People react to recent performance at local Gallup church
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
When a friend invited her to the May 29 service at The Door Christian Fellowship Church in Gallup, Louvannina Tsosie thought she knew what she was going to see: a pastor preaching about a theme in the Bible.
Instead, Tsosie, who was born into the Ashiihii and the Tabaaha and born for the Tsenahabilnii and the Tsejikini, witnessed what she considered a “heartbreaking” hour-long skit.
Performers donned masks and traditional Diné clothing for the skit. They performed different scenes throughout the skit, all of them showcasing “worldly” sinful activities such as gambling and drinking. Tsosie said the message was clear: anyone who participated in these activities would be damned to hell.
As the minutes passed, Tsosie grew uncomfortable watching the skit, and began to feel as if the actors, some of them Diné themselves, were ultimately making fun of Navajo culture and tradition.
“It wasn’t just outsiders putting this play together, because that would’ve been a whole different conversation,” she said in an interview with the Sun. “It’s just interesting that they’re reinforcing those same stereotypes and shame we’ve been trying to unlearn for generations. It was very heartbreaking, and it felt like a betrayal.”
The scene unfolding was shocking to her, so Tsosie pulled out her phone and began filming. She eventually posted the video of the skit on TikTok, and it was met with intense community outrage.
As of June 11, almost 11,000 people have shared the video, and over 1,500 people have commented on it.
One TikTok user said, “Christians have done so much damage to our people. This is one more reason I do not associate with churches.”
Another TikTok user said, “This broke my heart! Navajo people are not demonic and neither is our culture! They are teaching our youth this!”
WHAT THE SKIT PORTRAYED
The small clip Tsosie posted on TikTok opens with a man confronting an Indigenous medicine man, asking “What did you do to my niece? She’s in the hospital!” He even asks if the man “touched” his niece.
In another scene, a man portraying the Devil circles the medicine man, laughing menacingly while doing a traditional Navajo dance. Drums kept beat in the background as the Devil laughed menacingly and told the man “Come on, let’s do a purification ceremony.”
The Devil and his fellow demons hovered over the man, all while flashing red lights surrounded them. Tsosie said that scene in particular made it seem as if the performers were saying Diné culture and traditions are a part of demonic worship.
“When we have our Navajo ceremonies it’s all to restore balance on someone,” Tsosie explained. “So, I think that’s the reason the Navajo community is so upset. These ceremonies that they were enacting in the play to make it look evil [are] actually ceremonies to us to restore really beautiful balance and harmony amongst all things.”
Diné ceremonies, often referred to as “chants” or “sings” are designed to restore balance, promote healing, and maintain harmony with the natural world and the Diyin Diné (Holy People).
They are primarily used for healing, maintaining balance (hózhǫ́), and restoring harmony with the environment and the spiritual realm. There are numerous types of ceremonies, with some lasting for a few hours and others, like healing chants, continuing for days or even weeks. Many ceremonies involve singing, sandpainting, dancing, and the use of ceremonial baskets. Diné ceremonies mark significant life events, from birth to death, and are essential for maintaining the well-being of the individual and the community.
Other scenes relied on stereotypes about Native Americans and Navajo people specifically, such as gambling addictions and alcoholism.
Tsosie said one particular scene truly upset her. It depicted a man and a woman in a toxic relationship. During a fit of jealous rage, the husband shoots his wife and kills her.
A real prop gun was used for the scene, and Tsosie said it made a very realistic firing sound.
Tsosie has personal experience with domestic violence. In the ‘90s, her aunt was killed by her non-Native husband.
HATRED TOWARD NAVAJO BELIEFS?
When local artist Norman Patrick Brown, who was also born for the Tsenahabilnii, saw Tsosie’s video, he was filled with anger, but he says he wasn’t surprised.
“The first thought that came to mind was ‘This is the exact behavior that we Indigenous [people] have been through for the past 500 years,’” he said in an interview with the Sun. “This is a modern expression of the old doctorate of discovery attitude that God gave the right to certain people to destroy, oppress, steal our lands and create genocide.”
He recalled that for the past 500 years, ever since Europeans first came to America, Indigenous people have been oppressed and told their beliefs aren’t correct and don’t matter. But Brown says he’s not worried about that. His concern lies with fellow Diné turning away from their own culture.
“What’s even more dangerous is that Navajo Christians of faith refuse to condemn this horrible, hateful, and vengeful attack against our way of life,” he said. “We weren’t born from the Christian faith, we were born from this Earth. We come from the four Holy Mountains, the elements, the constellations, our relationship with the land, to the water, to the natural way. That’s our way of life. It’s not our religion; it’s our way of life.”
He shared a clear message for anyone who disrespects the beliefs the Navajo people have held for centuries.
“If we Navajos are so vengeful and so hateful against our own peoples’ beliefs, then don’t speak the language, don’t wear the jewelry,” Brown said. “Don’t use your clans. It’s real simple.”
But he did clarify that he believes that a majority of Gallupians aren’t a part of this hateful group.
“That play doesn’t represent the views and attitudes of the city of Gallup,” he said. “There are so many incredible, caring, compassionate people who help our Indigenous people here in Gallup.”
PROTESTING THE CHURCH
After seeing what she saw at The Door Christian Fellowship Church, Tsosie knew she needed to do something to voice her concerns. She organized a protest with another woman, and over 20 people showed up outside The Door Christian Fellowship Church June 8.
Tsosie said no one from the church’s leadership has reached out to her yet. She also hoped the Navajo Nation Council and/or the Navajo Nation President or Vice President would respond to the incident and condemn it.
She has gotten some response from the church though, with some congregants sharing messages on her TikTok.
One TikTok user said “If you’ve read the Bible, this [skit] makes a lot of sense. If you hadn’t, it would be hard to understand. Also, culture and tradition are two separate and different things.”
Another TikTok user said “Anyone can record one piece of an entire play and call it what you want, manipulate it words, and get an entire scene all twisted. But the devil is the master of confusion. If you truly do not understand the word of God, you wouldn’t understand what is being portrayed here.”
Tsosie said the protest went well, and was peaceful for the most part, but she did note that at one point one of her family members had to jump out of the way of a moving vehicle that was allegedly driven by one of the church’s congregants. She said her family was unable to get a license plate number, but they did file a police report with the Gallup Police.
The Sun tried to reach out to a church official, but they were unavailable for comment.
NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF GALLUP RESPOND
The 25th Navajo Nation Council released a statement about the incident June 11. Speaker Crystalyne Curley wrote a letter to The Door’s leadership.
“We respect all faiths and beliefs,” she stated in the letter. “As neighbors to the Navajo Nation, the City of Gallup and surrounding communities share more than just geographical proximity with our people, we are tied by longstanding cultural and social relationships. Mutual respect and understanding must be the foundation of our society, which encompasses diverse beliefs.”
She also took time to remind the church that Navajo traditional practices are considered sacred to many people.
“… Navajo medicine men are spiritual leaders and should never be made a mockery in such a violent manner,” she said.
The City of Gallup also released a statement about the incident June 11.
In their statement, city officials remind citizens that the City of Gallup is a place of diverse heritages, beliefs, and practices. They took the official stance that any time conflict arises within the city, the city’s job is to ensure peoples’ safety. City officials cannot choose sides when conflict arises.
“Freedom of expression comes at a price,” the press release states. “It requires an acceptance of and willingness to bear insult and offense, to hear and see what one may find hurtful or despicable. … The City urges everyone to remember what we share in common, both in our origins and our destinies, and to treat one another mindfully and with kindness.”
To view Tsosie’s TikTok, go to her handle on the popular app, which is @lifeofneezus.
