In this section we bring back articles written for the GHV Smoke Signals in years gone by. The times may have changed, but the commitment to the Y-Princess program remains the same.

October 2002

Navajo Tribe Report

Let me tell you a story

About a tribe I know

You may have heard about us

We’re the Navajo 

The 2002 Catalina camp-out, hosted by the Navajo and Hopi tribes, won rave reviews from braves and princesses as one of the best summer camp-outs in recent memory and who can argue? Despite the infamous Camp Fox food, the single-bow archery station and the militant beach/water patrol, this year’s event seemed to work on every level. The weather was nearly perfect, the water was almost warm, the fish were biting (at times) and the Navajos were clearly in virtuoso form.

We’re friends together

Everywhere we go

When we get together

We’re called “The Navajo”

In typical fashion, the Navajo tribe turned-out in force for what is considered by many to be the premier GHV event of the year. Fourteen dads and 17 daughters proudly represented the Mighty Navajos at this year’s Summer Camp-out.

When the boat hit the beach,

Everyone started running

Because they all knew

The Navajos were coming

After establishing a base camp upon arrival, swimming and island exploration preceded the annual ascent on the venerable Bible Peak. Tribal photos were captured at the summit while the braves kept the princesses on very short leashes.

We’re havin’ fun with our dads

It makes our moms so mad

Because they know

They can’t be Navajos

Friday night dinner surprised most Camp Fox veterans and caused a temporary suspension of well-established expectations of food quality. This condition changed quickly however with breakfast the following morning and we returned to the level of quality that we’ve grown accustomed to. 

Saturday morning it was time for the fiercely competitive kayak race. The Navajo had three teams of four dads competing in this annual showdown of paddling prowess. Navajo princesses coached the braves on the importance of teamwork and a getting a powerful start off the shore. The dads responded with a stunning tour de force capturing first, second and fourth place, an unprecedented show of tribal domination in this fiercely competitive event for Nation bragging rights

The winning kayak team began the race with Tim Wetzel and Scott Clegg who looked like they’d been training for months (we have it on good authority that the only training that Tim and Scott have done since winter camp has been nightly sets of 12-ounce curls). Scott and Tim started strong and set a blistering pace rounding the pier in the lead and holding off the challengers who were nipping at their tails. The boat transfer to the second leg of the team consisting of Jeff Hubbard and Darrell Hennegen was flawless. Hubbard and Hennegen were able to sustain a slim lead as they rounded the pier for the final leg of the race. The roar from the shore was deafening as the Navajo girls chanted for a victory. Suddenly, and to everyone’s complete amazement, Hennegen and Hubbard began to pull away from the pack opening up a commanding lead and hitting the beach a good 50-yards ahead of the next boat,

In the Great Kayak race

We set an awesome pace

The other tribes were spinning

The Navajos were winning.

Navajos didn’t waste any time savoring their stunning upset. They were next seen boarding a luxury yacht, captained by Jeff Silver, for a three-hour cruise to remote parts of the island where the girls fished, snorkeled and uncovered rare, semi-precious sea shells.

After the outing on the open seas, the Navajos regrouped and staged the nation games. The Tug of War and the Balloon Launch/Catch games fueled the beginning of several inter-nation rivalries by creating competition between tribes. The perennial Catalina favorite, “fill-the-water-bottle-on-Dad’s-forehead, employed the more traditional individual competition/achievement structure and gave the princesses a chance to get the dads cooled-off a bit.

Saturday night’s campfire featured many Navajo awards including two-1st and one 2nd place award in the bottle pour. Bringing home medals for the Navajo were: Kelsey Silver “Silver Princess” 1st grade - 1st place Bottle Fill; Kendra Hennegen “Singing Bear” 3rd grade – 1st place Bottle Fill and best overall time; Caroline Fowler “Little Feather” 2nd grade - 2nd place Bottle Fill.

Navajos were represented in the awards ceremony in all three grades levels, in yet another demonstration of tribal strength and versatility. Meanwhile, Lauren Barker “Shooting Star” tied for 2nd place in the alumni division of the GHV Nation Fishing Contest and Danielle Drake “Tiger Lily” received her Princess Running Pony Award.  Most importantly, two new Navajos, Paige "Soft Heart" Polich and Emma Fowler “Water Lilly” were acknowledged for attending their first campout.

The campfire skits were especially creative and all tribes offered up well conceived and executed productions. The Mighty Navajos presented their skit and upon its completion, all 31 members of the tribe suddenly assembled on the stage. A hush fell over the crowd, the Nation Chief was confused, nervous whispers could be heard. The Navajos were up to something!

The girls were in front and the dads in back. A sense of anticipation filled the air when suddenly, a sharp blues harmonica cut through the night beginning with a long, soulful wail. The sound wafted through the night air and its intoxicating rhythm immediately had the crowd under its spell. The audience began to clap in time with the tune uncertain where this was going but compelled to follow its path. Chief Fowler stepped forward in a flowing tribal headdress and proclaimed that he had noticed the inhabitants of this sleepy little isle had come down with a case of the “Navajo Blues”.

With this proclamation the entire tribe donned sunglasses and unleashed the premier of their infections new tune “The Navajo Blues”. The Great Hunting Valley had never seen anything like this before. The needle on the entertainment meter was pegged as the braves and princesses treated the crowd to a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, face grinning performance of raw energy and unabashed showmanship. The audience responded with a big standing “O” for the Navajos.

In the Great Hunting Valley

Other tribes will rally

They all come and go

Except the Navajos

So if you’re not in our shoes

You’ve got the Navajo blues.

Between the awards and the skits, the evening also contained two very special moments. The Nation Chief called Devon Oddy to the stage and presented her with an eagle feather to acknowledge her victory over leukemia and the bravery that she has shown. A Navajo dad then joined the Chief on stage and told the nation about a remarkable Navajo girl named Karina Hubbard ”Little Snow Feather” who has also has been receiving treatment for leukemia. Karina has been an enormous inspiration to the Navajos. She has taught us much about what it means to be courageous, determined and unwilling to back-down. Karina is a role model to the girls and the dads in our tribe and we are so grateful that she and her sister, along with her dad, are part of the Navajos. The Hubbards have modeled for us of what is truly important in life and how love for family and taking care of each other are what matters above all else. A magical dreamcatcher, made just for Karina, was presented to her dad, Jeff ”Thunder Bolt” and sister Emily ”Little Lady Bug”. We asked Jeff and Emily to tell Karina how incredibly proud we are of her and how excited we are that she will be joining us again soon when she finishes her treatments. Our love for Karina and her family is bigger than the sky, deeper than the ocean and it grows bigger and deeper everyday.

Sunday activities rounded off the weekend and all too soon it was time to pack it in and get ready for the boat. On the ride home, the conversations centered on the special memories that we were bringing back with us. Yes, everyone agreed that this was the best Catalina trip ever and that the tribe was somehow different now, more connected and more appreciative of the incredible gifts that we are in each other’s lives. Something magical happened in the 48 hours that we were away that will linger with us and remind us of our love for our family, our tribe and the Great Sprit.

Noonway,

Darrell Hennegen