Yá’át’ééh wóshdę́ę́’

I’d like to share a story of why I chose the name Kiiłtsoi bitó'…

In the mid-1800s, after Hwéeldi (Long Walk) took place and the United States created the reservation giving only 15% of the original ancestral land back to the Dine. My grandmother’s grandfather inherited a store after the owner and his family contracted smallpox and passed away. My great-great-grandfather had to keep the store open because the Diné within the area depended on the store. While working alongside the founding owner, he made contacts with suppliers in Flagstaff and Prescott. Over the years, as the store continued with operations, he shared his wealth with those around him. Wealth in the context of the Diné is not financial gains but rather healthy livestock, bountiful crops, and necessities needed for daily life. He shared his wealth and collaborated and guided others within the area to begin developing a sustainable future for generations to come through agriculture and livestock.

Kyle Mitchell

Diné, Storyteller, and Veteran.