Noel Smith
@smithnoel.bsky.social
Freelance Journalist • Diné (Navajo) • Three items in my bag: Wired earphones, reading glasses and measuring tape
Greetings, this reminder is on a sidewalk in Washington, D.C.
November 4, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Greetings, this reminder is on a sidewalk in Washington, D.C.
Rib cage.
Cacti high-rise condos.
Potato rock.
Clouds have competition.
Cacti high-rise condos.
Potato rock.
Clouds have competition.
October 9, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Rib cage.
Cacti high-rise condos.
Potato rock.
Clouds have competition.
Cacti high-rise condos.
Potato rock.
Clouds have competition.
Here is the sky at 6:28 a.m. The glowing center caught my attention. I knew sunrise was still 30 minutes away, so that was not causing the brightness. The waning gibbous moon appeared from the clouds minutes later - mystery solved. Love the connection between moon and clouds.
September 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Here is the sky at 6:28 a.m. The glowing center caught my attention. I knew sunrise was still 30 minutes away, so that was not causing the brightness. The waning gibbous moon appeared from the clouds minutes later - mystery solved. Love the connection between moon and clouds.
They were inside eggs 🪺 on July 4. They are now fledglings, 🥲. I used the iPhone photo app to identify. They are house finches 🆒.
July 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
They were inside eggs 🪺 on July 4. They are now fledglings, 🥲. I used the iPhone photo app to identify. They are house finches 🆒.
Members of the Navajo Nation Council, Navajo president Buu Nygren and others arrive at the council chambers. Today is the start of the summer session. Some delegates participated in the horse ride to Window Rock, Arizona. The ride also recognizes how former leadership used to travel to here.
July 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Members of the Navajo Nation Council, Navajo president Buu Nygren and others arrive at the council chambers. Today is the start of the summer session. Some delegates participated in the horse ride to Window Rock, Arizona. The ride also recognizes how former leadership used to travel to here.
Native brother riding an Indian Motorcycle, that’s my guess. Noticed this illustration while walking to city hall.
July 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Native brother riding an Indian Motorcycle, that’s my guess. Noticed this illustration while walking to city hall.
Prickly pears have new paws? Pads? Appendages? 🤔 Not sure what is the appropriate term, 😂. One cactus is telling us that love is the answer ❤️.
June 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Prickly pears have new paws? Pads? Appendages? 🤔 Not sure what is the appropriate term, 😂. One cactus is telling us that love is the answer ❤️.
It is always wonderful to see this beauty.
June 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
It is always wonderful to see this beauty.
“We want a future that is comfortable, livable. … That’s how simple our position is here,” Duane “Chili” Yazzie (Diné) said. He described himself as a grandfather, farmer and Earth protector.
April 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
“We want a future that is comfortable, livable. … That’s how simple our position is here,” Duane “Chili” Yazzie (Diné) said. He described himself as a grandfather, farmer and Earth protector.
You have to be a responsible child of Mother Earth and Father Sky, Elouise Brown (Diné) said while grassroots groups and community members rally in Window Rock, Arizona. On Earth Day, they called on protecting Dinétah (Navajo land) from coal mining, uranium hauling and protecting water resources.
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
You have to be a responsible child of Mother Earth and Father Sky, Elouise Brown (Diné) said while grassroots groups and community members rally in Window Rock, Arizona. On Earth Day, they called on protecting Dinétah (Navajo land) from coal mining, uranium hauling and protecting water resources.
Did Animas River spill any tea? 👟👟
April 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Did Animas River spill any tea? 👟👟
Buds on an apple tree - a pretty shade of pink to greet the day.
April 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Buds on an apple tree - a pretty shade of pink to greet the day.
Opponents of hauling uranium ore on the Navajo Nation were outside the Navajo Utah Commission meeting. Inside the meeting, Stephen Etsitty, the tribe’s EPA executive director, said Energy Fuels will start on February 12 moving ore from Pinyon Plain Mine in Arizona to White Mesa Mill in Utah.
February 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Opponents of hauling uranium ore on the Navajo Nation were outside the Navajo Utah Commission meeting. Inside the meeting, Stephen Etsitty, the tribe’s EPA executive director, said Energy Fuels will start on February 12 moving ore from Pinyon Plain Mine in Arizona to White Mesa Mill in Utah.
Navajo Nation Council talking about adding a report from the BIA Navajo Area director about executive orders issued by President Trump. They are also interested about the federal judge’s decision to temporarily stop the Trump administration’s freeze on federal loans and grants.
January 28, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Navajo Nation Council talking about adding a report from the BIA Navajo Area director about executive orders issued by President Trump. They are also interested about the federal judge’s decision to temporarily stop the Trump administration’s freeze on federal loans and grants.
Crystalyne Curley takes the oath of office for speaker of the Navajo Nation Council. This will be her second term as speaker. She represents the chapters of Tachee/Blue Gap, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tselani/Cottonwood and Low Mountain in Arizona.
January 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Crystalyne Curley takes the oath of office for speaker of the Navajo Nation Council. This will be her second term as speaker. She represents the chapters of Tachee/Blue Gap, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tselani/Cottonwood and Low Mountain in Arizona.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren arrives to the council chamber. He shook hands with each delegate before sitting down. Someone was outside, shouting in protest against Nygren and members of his administration. The person was heard as Nygren walked inside.
January 27, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren arrives to the council chamber. He shook hands with each delegate before sitting down. Someone was outside, shouting in protest against Nygren and members of his administration. The person was heard as Nygren walked inside.
Crystalyne Curley, Shawna Ann Claw, Steven R. Arviso and Rickie Nez are delegates nominated for the speaker’s position on the Navajo Nation Council. Enjoy this photo, taken when the bill to select a speaker was introduced.
January 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Crystalyne Curley, Shawna Ann Claw, Steven R. Arviso and Rickie Nez are delegates nominated for the speaker’s position on the Navajo Nation Council. Enjoy this photo, taken when the bill to select a speaker was introduced.
Tribal members gather outside the chamber to pray for victims of uranium exposure. They call on Navajo leaders to advocate for Congress to extend & expand RECA. Last week, bipartisan legislation was introduced again in Congress to amend RECA. Dinétah is home to downwinders & former uranium miners.
January 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Tribal members gather outside the chamber to pray for victims of uranium exposure. They call on Navajo leaders to advocate for Congress to extend & expand RECA. Last week, bipartisan legislation was introduced again in Congress to amend RECA. Dinétah is home to downwinders & former uranium miners.
This was my view while waiting to enter the Navajo Nation Council chamber. It is the first day of the winter session. I am here to watch delegates select a speaker.
January 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This was my view while waiting to enter the Navajo Nation Council chamber. It is the first day of the winter session. I am here to watch delegates select a speaker.
Inauguration Day for chapter governments within the Northern Agency of the Navajo Nation. I am listening to remarks by tribal council Speaker Crystalyne Curley. She is speaking about leadership, teamwork and healthy debates. Looking forward to watching incoming officials take their oaths of office.
January 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Inauguration Day for chapter governments within the Northern Agency of the Navajo Nation. I am listening to remarks by tribal council Speaker Crystalyne Curley. She is speaking about leadership, teamwork and healthy debates. Looking forward to watching incoming officials take their oaths of office.
Lesson for 2024: Breakfast is better with a buddy. This bird popped up while I was ordering. Bird’s friend soon appeared. They wanted birdseed McMuffins with worms.
December 31, 2024 at 1:27 PM
Lesson for 2024: Breakfast is better with a buddy. This bird popped up while I was ordering. Bird’s friend soon appeared. They wanted birdseed McMuffins with worms.
Enjoyed seeing this morning in Washington, D.C. a physical copy of WaPo on front entrance steps.
December 6, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Enjoyed seeing this morning in Washington, D.C. a physical copy of WaPo on front entrance steps.
Blue corn can be cooked as mush or as pancakes. Both are tasty, but my last two photos center on the pancakes. 😋
November 25, 2024 at 10:50 PM
Blue corn can be cooked as mush or as pancakes. Both are tasty, but my last two photos center on the pancakes. 😋
Enjoyed the demonstration of how to prepare chiłchin, a pudding made from sumac berries - the aroma was so good. Diné College Land Grant Office is hosting a food gathering summit today and tomorrow in Shiprock.
November 25, 2024 at 8:23 PM
Enjoyed the demonstration of how to prepare chiłchin, a pudding made from sumac berries - the aroma was so good. Diné College Land Grant Office is hosting a food gathering summit today and tomorrow in Shiprock.