Lynda, Mary, and Jena (L to R)

This trip started off with a late night — I actually stayed up until 4:00 am so I could get to the airport in time to catch a 6:30 am flight to Albuquerque. After a quick drive to Santa Fe for the kick-off of the MANA Literacy Project, I returned to Albuquerque to get ready for the American Indian & Alaska Native Child Care Conference the next day.

But first, I met up with Jena and we headed to dinner at the High Finance Restaurant & Tavern on top of Sandia Mountain, more than 10,000 feet above sea level, and a 2.7 mile tram ride to get there! It was somewhat scary going up and seeing the sights on the way but it was even more scary returning after dark, knowing what was out there but not being able to see anything on the way down. OOOOOOH!

Monday morning, Jena and I headed to the conference to set up our table. I was completely blown away to find out that there were 68 tribes represented among the 550 attendees. A highlight of the opening session was the presentation from the 2007 Navajo Princess, Ms. Jocelyn Billy. Her message was uplifting, humorous and informative for everyone in attendance.

Lynda speaking at the conference

After the conference, Jena and I headed to Old Town and visited a Native American jewelry store. Big mistake! I never imagined so many beautiful items could be found in the earth. The owner, Lita and her cousin Mary were so welcoming and warm I immediately felt at home. They invited us to join them at a Feast Day celebration the following day.

Having never visited a Pueblo or attended such a ceremony, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and I was not disappointed. There’s a cultural etiquette around attending a Pueblo dance, since it’s a religious celebration. You need to remain silent and not applaud, no picture taking, no pointing, no talking to the dancers or singers, etc.

All of the above makes sense but I was about to burst by the time we were in the car and off of the Pueblo lands. The dancers, the colors, the music, the smells all were both beautiful and overwhelming. I love piñons (pine nuts) but after consuming a bag I discovered I am allergic to them. I never paid much attention to pine trees but the dancers were adorned with pine limbs and the smell was wonderful.

The conference closing was Wednesday afternoon and I was asked to present to the entire audience how to get books from First Book. I thanked the audience for embracing me and allowing me to bring them the First Book information. I also let them know that I did not want to leave Albuquerque which brought a lot of offers to stay. Everyone was excited to hear that everyone would receive books to take home with them.

At the end of the conference a woman came up to me and put a bag in my hand. She explained she was from the Navajo Nation in Arizona and wanted to thank me for being there as well as for helping Native Americans. I explained that because this is my chosen job, I couldn’t take her gift. I was reminded by Mary and Jena that I must accept it — in their culture, you cannot refuse a gift. When I opened the bag, it was a beautiful turquoise necklace. At that moment, I felt so blessed working for First Book and carrying the First Book message!