Radmilla Cody facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Radmilla A. Cody
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Radmilla Cody sings The Star-Spangled Banner in Navajo at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida (2002)
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| Born | 1975 |
| Nationality | Navajo1 (Tłʼááshchíʼí nilǫ́ǫ Naakaii Łizhiní yáshchíín) |
| Citizenship | Navajo Nation and United States |
| Known for | Miss Navajo Nation, Traditional singer, Anti-domestic violence activist |
| Title | 46th Miss Navajo Nation |
| Term | 1997–1998 |
| Predecessor | Josephine Ann Tracy |
| Successor | Sevaleah Begay Tsosie |
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1. As a matrilineal society, the Navajo Nation does not consider one's paternal lineage for questions of traditional membership.
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Radmilla A. Cody (born 1975) is a Navajo model, singer, and activist. She was the 46th Miss Navajo from 1997 to 1998.
Radmilla Cody was the first Miss Navajo who had both Navajo and African-American heritage. Her selection led to some discussions about what it means to be Navajo. After her time as Miss Navajo, she became a strong voice against domestic violence.
Contents
Radmilla Cody was born in 1975 into the Tłʼááshchíʼí clan of the Navajo Nation. Her father is African-American. She grew up in the countryside of the Navajo Nation.
Her maternal grandmother raised her, and Radmilla learned to speak the Navajo language. She remembers her grandmother getting upset if she spoke English. Her grandmother thought English sounded like "walla walla walla."
Daily life included herding sheep and sometimes weaving. Radmilla said that being alone with the sheep helped her practice singing. The sounds of nature also taught her to appreciate music. Christian choirs visiting the local church were another musical influence.
Radmilla Cody's Career
In 1997, Radmilla Cody entered and won the Miss Navajo contest. This competition focuses on deep knowledge of Navajo traditions and being fluent in the Navajo language. It is different from Western beauty pageants that focus on looks.
After her time as Miss Navajo, she started a career as a recording artist. Her songs combine traditional Navajo music with new lyrics. Her uncle, Herman Cody, wrote some of these lyrics.
Music Albums and Awards
Radmilla Cody's first album, Within the Four Directions, came out in 2000. It included a Navajo version of The Star-Spangled Banner. This song is called "Dah Naatʼaʼí Sǫʼ bił Sinil".
In 2002, she won the Native American Music Award for Best Female Artist. This was for her album Seed of Life. She later released Spirit of a Woman in 2005 and Precious Friends in 2007. Her album Shi Keyeh or Songs for the People was released in 2011. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2012.
Singing for Space History
In 2002, Radmilla Cody sang the Navajo version of The Star-Spangled Banner. She performed at the Kennedy Space Center. This was a special event because John Herrington became the first enrolled member of a Native American nation to fly into space.
Radmilla Cody's Music
- Within the Four Directions (2000)
- Seed of Life (2002)
- Spirit of a Woman (2005)
- Precious Friends (2007)
- Shi Keyah: Songs for the People (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Radmilla Cody para niños
