Ya’at’teeh, my name is Mickaela Allison- Aliifua and I am Navajo. I am currently a student at Utah Valley University. I teach Fancy Shawl and Jingle dress dances to K-12 students. I have a small business @aviedaisy which is a named after my maternal and paternal grandmothers. They taught me how to be a strong Navajo woman. Through them my mom has taught me  beadwork and the importance of sharing my culture and showing who I am as a Navajo woman.

I started a small beadwork business in Oct. 2020 and I make beadwork for my two dogs who are my biggest motivation. I struggle with anxiety and depression and they have really helped me. To honor them I made beadwork dog collars and sell them to others who also want to honor their pets.  I started beading when I was in middle school, and learned from my mom loom beading, stitch beading, and peyote stitch. Along with beadwork I also learned how to dance when I was young. My first memory is dancing for my 2nd grade class and proudly sharing my Native American culture with them.  This experience has led me to K-12 students in Alpine and Nebo School Districts, as well as Rowland Hall.  Teaching about my art has taken me around the country and into Canada.  

As a normally shy person, I don’t like the spotlight but when it comes to sharing my culture it’s something that is easy for me to do. I have danced, done cultural presentations and worked at This is the Place State Park sharing about Navajo culture which helped me develop good presentation and public speaking skills. Being part of the cultural ENVOY leadership program at UVU I was given more opportunities to share my culture and connect with Urban natives.

I strive to teach learners about being who they are and connect with them.  I connect a lot with Urban Native students. My husband is Polynesian and Native American, and when I first met him he didn’t know much about his culture and I helped him embrace who he is and now he’s teaching youth as well!