The NLP hosts a variety of different events throughout the year. These can range from the academic (such as linguistic discussions and presentations) to the cultural (such as traditional Diné games and activities).
We also host Diné Culture Night, which is focused solely on spreading and maintaining Navajo culture. Started in Fall 2019 by request from UNM and the Navajo Nation, these nights were initially only for Navajo students living at the Lobo Rainforest dormitory. We soon opened these events up to all UNM students. We worked closely with Warlance Chee (current director of the Saad K’idilyé Diné Language Nest [SKDLN]) and Mary Whitehair-Frazier (Native Studies instructor at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute [SIPI]) during this time; they hosted many of the culture nights and worked hard to make the events interactive. Diné Culture Night moved online in Spring 2020 due to the shutdowns. As a result, we began bringing in a wide variety of speakers from all over the area. We have continued to host such presenters ever since, both online and off, and have enjoyed learning all of the many things they have to share.
Please feel free to join us at any of our events; there’s always something interesting going on!