Radmilla Cody
Encyclopedia
Radmilla A. Cody is a Navajo
model, award-winning singer, and anti-domestic violence
activist who was the 46th Miss Navajo
from 1997 to 1998.
As she was the first and thus far only Miss Navajo partially of African-American heritage, her nomination sparked considerable debate over Navajo identity. After her tenure, allegations of drug-trafficking and involvement in money-laundering, resulting in her subsequent arrest and imprisonment, led to verbal racial attacks as well as support.
of the Navajo Nation; her father is African-American. She was raised in the rural areas of the Navajo Nation
by her maternal grandmother, speaking Navajo
. In an interview with Vermont Public Radio
, Cody recalled an instance of her grandmother's getting upset with her when she spoke English
, which, according to her grandmother, was nothing but "walla walla walla." Daily chores included the herding of sheep and occasional weaving
. Cody later recalled that this time spent in relative solitude gave her time to practice her early singing skills with the "first audience [being] the sheep", and the surrounding environment gave her an appreciation of the sounds of nature. Since her grandmother had converted to Christianity
, another influence was Christian choirs visiting the local church.
beauty pageants. After her tenure, she began a career as recording artist.
Cody's songs are a mix of traditional Navajo music
and songs incorporating lyrics written by her uncle, Herman Cody. Her first album, entitled Within the Four Directions, which includes the Navajo version of The Star-Spangled Banner
(""), appeared in 2000. She won the 2002 Native American Music Award
for Best Female Artist for her album Seed of Life, and has since released two more collections, Spirit of a Woman and Precious Friends, in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
In 2002, Cody sang the Navajo version of The Star-Spangled Banner at the Kennedy Space Center
as John Herrington
became the first enrolled member of a Native American
nation to fly into space.
" for wiring $1,000 to her boyfriend who was involved in the trafficking of marijuana in Las Vegas, Nevada
, and she admitted to knowing that the money would be used for such illegal activities; she served 21 months in jail. Subsequently, Cody became subjected to public racial attacks, commenting on her African American descent; others voiced support and understanding for her situation due to her boyfriend's being abusive and oppressive. She has since become an advocate and activist against domestic violence.
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
model, award-winning singer, and anti-domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
activist who was the 46th Miss Navajo
Miss Navajo
Miss Navajo is a pageant that has been held annually on the Navajo Nation, United States, since 1952.The first Miss Navajo was Dr. Beulah Melvin Allen, in 1952...
from 1997 to 1998.
As she was the first and thus far only Miss Navajo partially of African-American heritage, her nomination sparked considerable debate over Navajo identity. After her tenure, allegations of drug-trafficking and involvement in money-laundering, resulting in her subsequent arrest and imprisonment, led to verbal racial attacks as well as support.
Early life
Cody was born into the clanClan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
of the Navajo Nation; her father is African-American. She was raised in the rural areas of the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
by her maternal grandmother, speaking Navajo
Navajo language
Navajo or Navaho is an Athabaskan language spoken in the southwestern United States. It is geographically and linguistically one of the Southern Athabaskan languages .Navajo has more speakers than any other Native American language north of the...
. In an interview with Vermont Public Radio
Vermont Public Radio
-WVPR:-WRVT:-VPR Classical:Since 2007, VPR has broadcast classical music on a separate network. The main station is WOXR , which is licensed to Schuyler Falls, New York and serves the Burlington/Plattsburgh area....
, Cody recalled an instance of her grandmother's getting upset with her when she spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, which, according to her grandmother, was nothing but "walla walla walla." Daily chores included the herding of sheep and occasional weaving
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
. Cody later recalled that this time spent in relative solitude gave her time to practice her early singing skills with the "first audience [being] the sheep", and the surrounding environment gave her an appreciation of the sounds of nature. Since her grandmother had converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, another influence was Christian choirs visiting the local church.
Career
In 1997, Cody participated in and won the Miss Navajo contest, an event for which extensive knowledge of Navajo traditions and fluency in the Navajo language are required, rather than the ideals of beauty promoted by WesternWestern world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
beauty pageants. After her tenure, she began a career as recording artist.
Cody's songs are a mix of traditional Navajo music
Navajo music
Navajo music is music made by Navajos, mostly hailing from the Four Corners region of the Southwestern United States and the territory of the Navajo Nation...
and songs incorporating lyrics written by her uncle, Herman Cody. Her first album, entitled Within the Four Directions, which includes the Navajo version of The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
(""), appeared in 2000. She won the 2002 Native American Music Award
Native American Music Awards
The Native American Music Awards , commonly known as the Nammys, are an awards program presented annually by The Native American Music Association & Awards, which recognizes outstanding musical achievement among Native Americans...
for Best Female Artist for her album Seed of Life, and has since released two more collections, Spirit of a Woman and Precious Friends, in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
In 2002, Cody sang the Navajo version of The Star-Spangled Banner at the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
as John Herrington
John Herrington
John Bennett Herrington is an American business executive, former US Navy officer and former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of one Space Shuttle mission. He is the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space....
became the first enrolled member of a Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
nation to fly into space.
Controversy
In 2003, Cody pled guilty to "misprison [sic] of a felonyMisprision of felony
Misprision of felony was an offence under the common law of England and was classified as a misdemeanour. It consisted of failing to report knowledge of a felony to the appropriate authorities.Exceptions were made for close family members of the felon....
" for wiring $1,000 to her boyfriend who was involved in the trafficking of marijuana in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and she admitted to knowing that the money would be used for such illegal activities; she served 21 months in jail. Subsequently, Cody became subjected to public racial attacks, commenting on her African American descent; others voiced support and understanding for her situation due to her boyfriend's being abusive and oppressive. She has since become an advocate and activist against domestic violence.
Discography
- Within the Four Directions (2000)
- Seed of Life (2002) 2002 Native American Music Awards Best Female Artist
- Spirit of a Woman (2005)
- Precious Friends (2007)
External links
- www.radmillacody.net Official website.
- Dah Naatʼaʼí Sǫʼ bił Sinil. The Star-Spangled Banner in Navajo; sung by Radmilla Cody