Nizhónígo Na’ach’aah bahane’ Comparing and Contrasting the Art and Literature of Two Diné artists

Abstract

This is my second unit for the Diné Institute for Navajo Nation Educators, and my third unit overall through the Yale National Initiative’s model of curricular development for students in diverse classrooms. The unit I created last year was based on the topic of the corn field, and the corn that was harvested this year took on many qualities similar to those of the students who planted them. I can see the growth is stronger in the ones who I carefully instructed and delicately spoke to compared to the ones who were rushed. I can see a difference between the seeds that were planted by kids who were barely coming out of their shell and had to develop their self-esteem throughout the school year, and the seeds planted by those who had cultural knowledge through strong family support. It shows in the corn. The more attention I gave to the plants the better they grew, and when I saw those same kids this year as third graders, I was so
excited to see them and I am happy to say they were excited to see me and ask about how the plants were growing.

As Diné, it is a part of our foundational philosophical thought that our children are seeds, and they will thrive with care and attention because they are both sacred, cherished beings. The soil there in Ganado is clay, we have barely received any rain, and there are bullheads all over, but the corn made it to full development and was able to be harvested. I felt so much connection with my kids from last year through the unit we completed together that I knew I had to yield something from what we planted because the students worked so hard and I worked so hard to maintain the growth. I felt nothing but reward and love from my children and the activities we completed through the unit from last year entitled, “Alchini bida’akeh: Teachings from the Corn Field.” I have faith in what we are collectively doing as teachers in this institute because I know we can make learning culturally engaging and rewarding for our kids and for ourselves and I hope that this new unit will produce a similar outcome.