BIRDSPRINGS, Ariz. – Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) joined the Little Singer Community School (LSCS) at a special and meaningful promotion ceremony to celebrate the sixth-grade students on Friday, May 22, 2026.
NDCFS supported a moccasin making project called, “Healing through Culture,” for LSCS students, which they worked on over the last few weeks of the school year. Albert Chase was the master of ceremonies and the instructor who helped the students learn how to make moccasins.
“We are creating future moccasin makers,” Chase said. Moccasins represent one’s life journey and connection to Mother Earth and Father Sky, he added. “We walk with our mother and father every day,” he said.
Students reflected on their journey during remarks at the ceremony.
“Life comes with ups and downs, like this month with our moccasin project. In making our moccasins, sometimes it will come out perfect and sometimes it will not come out perfect, but Mr. Chase tells us that you have to keep trying until you get it right,” Preston Luther, one of the LSCS valedictorians, said.
NDCFS Executive Director Thomas Cody thanked the teachers and families for their commitment to their children’s education.
The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services has supported cultural teachings as a healing tool for families, including the moccasin making class, he said. “Share your Navajo language with your children,” he encouraged.
The sixth-grade students demonstrated their knowledge of Navajo language by singing songs throughout the ceremony. Other grade levels performed dances.
“We put the utmost honor and meaning of Dinék’ehgo , the Navajo way of teaching, into our projects, so it’ll be meaningful, special, and spiritual for their journey in life,” Chase said.
At the promotion ceremony, Bennie Begay, guest speaker, sang a song over the moccasins, blessing them, and spoke about the significance of the work that the students did.
Not every student completed the project in the time frame, but they now have the opportunity to work with their family members to finish them, furthering their educational journey, Chase said.
Over the course of the moccasin project, Chase also taught about preventing domestic violence utilizing teachings from the Diné way of life, including character building and peacemaking.
In addition to receiving their moccasins, the students also received backpacks with supplies as incentives for participating in the project.
The project was one innovative way to implement the NDCFS’s P.L. 102-477 Plan, which targets training and economic development for tribes.
For the promotion ceremony, Principal Etta Shirley provided the welcome and Wilphina Becenti gave the opening prayer. Miss Southwest Navajo Praylin Claw-Nez spoke on Leadership, K’é, and Little Singer School. Joceylyn Satala, Miiya Fuson, Abbygail Lee and Preston Luther delivered valedictorian speeches. School Board member Mitzi Begay gave the Sequoia Charter School Welcome and Navajo Nation Council Delegate Casey Allen Johnson was also a guest speaker.
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