Jeneda Benally

Jeneda Benally plays bass and sings with her brother Clayson Benally in the multi-award-winning duo Sihasin. In 2012, they formed Sihasin, the Navajo word for “hope”, releasing their Ed Stasium-produced debut album, Never Surrender, in 2012 to critical acclaim and numerous awards on the American Indian Music scene. Sihasin’s latest album “FIGHT LIKE A WOMAN” has also won numerous awards internationally and nationally. They also collaborated on the song “Sister Moon and Brother Sun” for the 2017 Grammy-nominated album by roots children’s duo The Okee Dokee Brothers. Their punk rock version of the Christmas classic, “Winter Wonderland” was featured in an ad campaign with Tony Bennet for Hyundai. Jeneda has had a long musical career that first began with her brothers in the Native American iconic punk band “Blackfire” formed in 1990.

Jeneda Benally also performs in the internationally acclaimed family's dance troupe, The Jones Benally Family. Benally has toured throughout the world to share her Dine’ (Navajo) culture as a means to build respect and understanding for Indigenous Nations. Not only does Jeneda advocate for indigenous teachings, she is a traditional practitioner of Navajo medicine and works alongside her father, Jones Benally, a Navajo medicine man. Benally is also well-known for her work as an advocate for human rights, sacred sites, youth empowerment, and environmental preservation. Jeneda was part of the Delos Convention for the United Nations in Greece and was a plaintiff in the federal court case against reclaimed wastewater in order to bring attention to the protection of the Holy Sacred San Francisco Peaks. Benally has been featured on NPR, as an actress in Nanobah Becker's film The Sixth World, and has appeared in numerous TV specials and in national and international media formats. Jeneda also is a traditional Navajo cultural consultant. She has consulted to the Pioneer Museum, Museum of Northern Arizona, and the comic book "Zaadii: The Legend of Z-Hawk”. She is also the Creator and Executive Producer of Indigenous YOUth Nation, a tween/teen radio show created to "Celebrate Culture", "Empower Youth", "Nourish Knowledge'' and build strong roots for our future generations. Indigenous YOUth Nation has currently been broadcast on 19 stations within The United States and Canada.