Tag Archives: Photos

Diné Culture Night — November 6th, 2019

Diné Culture Night, Events, ,

Knowledge Sharing 1: Dził biyiin dóó tsodizin (Mountain Song and Prayer)

  • Introduction of mountain song and prayer
  • Cultural learning activities included

A Navajo mountain song and prayer will be introduced to students. Students will learn about the mountain song and prayer through storytelling, singing, and engagement. The activities are designed to engage students and to learn the mountain song/prayer. Students will make 3D mountains and the song lyrics will be applied to each mountain. Students will see how the Navajo mountain names are used in Navajo songs and prayers.

Knowledge Sharing 2: Winter stories and games

  • Diné constellations
  • String games

An ancient traditional practice, the Navajo string hames are connected to the Navajo constellations. Short stories will be shared and the names of the Diné constellations will be presented. We will play string games as an activity.

This is the fifth of seven Diné Culture Nights for Fall 2019.

Please choose a gallery!

Indigenous Language is Life — November 6th, 2019

Events, Indigenous Languages & Linguistics,

This is a panel presentation of Indigenous scholars from around the country. They will be discussing their work and focusing on issues of language revitalization, sustainability, and reclamation. A lunch catered by Florence Yepa will precede the panel presentations. The invited scholars include:

  • Dr. Keiki Kawai’ae’a, director of the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo
  • Lorraine Begay Manavi, Assistant Professor of Navajo Language at San Juan College
  • Jaeci Hall, Ph.D. Student at the Linguistics Department, University of Oregon

We hope to see you there!

Diné Culture Night — October 23th, 2019

Diné Culture Night, Events, ,

Knowledge Sharing 1: Dr. Secatero’s model: Leadership Tree of Well-Being

  • Create a well-being model
  • Self-analysis
  • Create person model
  • Share model

This session will present a wellness model created by Dr. Shawn Secatero of the UNM College of Education. At this session, students will learn how to apply leadership practices using knowledge to connect to a more holistic understanding of student growth and well-being in Diné communities. Students will focus their well-being and create a model based on self-reflection.

Knowledge Sharing 2: Four Directions: Hakékʼeh hashchíín (one’s walking path)

  • Birth to old age and directions
  • Four parts of the day, seasons of the year
  • Four sacred minerals and mountains
  • Cultural learning activities included

As soon as we take our first breath in this world, our walking path begins. Life from birth to old age mirrors a division of four: the four directions, four parts of the day, and the four seasons of the year. This session will demonstrate how our life cycle reflects the Navajo philosophy of four.

This is the third of seven Diné Culture Nights for Fall 2019.

Please choose a gallery!

Diné Culture Night — October 16th, 2019

Diné Culture Night, Events, ,

Knowledge Sharing 1: Teachings around the home

  • Roles and responsibilities of chʼíkęęh/chʼíkéí
  • Roles and responsibilities of tsíłkęęh/tsíłkéí

This session will focus on understanding the traditional concept of young men and women’s roles and responsibilities of self-value, respect, gratitude, caring for others, self-care, and self-sufficiency. Roles are socially defined as obligations and behaviors towards others such as mother, father, sister, brother, and extended family.

Knowledge Sharing 2: Navajo Hogan story and teachings

  • Nihimá hooghan yisdzáán baa haneʼ
  • Nihimá hooghan yisdzáán binaʼnitin
  • Culture learning activity included

The stories and teaching of the Navajo female Hogan provide a foundation for every individual’s emergence. It is connected to the development of the Diné human: from conception through the nine months of being in the womb to birth. These teachings and stories explain where we come from.

This is the fourth of seven Diné Culture Nights for Fall 2019.

Please choose a gallery!

Diné Culture Night — September 18th, 2019

Diné Culture Night, Events, ,

Knowledge Sharing 1: An In-depth introduction to Kʼé

  • Introductions
  • Kʼé saad
  • Navajo clan system
  • Clan activity

The Diné kʼé system is an important aspect of Navajo society. In adittion ot blood relationship, the Diné clan system establishes how Diné people are related by their four clans. The kʼé terminology used for family members can then be extended to those who are related by clan. Knowledge of kʼé is necessary, especially in a community of Diné who come from across the Navajo Nation. During this session we will learn the clan system through fun activities.

Knowledge Sharing 2: Historical overview of Navajo writing

  • Navajo sound system
  • Greetings phrases
  • Survival phrases
  • Command words

The historical development of Navajo orthography helps us to understand the Navajo writing system as Navajo textbooks, texting, and memes use a standardized form. A natural partner to the writing system are the sounds the Navajo orthography represents. Although the Romanized Navajo alphabet is similar to English in form, it differs in sound. Sounds of the Navajo language will be practiced through the application of useful phrases. This session will incorporate oral skills, pronunciation using pictures, games, and Total Physical Response to assist students with their Navajo speaking skills.

This is the first of seven Diné Culture Nights for Fall 2019.

Please choose a gallery!