Helen 1
“When you were born, you cried, and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.” Old Native American saying
Meet Helen of the Diné. I had the privilege of photographing her in Monument Valley last December. Helen is 93 years old and has lived in the Valley her entire life. She only speaks Navajo, so smiles and hand gestures conveyed our appreciation at being invited into her life.
She was sitting in a family hogan on the reservation. A hogan is the primary, traditional dwelling of the Diné (Navajo) people. Hogans can be round, cone-shaped, multi-sided, or square. There may be timber post or stone walls packed with earth in varying amounts. The door faces east to welcome the rising sun for wealth and good fortune.
Traditional Navajo Hogan from Britanica.com
Life in the Valley is not easy. There are no utilities, running water, electricity, or natural gas. Everything from water to fuel must be brought into the Valley. Some homes have solar panels to generate electricity.
The Shot
The morning sun was streaming in from the east entry. Communicating with hand gestures, I tried having her look in different directions and shift her position on the chair.
After a few images with just Helen, I decided to include more of the hogan.
Helen 2
I marveled at her quiet dignity and perseverance. Leaving the hogan, I had the feeling that when she passed, the world would cry and that she would rejoice.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus