have enough funds for homes.
She'd also like to educate Navajo communities about uranium issues, a subject she knows first hand growing up near Shiprock where contaminated mines still lie abandoned.
Billie's aunt, Carlene Duncan, said that Marla's upbringing is due to her nali Betty. She said that Betty stressed the Navajo language and the importance of ceremonies, songs and prayers to her grandchildren.
"It comes down from the grandparents' level and it's still going strong with the grandkids," she said.
But before Billie aspired to join NASA, she said she remembers when Marla used to dress up in traditional clothes while staying with her nalis.
"I remember we'd go and visit and she come and say 'Look at mom, auntie, we got toys down there,'" Duncan said. She said they'd go down to the river near the Billie home and find cars made of mud.
"I thought she was so cute," Duncan said during an interview at the Miss Navajo office on Monday while Marla sat blushing and laughing.
"She had her hair tied in a tsii'yeel, wearing one sock or wearing a different colored sock, one pink or the other one polka dotted...you know like grandmothers who didn't match a long time ago," Duncan said. "But now all the tops and bottoms match."
To reach the reporter: 928-871-6641 or levijlong@navajotimes.com
Miss Navajo Nation Projects
The Rockmen Family Project
- The Office of Miss Navajo is collecting non-perishable food donations and clothing for the family. Drop items off at the Office of Miss Navajo located at the Navajo Nation Museum or mail to the Office of Miss Navajo.
- The Office of Miss Navajo Nation is working along with Navajo Partnership for Housing with having a bathroom built and completing the Family Hogan before winter. Navajo Partnership is collecting building materials and monetary donations to complete these jobs. Contact Roberta Drake- (928) 810-3119; Shirley McCabe- (928) 810-3116; Lanalle Smith- (928) 810-3111 and Theresa Upshaw- (928) 810-3123.
- October 29, 2003, Miss Navajo is putting on a benefit concert for the family at the Navajo Nation Museum Auditorium from 4pm to 9pm. All proceeds go to building supplies for the Rockmen’s home. Agenda and entertainment is tentative.
Blue Star Mothers Project
- Seeking donations for military servicemen and women serving overseas, donations are: tooth paste, comb, baby wipes, lotion, sun block, hand wash, nail clippers, Emory boards, shower caps, sealable sandwich bags and other hygiene items in travel or portable sizes. Also crackers, beef jerky, cracker jacks, popcorn balls, and q-tips. All donations will be shipped to troops overseas.
- Message board, Blue Star Mothers and Miss Navajo have message boards set-up at various sites in Window Rock and the Navajo Nation. There is one at the Office of Miss Navajo Nation. These boards are up to collect messages for troops over-seas, and when they are filled they will be sent to them. Please look out for a board and write your thanks and thoughts.
- Also along with the Office of the Speaker, and Blue Star Mothers, Miss Navajo is helping organize rededication ceremonies for Gold Star Mother homes sites. Gold Star Mother is someone who has lost their son or daughter during their military service. We are looking for volunteers to help clean up the home sites; listing of homes, dates and times are tentative.
- November 11, 2003 (Veteran’s Day) the Office of the Speaker, Blue Star Mothers, and the Office of Miss Navajo are organizing a daylong salute to veterans and soldiers serving in the military. Agenda for this day is tentative.
- Miss Navajo Nation is collecting pictures of service men and women. Picture sizes have to be less than 5X7. On a separate paper have their first and last name, four clans, parents name, and where they are from. These pictures will give the public an idea of how many Navajo men and women are serving today or who has served. Also please write your address behind the picture so it can be returned to you. All pictures can be dropped off or mailed to the Office of Miss Navajo Nation.
Farewell Message: Official Souvenir Program 58th Annual Navajo Nation Fair, page 25
Ya'at'eeh, my name is Marla Billey. I am of the Red Running Through Water Clan born for the Mexican People. My maternal grandfathers are of the Many Hogan People and my paternal grandparents are of the Red Goat People. I am from Sanostee, New Mexico, where I reside at a place called Tablemesa. My parents are Marilyn and Leo Billey. My maternal grandparents are the late Roselynn and Wilson Duncan of Sanostee. My paternal grandparents Betty and Thomas Billey of Tablemesa. I have two older brothers, Leondro Duncan and Randy Billey, and one older sister, Karmen Billey. I am the youngest of my siblings. Growing up, I helped raised my newphew Leonardo and nieces, Leondra and Nicole Duncan. I am twenty-one years old, a young woman.
As the Goodwill Ambassador of the Navajo Nation, I have many wonderful experiences during my reign, including the night I was crowned as Miss Navajo Nation, an event witnessed by hundreds. It was the most exciting and honorable accomplishment of my reign. As my name was announced, I began to think, “How can I be a role model on the Navajo teachings of White Shell Woman and Changing Woman?” The teachings are clear to me: go through life with high expectations for yourself and dream the unbelievable. They also teach us to live in harmony which brings balance to our lives mentally, physically, and spiritually. Throughout my reign, I encouraged people to lead such lives.
With the blessing of the Holy People, I hoped to teach the Dine’ People to follow their heart to happiness and prosperity. I visited schools, talking to the youth about domestic violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, as well as continuing their education. I emphasized to the students the importance of making right decisions and being responsible for the consequences of their actions.
I also learned a lot from our elders. I gained special knowledge about our culture, language, history, and philosophy. I encouraged our elders to pass on their knowledge to the future generations.
After I complete my reign as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Navajo Nation, I will be returning as a junior to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico, where I will pursue a degree in Astrophysics and Mathematics with a History minor.
Many people have touched my heart in a special way – everyone from the children to the elders. I would like to say thank you to my family and friends who have supported me throughout the year. I would also like to thank the Sanostee Chapter and the Office of the President and Vice President. I thank them for listening and considering the changes on how to improve the Office of Miss Navajo Nation. I hope I have positively influenced other Navajo girls and women to follow their dreams and never give up. I have great hopes that, as a people, we can lay a strong foundation of sovereignty for the future generation to build upon.
I close with this Navajo chat:
In Beauty before me, I walk,
In Beauty behind me, I walk,
In Beauty below me, I walk,
In Beauty above me, I walk,
In Beauty all around me, I walk,
It is finished in Beauty,
It is finished in Beauty,
It is finished in Beauty,
It is finished in Beauty,
Beauty Way Chat, Dine’ Benediction
May the Creator bless us all as we continue walking in beauty! Ahe’hee’.