To'Hajiilee Community School's turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal

Amanda Secatero, a parent educator with the FACE program, places a turkey into the ground to be roasted with cedar wood and charcoal during the turkey-in-the-hole community meal at To’Hajiilee Community School in To’Hajiilee on Tuesday. The annual event has been a tradition for more than 30 years.

Fifth grader James Ration, 11, takes a big bite of turkey during the turkey-in-the-hole event at To’Hajiilee Community School.

People tend to the fires to heat the holes in preparation for the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To’Hajiilee Community School in To’Hajiilee on Tuesday.

Fifth grader Angelica Austin of To'Hajiilee Community School carries the roasted turkey to her classroom to be shared with her classmates and teachers during the turkey-in-the-hole feast.

Desi Pletero tends to turkeys roasting in the ground using cedar wood and charcoal during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual event has been a tradition for over 30 years.

Fifth-grader Heidi Gorman, center, along with Zian Relle Borinaga, left, and 6-year-old Zandrey Borinaga, right, gather by the fire to roast turkeys in the ground during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual event has been a tradition for over 30 years.

Josh Nez, a culinary arts training instructor, prepares to place a turkey into the heated pit for roasting during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual tradition has been celebrated for over 30 years.

Autumn Nez, 10, and Kairee Nelson, 7, wait at the back entrance of the cafeteria to receive sides to bring back to their classroom to enjoy with their roasted turkey during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual event has been a tradition for over 30 years.

Josh Nez, a culinary arts training instructor, prepares to place a turkey into the heated pit for roasting during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual tradition has been celebrated for over 30 years.

Dr. Raffy Puod, fifth-grade co-teacher, carves the turkey for the classroom during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual event has been a tradition for over 30 years.

Fifth-grader Heidi Gorman sits by the fire, where turkeys are being roasted in the ground during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual event has been a tradition for over 30 years.

Kairee Nelson, 7, and Autumn Nez, 10, wait outside the cafeteria to receive sides to bring back to their classroom to enjoy with their roasted turkey during the turkey-in-the-hole event and community meal at To'Hajiilee Community School in To'Hajiilee, N.M., on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. This annual event has been a tradition for over 30 years.

Chancey Bush

Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Photographer

Published November 26, 2025 - 11:45 p.m. Modified November 27, 2025 - 4:50 p.m.

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