Miss Navajo (2007)

Directed by

Billy Luther

Genre

documentary film, drama film

Country

United States

Runtime

53 min

Rating

10.0 of 10 from 1 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This documentary follows young Navajo women competing for the title of Miss Navajo Nation. The contest tests their fluency in the Navajo language and their skills in traditions like sheep butchering and rug weaving. The film shows how the pageant celebrates cultural knowledge and leadership.

observationalgentlerespectfulslow-pacededucationaleverydayintimateproud

What happens

Miss Navajo is a 2007 independent documentary film directed by Billy Luther. The film follows 21-year-old Crystal Frazier and six other Navajo women as they compete for the title of Miss Navajo Nation 2005–2006. Unlike mainstream beauty pageants, the Miss Navajo competition emphasizes Navajo language, cultural knowledge, and traditional skills rather than physical appearance. Contestants are required to speak Navajo fluently and demonstrate practices such as sheep butchering, rug weaving, and tortilla making. Through Frazier’s experience, the documentary explores themes of Indigenous identity, language preservation, and the role of Navajo women as cultural leaders. The film has been noted for presenting Native women through their own perspectives and for challenging stereotypes commonly found in mainstream media. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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