Chinle Valley Singers
American Indian Navajo Song and Dance Performance
The Chinle Valley Singers are a Navajo family group who believe
strongly in preserving tradition through sharing their rich Navajo
tradition in story-telling and in songs and dances which they have
adapted from ceremonial contexts for use in Navajo social and
entertainment contexts.
The group’s music has its roots in the rich tradition of Canyon de Chelley, Arizona. The Chinle Valley Singers--now Elsie Deswood, Linda Davis, Dempsey Deswood, Darren Deswood, Diadre Deswood, Amanda Teller and Bodina Teller--began singing as a group in 1981 when they received a warm reception from communities on and off the Navajo reservation. Since then, they have performed at the Shiprock (New Mexico) Navajo Fair and have won numerous awards at the prestigious Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock, Arizona. The group has also performed in Estonia, the Philippines, Italy, England, the Netherlands, Latvia and Dubai.
Many of their songs come from a tradition of sheepherding. “They are the same songs my mother sang to the sheep when she was sheepherding around Canyon de Chelley”, Elsie Deswood says.
The group has recorded several albums of their music and has appeared in such films as “Feathers in the Wind” (Rocky Mountain Productions), “Grandfather Sky” (Chariot Productions), and “Indians of the Southwest” (Chariot Productions).
The Chinle Valleys Singers are suitable for indoor and outdoor performances at Festivals and cultural events. For more information or to book the Chinle Valley Singers please click here.
