The Story of Aszdaa Naadleehi (Changing Woman)
The Navajo people have been and always will be a matrilineal society. We represent our mother’s first clans. The very first Navajo leader was Asdzáá Naadleehi, Changing Woman, who created us. She led our people into a life full of prosperity with songs and prayers. It is our mothers who pray more for her kids than herself. She cooks the meal, but has the last bite.
Even in our traditional ceremonies, our songs are based on female deities. Shimá Nahasdzáán, Dził Asdzáá, Tó Asdzáá, Ch’il Naad’ąąh Asdzáá, and much more. The women hold and carry the family tradition and values.
Once it was announced that Changing Woman reached puberty and experienced her first woman menstrual, the Holy People came together, each bringing a white shell they held precious. They dressed her up in a white buckskin, adding the shells onto her dress. She stood there, glowing in such beauty and they gave her the name Yoołgai Asdzáá, White Shell Woman. Her hair was brushed and tied into a ponytail at the nape of her neck with a strip of buckskin that was cut from a deer called Doo K’aak’ehii, unharmed buckskin.
The gathering and tying of Changing Woman’s hair with the buckskin signified the importance of gathering one’s own thoughts, focus, determination and life goal accomplishments.
Changing Woman represents transformation and a rebalancing of the male and female energies in the universe. We chose her name and likeness for our organization, because we look to be a force to rebalance, create harmony, and space for ceremony in all the transformations women experience in their lifetimes.
Changing Woman Initiative was dreamed up by founder Nicolle L. Gonzales, a Navajo Nurse-Midwife. After years of working as a midwife in her community and seeing many Native American women struggle with navigating Western medical healthcare systems, she felt there was a better way that would center the needs of the women and families she cared for. Nicolle saw assimilation being practiced from birth on which has a huge impact on a Native American family’s ability to bring their loved ones into this world. She wanted to reinstate a culturally supported and include ceremonial ways into births that are representative of the community they come from.
About Our Founder / Nicolle Gonzales
I am Navajo and my clan is Tl’aashchi’I, Red Bottom clan, born for Tachii’nii, Red Running into the Water clan. Hashk’aa hadzohi, Yucca fruit-strung-out-in-a line clan, and Naasht’ezhi dine’e, Zuni clan. Growing up on and off the Navajo reservation near Farmington, New Mexico our traditional healing practices have always been a part of my life. I attribute my accomplishments to the many prayers and ceremonies done on my behalf as I was growing into the woman I am today. While obtaining my graduate education, it became apparent that our traditional healing practices and philosophies about “health” and “wellness” were vital to the care I provided as a Nurse Midwife. It is with this deep understanding and respect for our way of life as indigenous peoples that my worldviews are based on and are reflected in the projects I participate in. My primary goal as a Nurse Midwife is to keep birth sacred and in native communities, by integrating and applying traditional knowledge.
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Nurse Midwifery from the University of New Mexico. I have had the pleasure of being involved in several community projects since the completion of my education as well as being invited to serve on several health panels emphasizing cultural diversity in midwifery. In addition to my community service, I have served as a mentor for emerging Native American midwifery students at the University of New Mexico and continue to support future midwives.