Indigenous K-12 school leaders contribute to Tribal Nation building by leading schools that recognize and embed student culture. A large body of literature suggests the importance of culturally responsive leadership and recognizing students' cultural strengths within the foundations of the school. Indigenous K-12 school leaders' work toward…

Little research has been conducted on the multimodal writing of contemporary Native American women that would refute stereotypical and outdated notions of Indigenous peoples as a dying population. This case study was undertaken to address that gap in the extant research by examining the writing practices of a young Native American woman to…

In the face of unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Diné College, America's first tribal college, emerged as a beacon of resilience and innovation. Diné College demonstrated resilience through the creation of new programs, investment in technology, commitment to student readiness, pursuit of economic development, and the…

Preserving the Navajo language, or "Diné bizaad," is of profound importance for all Indigenous people in the United States, as Navajo is one of the more widely spoken Native languages yet is still facing the early stages of endangerment. Currently, the Navajo Nation, like other tribes, lacks a significant presence of community-based…

This article addresses critical issues of how Indigenous (Diné/Navajo) youth construct meaning of their racial, cultural, and linguistic identities within the historical, political, and socio-cultural contexts of the United States of America as a racialized, settler/colonial society. Using Tribal Crit theory, the author, a member of the Diné…

This article presents a tool and discusses the rationale for the authors' development of a tool designed to assess the alignment of culturally responsive schooling principles within schools serving predominantly U.S. Indigenous students. Schools that serve a majority of Indigenous students are generally located on or bordering Native Nations that…

There has been a steady decline in the number of Indigenous people pursuing and achieving PhD degrees in the U.S. In 2021, barely 0.3% of the 31,674 students in the United States who were conferred PhDs were American Indian or Alaska Native, as there has been lack of support for the advancement of Indigenous students to doctoral-level study. This…

Sacred places hold immense significance in Navajo traditions and communities, playing a vital role in cultural preservation and spiritual practices. These sacred sites are deeply intertwined with the Navajo way of life, serving as focal points for ceremonies, rituals, and connections to the spiritual world. The Navajo people revere various sacred…

This qualitative portraiture examined Navajo Native Americans in the Southwest as an under-represented and resilient group in higher education. The scope of research focused on Navajo Native American students in higher education institutions utilizing cultural capitals and strengths to maneuver through four-year higher education institutions in…

Navajo Technical University first opened its doors in 1979 as the Navajo Skills Center with the simple intention of training an unemployed workforce and putting people to work. At the time, the Diné were just a generation removed from attempts at forced assimilation, which included unwarranted military action by the U.S. Cavalry during the Long…

Metaphorical teachings derived from objects and observations of daily life may provide a way to bridge the gap between the deeply religious values at the center of life for Navajo elders and the mechanized, fast-paced world of Navajo youth who find traditional teachings confusing or irrelevant. Examples of such teachings are provided. (SV)

The Ohio University Kennedy Museum of Art has a collection of textiles depicting the religious icons of Navajo sandpaintings, which are used in healing ceremonies. Controversy within the Navajo Nation regarding the appropriateness of displaying sacred images resulted in museum-tribal consultation and cooperation concerning appropriate exhibition…

Discusses why and how to integrate Navajo language and culture into daily lessons so as to reinforce the cultural identities of Navajo learners. Gives examples of how an elementary teacher has incorporated Navajo knowledge into literature, geography, and social studies lessons. (Author/TD)

Describes a Navajo model by which individuals may assume responsibility for reversing Navajo language shift. Argues that reversing Navajo language shift requires that Navajos acknowledge the problem, that Navajo principles of balance and the natural order be applied to the problem, and that Navajo individuals and families make a commitment to…

More than 50 National Park Service (NPS) sites interpret Native cultures or early Native contact with Europeans. In about 30 of those, American Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians, in partnership with the NPS, present their own heritage and issues. Describes Native-run aspects of Sitka National Historical Park, Glacier National Park, and…