Native American Heritage Month Reflections: Family, Culture and the Call to Serve

As an Assistant Branch Manager and a member of the Navajo Nation, service and family are core values that have guided Tanita’s life. Native American Heritage Month gives her a chance to look back on the moments and relationships that have shaped her into who she is today. Through the sacrifices she's watched her grandfather, father, brother and husband make, she has learned what it means to truly give back to her community. For Tanita, she knows that honoring her Navajo background means embodying the principles she was raised with—it’s why she dedicates herself to helping members find their financial footing every day. 

A family rooted in service 

Growing up, Tanita’s parents kept her father’s Navajo heritage ever-present. From speaking the Navajo language around the house to explaining the importance of the customs, they made sure she always knew her roots.

“A lot of the teachings came from different things in our everyday lives,” Tanita explained. Whether it was learning the practices observed when a loved one passed away or understanding the significance of an eclipse, discovering the spiritual meaning of her culture gave her a deep appreciation for it.

This pride in their Navajo background is also what influenced her father’s service in the Marine Corps. Inspired by the Navajo Code Talkers—whose unwritten language secured key victories in World War II—he joined the military to provide for his family and protect his country. 

“I take a lot of pride in the sacrifices that my family has gone through,” Tanita shared. 

From her grandfather and father to her brother and now her husband, her family has a long legacy of military service—one she carries with honor. 

“I appreciate the military because of the sacrifices they give. You literally can't offer up anything more than your life,” she said. Their courage is what inspired her to find another way to be of service to her community. “Since I wasn't able to serve formally in the military, [Navy Federal] is a combination of all the things I love.”

Culture is meant to be shared

At their core, service and community are about sharing and knowing that everything becomes brighter when we involve others.

Sharing her heritage has always been a source of joy for Tanita. “When November would come around, my dad would come to my class and teach about our Navajo culture,” she recalled. “I remember he brought in some beads made of cow bone and gave them to all of my classmates.” These simple acts planted seeds of understanding, and sometimes lifelong respect and acknowledgement. “I had a classmate who mentioned how my dad visiting really made her appreciate the culture and the beauty within it, even though she doesn't have her own affiliation with it,” Tanita shared. 

At home, she continues to pass down the same practices she learned in her childhood to her own children. “If they can stay grounded in our teachings, I believe that will help them to focus on the things that are most important in life.”

We asked Tanita some Navajo traditions she wished more people knew. The first that came to mind? “I'd say the eclipse situation,” she said. In Navajo culture, the sun is seen as a father figure and an eclipse represents its death and rebirth. During an eclipse, they avoid eating or drinking and don’t look directly at it. “It's such a sacred moment that’s not meant for our eyes.”

She shared other rituals as well, like corn pollen and saging. Corn pollen is a sacred offering representing connection, blessing and protection. It’s a way to show respect and to ask for good things for yourself and others. “As long as you respect it, then I think anybody could practice it. You sprinkle a little in your hair, a little on your tongue, a little to the east, say a little prayer and then you go about your business.” 

Saging, also known as smudging, is a ritual used to clear negative thoughts, feelings and energies from a space. “It's a very simple way to cleanse your home, the aura, the feel of things. I like the refresh, and anyone can buy sage. You could use any feather or a fan if you wanted. I really believe it's just about how it makes you feel, because it’s meant to help create balance and harmony within yourself and the environment around you.” 

Learning about these practices, beliefs and rituals reveals something constant and true about Navajo culture—the emphasis on respect and healing. It’s just another reason Tanita makes sharing her culture a priority. 

Healing together creates a safe space

While educating and passing on her culture is so important to Tanita, sharing it with her husband is a deeply meaningful experience—one that goes far beyond stories and rituals. “My husband, a hunter and a man open to spiritual healing, finds peace in our traditions,” she shared, recognizing how these cultural practices offer comfort and peace to Veterans like her husband. Whether supporting loved ones through challenges or nurturing her children’s spirits, her Navajo heritage helps her to serve with her heart. 

“I love how much he loves it,” she said, thinking about her favorite part of this special connection with her husband. They even included some of her cultural traditions in their wedding ceremony, though Tanita hopes to one day celebrate with a more traditional Navajo wedding. The passing down of stories and rituals helps weave their family even closer together, ensuring the next generation grows up grounded in heritage.

Their home has also become a safe haven for her husband’s military friends. “My husband has friends that struggle with the same things, and our home is open to them. They know it's a safe place. We have love and support for them because they’re a part of our family.”

Through Navajo practices and the spirit of family, Tanita strives to offer healing and understanding. “I think it helps them feel supported and seen. That's what I think about with my husband as far as trying to help him heal and then using my culture and the love of family that has been instilled in me.”

For members of the Navajo nation, family is defined mostly by love and support. “We don't define family by blood. It’s the people that come into your life, that you love, that you support and you look after one another. Within my culture, that's the greatest thing,” she shared. By opening her heart and her home, Tanita ensures that the gifts of her Navajo heritage—healing, compassion and service—are shared with all who need them.

Staying true to your roots

When asked what does being Navajo mean to her, Tanita responded clearly: “It means everything to me.” 

Tanita’s words embody the true spirit of Native American Heritage Month—to recognize and celebrate the rich culture, traditions and history of Indigenous peoples in the United States. She explains that “it's an opportunity to honor my ancestors and all that they've gone through and the fact that we're still here. It's an opportunity to teach the people around me so that my kids don't have to feel different and can be proud of who they are and where they come from.” As she continues to teach, uplift and celebrate her heritage, she reminds us all that embracing our roots and honoring our histories can bring healing, pride and unity—not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.