“Haníígai ’éí t’óó waadzigo łikan (Haníígai is really tasty).”

Haníígai: A Timeless Navajo Food

with Nancy W. Begay Steamboat, AZ 

by Keanu Simpson 

Shí ’éí Nancy Begay yinishyé. Naakai Dine’é nishłi, Tábąąhá bashishchiin ’adóó Kiyáa’aanii dashicheii ’adóó Tsi’naajinii dashinálí. Shí kǫ́ Hóyéédi naashá. ’Ashdla’go shi’ałchiní shee’ holó ’adóó naaki ts’áadah shitsóóké shee’ holó ’adóó naakigo shinálíké shee’ holó. T’áá hwit’áá ’asdzą́ą́ní nishłį́. 

I learned how to make haníígai from my mother Eleanor Cleveland. From a very small age I learned to make this type of stew because my mother always prepared it in front of me. My mother always had patience with me. She always showed me in a detailed way how to prepare food, especially our Navajo foods.

Leading The Way Vol. 23 No. 5