Logo Breakdown: Protect Navajo Water
In June 2024, our organization proudly unveiled our Protect Navajo Water logo at the 2024 Heritage Festival at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Arizona. We wanted this logo to represent the beauty of Navajo water and why we need to protect it.
Our logo was brought to life by the talented hands of Corey Begay, a local Diné artist and Graphic Designer from Cedar Springs, AZ, located on the Navajo Nation. Corey graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2015, earning a bachelor’s degree in visual communications. Today, he continues to share his unique vision through murals, graphic design, illustration, and canvas paintings, collaborating with various organizations. Along with Corey Begay, we would also like to acknowledge our summer intern, Titus Bert, for editing and colorizing our logo.
Corey’s passion for his craft is palpable. He relishes the idea of his work reaching as many corners as possible, collaborating with fellow enthusiasts in art, graphic design, and movements. His inspiration stems from culture, education, nature, expressionism, and the resilience of hard workers, infusing his creations with a unique and powerful energy.
Logo Story
The Diyin Dine’é (The Holy Ones) have entrusted the Diné (Navajo people) with the sacred songs and prayers of water. This trust has given us a spiritual relationship with water, which forms the boundaries of our Navajo homeland, Dinétah. As water connects us all and makes us relatives, we all have a role in protecting it. Let’s work together to honor this trust and protect our water. Tó bee iiná. Water is life.
Black Mesa (Dził Yíjiin) is positioned at the center of our logo to represent not only our home but also where the heart of our work lies and the waters that flow, converge, and sit below. The storm clouds and falling rain to the right of Black Mesa represent the winter and summer moisture, which play a vital role in sustaining life in the high desert. The summer rain and winter snow bring moisture from the mesas and mountains to the rivers and canyons below. Traditional storm pattern designs can be found in our logo and are more than art for Diné people; they tell a story. We’ve incorporated these designs to connect traditional storytelling to contemporary designs, as seen in the cloud pattern and water wave.
The mountain on the left of Black Mesa represents the Rocky Mountains (Dibé Nitsaa), vital headwaters of the Colorado River, and the Chuska Mountains (Chʼóshgai), of which its waters feed into the San Juan River to make up the greater Colorado River. The mountain base on the right of Black Mesa represents the White Mountains (Dził Łigai). Much like Black Mesa, the White Mountains are the headwaters of the Little Colorado River.
The first line of flowing water represents the Colorado River (Bits’íís Nineezí) and the San Juan River (Są́ Bitooh), which is the lifeline of the Southwest. These waters are the major rivers that run through Dinétah (the Navajo homeland). The second line of flowing water represents the Little Colorado River (Tółichíí Kooh), which originates from Black Mesa and the White Mountains. Although this river is less prominent than the mainstem Colorado River, it is just as important and deserves attention and protection. Lastly, the final line of flowing water represents the Navajo Aquifer (Tó Nizhóní) located deep under and around Black Mesa. This groundwater is the only source of potable water for those living on and near Black Mesa and must be protected from future exploitation.
Tó Nizhóní Ání would like to thank Corey Begay and our intern Titus Bert for working with us on this beautiful logo. We hope you enjoyed our Protect Navajo Water logo story. For more information, contact our media organizer at Adrian@tonizhoniani.org. Ahéhee’ (Thank you).
