Shahane'

My Story

Pronouns: She/Her

Diné K'ehji:

Yá’át’ééh shik’is dóó shikʼéí dóó shidine’é.

Yuè Begay yinishyé.

Naakai Dine'é nishłį́.

Kinyaa'áanii bááshishchíín.

Dibéłzhiní da'shicheii.

Tábąąhá da'shinálí.

Ákót'éego t'áá diné asdzáán nishłį́.

Ákót'éego t'áá nádleehí nishłį́ 'ałdó'.

Kinłání Dookʼoʼoosłííd Biyaagidi shiʼdizhchį́.

K'ad Indigenous Pride LA biChairwoman dóó Director of Operations nishłį́. Freelance Graphic Artist dóó website designer dóó Consultant nishłį́ ’ałdó’. Public Healthígíí bá naashnish.

California State University State, Long Beachdę́ę́’ niniłtááh.

K’ad Tovaangardi kééhasht’į́ ndi Tódí Néesh Zhee’dę́ę́’ naashá.

English:

"Hello my friends, family, and my people.

My name is Yuè Begay.

I am of the Nomadic People Clan,

Born for the Towering House Clan.

My maternal grandfather is of the Black Sheep Clan and

my paternal grandfather is of the Near the Water’s Edge Clan.

In this way, I am a Navajo transgender woman.

I was born in Flagstaff, AZ.

I am the Chairwoman and Director of Operations of Indigenous Pride LA. I work as a Freelance Graphic Artist, website designer as well as a Consultant. I work in the Public Health field.

I graduated from California State University, Long Beach.

I currently live in Los Angeles, CA but am originally from Kayenta, AZ (Navajo Nation)."

For captions, please enable under “settings” and then change captions/CC to Navajo for both Navajo and English captions

Asdzą́ą́ Tł'éé'honaa'éí

“Lady of the Moon”

Hózhóogo naashá dóó (“In Beauty I walk”)

Shitsijí' hózhóogo naashá dóó (“With Beauty before me, I walk”)

Shikéédéé hózhóogo naashá dóó (“With Beauty behind me, I walk”)

Shideigi hózhóogo naashá dóó (“With Beauty above me, I walk”)

T'áá altso shinaagóó hózhóogo naashá dóó (“With Beauty all around me, I walk”)

I grew up the majority of my life on Diné Bikéyah ("Navajo land") in a small town called Tó Dínéeshzheeʼ/Téé’ Ndééh (“Kayenta, AZ). Growing up on my homelands was both extremely challenging at times, and later when growing into my adult womanhood, a blessing. I am the fourth born to a strong, resilient, and courageous Diné mother. I grew up mostly around my biological mother’s side of the family, as is tradition with many Diné. As for my biological father, I only remember seeing him about four times out of my whole life. I don’t remember much about him only that he was absent. As such, I never really got to knew my biological father’s side except for a few close paternal family members who reached out and wanted me in their lives. It was not all misfortune as shimá (my mother) and shimá sání (“my maternal grandmother”) made sure that I and my siblings would be immersed in our Diné culture. Having Diné bizaad (“Navajo language”) being spoken at home as much as possible as well as enrolling in public tribal school on the Navajo reservation that had Navajo language and culture classes. In this way, they made sure that I knew my language as much as possible. I also grew up going to ceremonies and other cultural festivities and gatherings. I am beyond blessed that my foundation for most of my life was grounded in Diné k’éhji (“Navajo teachings”) as it would help me in many occasions and major milestones throughout my life.

As much as I would like to say that my life was full of happiness, joy, peace, and confidence for most of my childhood and parts of my adulthood, it has not been. My mother has and still struggles with addiction and as such, I am not ashamed to say that I am a child of addicts. Now even though I say I’m a child of addicts, that is not my destiny nor is it a defining label that captures my essence and existence. I say I’m a child of addicts to give context so people outside looking in can have some idea as to what my life has been like. See being a child of addicts and also being a sibling to older relatives who also would soon struggle with addiction was quite perplexing as well as traumatizing. I had to mature at a faster pace. Something that I do not regret at all. It allowed me to maneuver and soar in world that sought to destroy Two Spirit and Indigiqueer trans women. It also allowed me to raise not only my younger siblings but also my brother’s kids when the time and moment would come. I could go on and on about specifics in my life that defined my life but I’ll start from here.

My life really began to change the summer of 2006 when my older brother, younger siblings, and I would get taken away from my mother by social services. We went through temporary parents, abusive foster parents, and even child group homes. Though that chapter in my life was relatively short, it did have a lasting impact on my life especially as this was the time I was going through puberty. Later in the summer of 2006, my younger siblings would be placed with their paternal aunt and I would be placed with my older brother in boys group home still on the Navajo Nation. My time at the boys group home was quite transformative for many reasons I’ll discuss later if you would join me. In the fall of 2006, I would finally get reunited with my mother and all was well….for awhile. Many things transpired since then but I want to talk about the next phase of my life.

In 2009 in my sophomore year in high school, I came out as a trans woman as well as choosing my real name, Yuè, as opposed to my birth name. First to my older brother, then to my mother, and then I figured since mom knows, anyone else won’t mattered because only she mattered. My high school administration, staff, and faculty would soon learn of my transition. It was at that moment that everything changed. See up until that point, I navigated the world as a feminine gay man even though on the inside, I always knew I was a girl. I just learned through childhood trauma to hide it. When I came out as a trans woman, my social circle of friends, family, and even teachers, drastically grew small. Later in, 2010, I would come out as Two Spirit. That process was probably one of the painful experiences I witnessed. Having learned that my hometown was not that accepting and friendly to my transition, I had it made up in my mind that I needed to leave this town. No, the reservation.

In 2011, I graduated my high school being enrolled in honors and AP courses all 4 years. Another revelation came that year as well. I was selected as a Gates Millennium Scholar, a prestigious honor I would soon learn, as well as being accepted into my dream school, California State University, Long Beach. It seems as though Diyin Dine’é (“Holy People”) was looking out for me and answered my prayers. The golden ticket of a full ride scholarship and acceptance into my dream school, I was ready to take on the world. I knew everything and was ready to leave….or so I thought.

In the later summer of 2011, I rode my first airplane from Phoenix, AZ to Puvungna (“Long Beach, CA”) with my mother. We decided to go together to ease my transition from small rez town to world renown metropolises. After awhile, my mother went back to the rez. I was finally all by myself. This was what I wanted. To pave my own path. To have a fresh start at life. Now, navigating and being successful in Los Angeles was no easy feat. There were many failures in my attempts as well as many successes. I found many close friends out here many who I would consider my chosen family. I would graduate in 2016 with a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology and Certificate in American Indian Studies.

My first legal job would be in 2017 working in the HIV prevention field as well as getting more active in community organizing and networking. I would be involved in the Los Angeles Native, queer, and transgender communities. I would work in many fields and soon found my skills and knowledge employed by many agencies such as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health as well as Department of Mental Health. With the support of many Two Spirit and Native queer and trans colleagues, I would soon become the woman everyone knows I am now.

I am a daughter, I am a sister, I am a mentor, I am a survivor, I am resilient, I am successful, I am vulnerable, I am flawed, I am elegant, I am an artist, I am many things. And things that I will become are soon to come…

Hózhó náhásdlíí' (“Beauty is restored again”)

To see CV and resume, please contact me.

Contact Me

California State University Puvungna

(Long Beach) Alumna

Bachelors of Arts

in Anthropology with an Emphasis on Linguistics

Certificate

in American Indian Studies

Masters in Public Health

Health Services & Policy