Sunny Dooley facts for kids
Sunny Dooley is a special storyteller from the Diné (Navajo) people. She was born into the Saltwater Clan and from the Water's Edge Clan. Sunny shares traditional Diné Blessingway stories called Hane'. She even won the title of Miss Navajo Nation in 1982!
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Growing Up and Learning Stories
Sunny Dooley was born to Dorothy and Tom Dooley. She grew up in a place called Chi Chil' Tah, New Mexico. This name means "Where the Oaks Grow." Sunny also lived on the Navajo reservation in Arizona.
Her first language was Diné Bizaad, which is the Navajo language. Sunny learned how to tell stories from her mother. These stories are very old and have been passed down through her family for many generations.
Sunny's Education Journey
In 1979, Sunny graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. She then went to the University of New Mexico. There, she earned an Associate of Art degree.
Later, Sunny attended Brigham Young University. She studied speech communications and also art. While at this university, she was named Miss Indian Brigham Young University.
In 1982, Sunny Dooley entered the Miss Navajo Nation competition. This contest tests many skills. During the skills part, she told a story about the Changing Woman. This is a very important figure in Navajo traditions.
Sunny won the competition! She held the title of Miss Navajo Nation from 1982 to 1983.
Sharing Stories with the World
After being Miss Navajo Nation, Sunny kept sharing her stories. Around 2009, she performed at the National Museum of the American Indian. This museum is in Washington, D.C.
A year later, in 2010, she published a story. It was called "Mai and the Cliff-Dwelling Birds." This story appeared in a book titled Trickster: Native American Tales.
Life Today and New Adventures
As of 2021, Sunny Dooley still lives in Chi Chil' Tah. She lives in a hogan, which is a traditional Navajo log house.
In 2023, Sunny appeared in a movie called Frybread Face and Me. In 2024, she helped with a documentary film. It was called Hacking at Leaves. She was a cultural advisor and a main storyteller in the film.
