Grounded to home

By Taylor Notah

Tribal Affiliation: Navajo

Major(s): Journalism

Home for Mary Stefaniak is in Round Rock, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation where she was born and raised. A recent ASU graduate whose life journey has led her hundreds of miles away from home, Stefaniak says it is her Diné teachings that helps her stay grounded to home. “In a traditional life, you’re always given that teaching that you need to go home one day,” Stefaniak said. “I’ve always been passionate about giving back and working with Native Americans, so I promised myself that one day I was going to move home, give back to my people and take care of my grandma.” Stefaniak received her Bachelor’s degree in May 2017 with a major in nursing and a minor in nutrition and healthy living. As graduation approached, she knew that she wanted her cap to visually reflect her life journey thus far. Raised in a household where the women in her family are accomplished textile weavers, it is no surprise that Stefaniak says the design of her cap was inspired by a pattern in a rug woven by her grandmother. “I wanted something to really resemble my family and what we do,” Stefaniak said.

“I’m from the Táchii’nii clan so I wanted something to really show who I was, where I came from and what I carry with me every day.” Using only matches and glue as her materials, Stefaniak’s striking recreation of her grandmother’s pattern was chosen as the cover for Turning Points’ first issue. Stefaniak says the decision to burn some matches not only help to accentuate the pattern but was symbolic of Navajo teachings. “I grew up praying to the fire, being around the fire place and the whole concept of always being respectful to it,” Stefaniak said, “so to wear that upon my head was even more significant, just being able to show everyone what I carried with me throughout my life.” Stefaniak says she is still impressed when she looks at her graduation photo, from the grandeur of the Navajo landscape, the beauty of her turquoise jewelry, to the detail of her cap. “It resembles a lot of who I am in my journey so far,” she said. Stefaniak says that her photo is not only symbolic of her college journey but can be for other Native students who are embarking on their own journeys. “At the end of the day, we have what our grandparents have given us and passed down for many generations,” Stefaniak said. “Even though you’re not home anymore and you’re not within your homelands, don’t ever, ever forget your teachings. Always remember that the Creator put you here for a reason and you’re accomplishing it even though you’re not home yet.”