Navajo Story Telling: Understanding the Naglééh and Gender Creation and Coyote Stories
The Mildred Berryman Institute invites the community to gather for an evening of tradition, reflection, and cultural learning with Navajo Story Telling: Understanding the Naglééh and Gender Creation and Coyote Stories, presented by Navajo storyteller Anthony Shirley. The event takes place Thursday, January 22, at 6 p.m. at Signature Books, 511 W. 400 N. in Salt Lake City, with a Zoom option available for remote attendees.
As winter settles in and Bear sleeps, Shirley will share traditional Navajo stories that explore the role of the nagléeh—a Navajo term meaning “interchanging,” now commonly understood as Indigiqueer or Two Spirit people. Through gender creation stories and tales of Coyote, participants will gain insight into historical Navajo understandings of gender roles, status, acceptance, and cross-dressing, and how those teachings can illuminate conversations around gender and identity today. All are welcome.
Shirley, originally from Chinle, Arizona, is of the Many Goats Clan and Towering House Clan. He taught Navajo language and culture at the University of Utah for a decade and now lives in Salt Lake City with his husband, Scott.
The lecture space is up a flight of stairs and currently does not have a working elevator; please plan accordingly. Special thanks to Signature Books for hosting. The Mildred Berryman Institute continues its mission of promoting queer Utah history, culture, and arts through accessible public education.
