Nihaadíínááł, Áhxéédahwidiilzįįł: Celebrating the study of Diné bizaad at UNM

This event is to celebrate those who are learning to speak the Navajo language through courses at the University of New Mexico. This event welcomes both students and members of the community. At this event we will acknowledge and welcome our students  and share knowledge surrounding the Navajo language.  We will highlight how we contribute to sustaining the Navajo language and how UNM has contributed to the advanced study of Navajo. Our instructors will share personal stories of how they have used the Navajo language in their careers, their boarding school experiences, and how they have become English speakers. The setting for this event follows the traditional model for ceremonies so that students become familiar with basic ceremonial protocols. Activities are designed to focus on the use of the language in both written and oral forms. The goal of this event is to create interest in learning the Navajo language, build relationships with our participants, share personal historical knowledge, and demonstrate that there is a use for Indigenous languages in today’s society. We also aim to promote the International Year of Indigenous Languages at the University of New Mexico and throughout the Southwest.