{"id":153940,"date":"2025-06-20T07:10:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T12:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=153940"},"modified":"2025-06-20T07:12:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T12:12:43","slug":"arizona-mirror-navajo-citizen-leads-protest-against-churchs-depiction-of-tribal-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/06\/20\/arizona-mirror-navajo-citizen-leads-protest-against-churchs-depiction-of-tribal-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Mirror: Navajo citizen leads protest against church’s depiction of tribal culture"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Gallup,<\/a>
Navajo woman Louvannina Tsosie (center) holds the sign \u201cColonialism is Alive & Well\u201d during a peaceful protest across the street from The Door Christian Fellowship Church on June 8, 2025. The protest was in response to the church staging a play that mocked and demonized Navajo ways of life. Photo courtesy Sherdan Kady<\/figcaption>\r\n
\u2018Absolutely revolting\u2019 church play depicting Navajo medicine man in hell sparks outrage<\/div>\r\n
Navajo woman records theatrical production showing traditional practitioner condemned by demons<\/div>\r\n
Friday, June 20, 2025<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>By Shondiin Silversmith, Arizona Mirror<\/a>

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When Louvannina Tsosie walked into The Door Christian Fellowship Church<\/a> in Gallup, New Mexico, she expected the kind of church service she had growing up: worship, music, a sermon, prayer and some scripture reading.\u00a0<\/p>

What she didn\u2019t expect was a stage performance aimed at Native people that included a condemnation of traditional Navajo beliefs \u2014 and those who embrace them.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cUnfortunately, it turned out to be a really disrespectful kind of play,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>

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Among other scenes that trafficked in harmful stereotypes of Indigenous people, the play showcased a Din\u00e9 Hataa\u0142ii<\/a>, or medicine man, being condemned to hell for practicing traditional Din\u00e9 ways of life, including ceremony and traditional healing.\u00a0<\/p>

Hataa\u0142ii protect and preserve all traditional ceremonies and customs of the Din\u00e9 way of life, and they hold a special place of honor among the Din\u00e9 people.<\/p>

The Door showing the damnation of a Hataa\u0142ii \u201cwasn\u2019t a misunderstanding,\u201d Tsosie said, but rather a \u201cdirect attack on our beliefs and spirituality.\u201d<\/p>

The Door is an offshoot of the Potter\u2019s House Christian Fellowship Church<\/a>, which was founded in Prescott, and is part of Christian Fellowship Ministries<\/a> located in Benton, Kentucky. Christian Fellowship Ministries has over 4,000 churches worldwide, with seven churches<\/a> on the Navajo Nation.<\/p>

\u201cOur church here in Gallup was among the first few Southwestern works launched out of the Prescott congregation,\u201d The Door\u2019s website states. \u201cFrom the earliest days, it has stood as a testimony to God\u2019s power to transform lives and reach cities through evangelism, discipleship and church planting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

The Arizona Mirror reached out to The Door and Potter\u2019s House, but neither church responded.<\/p>

The shock from the play prompted Tsosie to start recording a video of the over-the-top theatrical production on her phone. She then posted that video on her TikTok account<\/a> with the caption: \u201cThe things you see in border towns.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

Her TikTok posts feature two parts of the play, which was set in a dark room with the stage illuminated by red lights, while ominous drum music plays in the background.\u00a0<\/p>

The music played throughout the show featured remixes of traditional songs, layered with sound effects to create a more menacing tone.<\/p>

At the center of the stage,\u00a0 a Navajo man dressed in traditional clothing kneels by a fire, holding an eagle feather in his hand. Kneeling next to the Navajo medicine man is an actor dressed in a demon costume, encouraging his actions.\u00a0<\/p>

Suddenly, another Navajo person appears, shouting at the medicine man and demanding to know what he did to his niece.<\/p>

\u201cShe\u2019s in the hospital. What kind of ceremony did you do?\u201d the man shouts. The interaction escalates into violence, as the angry man stabs and kills the medicine man.\u00a0<\/p>

In the next scene, the medicine man \u2014 the murder victim \u2014 is standing at what is supposed to be the gates of heaven, surrounded by white light, interacting with an angel. That angel swiftly bars the Hataa\u0142ii from heaven and condemns him to hell.\u00a0<\/p>

<\/i> A Navajo medicine man, or Hataa\u0142ii, is condemned to hell in a play conducted this month by The Door Christian Fellowship Church in Gallup, N.M. The play, which also included other harmful stereotypes of Indigenous people, sparked a response from the Navajo Nation Council. Screenshot via Louvannina Tsosie\/TikTok<\/p><\/figure>

The stage suddenly bathed in red lights, demons surround the medicine man, taunting him. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s do a ceremony,\u201d and \u201cWe don\u2019t like tradition, do we?\u201d they say.<\/p>

The medicine man is laid on the floor, and the lead demon gives orders to his minions: \u201cLet\u2019s do a purification. I\u2019ll purify your soul in the fiery pits of hell. Demons, take this pedophile and make him suffer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

Since she posted the video, Tsosie said she has received an overwhelming response. The video has garnered more than 230,000 views on TikTok, with nearly 1,600 comments.\u00a0<\/p>

Tsosie said some of the comments in her videos claim she is taking the play out of context, misrepresenting the situation and she needs to find her way with Christ.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cIt kind of felt like a big slap in my face,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>

Tsosie, 24, grew up in a Christian household in Tohlakai, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. She said she is familiar with the religion, even though she is no longer religious. She attended The Door\u2019s service because a friend invited her.<\/p>

In response to the play, Tsosie helped organize a peaceful protest across the street from the church on June 8. She said they want accountability, including a public apology. They have not received a response from the church, much less an apology.\u00a0<\/p>

Navajo elders and youth have reached out to her. Tsosie said the elders appreciate her speaking up about the incident because they thought they\u2019d never see it happen. Youth have shared their feelings about forced religion and the cultural shame they encounter.<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s been emotional and overwhelming, in the best and hardest ways,\u201d she said. \u201cThis moment is bigger than me, and it\u2019s about our people realizing that we don\u2019t have to stay silent anymore.\u201d<\/p> \r\n

@lifeofneezus<\/a> the things you see in border towns.. – – – – #gallupnm<\/a> #fyp<\/a> \u266c original sound – neens<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>