Relearning Diné bizaad topic at Intergenerational Conference

Posted by Krista Allen | Jul 2, 2015 | Community, Culture |

Miss Navajo McKeon Dempsey shares her knowledge of how art corresponds with the Navajo language on June 19, during the 3rd annual Intergenerational Conference in Ts’ahbiikin, Ariz. Dempsey shows a piece depicting Haashch’éélti’í, or Talking God. (Times photo – Krista Allen)

TS’AHBIIKIN, Ariz.

Thanks to the recent Navajo presidential election, the guest speakers at the community’s 3rd annual Intergenerational Conference on June 19 emphasized the importance of relearning Diné bizaad.

“Relearn … means you already, inherently know the language because as a Navajo, the language is inherent in you,” Vice President Jonathan Nez told spectators in his welcome address. “You … are given that ability. You just need to bring it forth, bring it out of you.”

Navajo has some of the highest numbers of native speakers of any indigenous language in America, according to the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition. Though the figures on current language-use vary, but indicate that roughly half of the 154 indigenous American languages are now extinct, as they have few speakers. And some predictions suggest that by the year 2050, only 20 American languages will continue to exist.

Nez said there is a language gap beginning to happen.

“There’s no former or passed knowledge being given to our younger generation,” he said. “Maybe that’s why our younger people are in a cultural identity crisis.”

Manley Alan Begay Jr. on June 19 spoke to the young people about the importance of Diné language during the 3rd annual Intergenerational Conference in Ts’ahbiikin, Ariz. Begay, who has a doctorate in education from Harvard University, said he never lost his language while obtaining higher education and living away from the Navajo Nation for a number of decades. He suggests putting “heart and soul” into learning Navajo. (Times photo – Krista Allen)