Mr. Lyle Harvey visited Farmington Municipal Schools recently for an insightful “Bow and Arrow” crafting workshop and lessons on “Sih Hasin,” which he explained means “striving for excellence” in Diné.
In the photo: Mr. Harvey does presentations and cultural storytelling based on the Diné language, culture, traditions, and history. He has worked with youth and educators for more than 20 years.
Mr. Harvey relayed how his grandfathers gave him specific instructions on how to make bows and arrows in peacetime. "There are lots of restrictions, we are not just making something that looks good," he said. Then he shared a wonderful traditional story.
We won’t tell you the whole story, but here’s a snippet. Long ago, men and women got mad at one another, he told. Men on one side, women on the other, and a river in between. To fix this division, a coyote picked up two beautiful babies he saw along the river, which he planned to give to each side to make them come together. Little did the coyote know that the babies belonged to a monster in the river. The monster then started flooding the world.
"We tell these stories to our youth so that they can form patterns in their minds, problem-solving ideas," Mr. Harvey said.
"When you release your arrow it makes the sound of a whistle. That’s my language. That’s my prayer. I believe in it so much," he continued. "The bow and arrow represent 'Sih Hasin.'”
The workshop took place in the FMS Board Room, which was filled to capacity with our families.
Mr. Harvey interchanged his story with bits of knowledge he received from his parents and family, and about the importance of education.
“Once I saw this movie that said you have to claw your way in life, inch by inch, you have to put in your best effort and that’s the only way to get ahead in life. For your home, for your family, for your grandchildren, make sure your children know ‘they can do it.’ I always ask people if they want the key to success. I’ll give it to you for free. You have to learn to pay attention and focus carefully. And it is hard. It’s hard for children and for adults,” he said.
This event was sponsored by FMS Native American Programs.
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