Preserve the Navajo language, vote against the fluency amendments for referendum

By Peterson Zah
Special to the Times

On July 21, Navajo voters will head to the polls to decide on amending Title 11 of the Navajo Nation Code, specifically the provisions of the Navajo Nation Election Code regarding the Navajo language fluency requirements for the Navajo Nation President and Vice President.

Current law states qualifications for President and Vice President includes the provision, “Must fluently speak and understand Navajo and read and write English.”

The referendum election is an attempt to amend this portion of the Navajo Nation Code to read, “Must be able to speak and understand the Navajo and English language; and this ability shall be determined by the Navajo voter when he/she casts a ballot.”

I believe the current law has been really good to the Navajo people, and we should keep it that way. We should not have to change and compromise our language. Diné bizaad has been very good to the Navajo people.

It is the basis of our culture. It is the basis of our history. It is an essence of who we are. It’s our identity. The Navajo people are internationally known for speaking the Navajo language and maintaining our language. We helped the U.S. in conflict with Japan, using our language.

We are a very proud people, extremely proud of our culture, our history, our language and all the things that make us a distinct Navajo people. On Tuesday, we should all go to the polls and say loudly that we are proud of who we are, we are Diné.

A vote for the amendment means that fluency in the Navajo language will no longer be a requirement for individuals seeking the tribal presidency. A vote against the amendment means the Navajo fluency requirement will remain for Navajo Nation President and Vice President.

I encourage voters to cast your vote against the amendments to the Navajo Nation Code. Diné bizaad, the Navajo language, is Navajo sovereignty. It is our self-identity and the foundation of who we are as a people, as a nation.

Diné Bi Beenahaz’áanii, Title 1 of the Navajo Nation Code, codifies our foundation as Navajo people and the importance of the Navajo language in the Declaration of the Foundation of Diné Law.

It is absolutely vital that the top two Navajo leaders speak and understand the Navajo language, as it is a central tenant to our tribal government. We must make a stand and protect our Navajo language, our culture, and our tradition.

The Navajo language is our self-identity. Too many Navajo men and women sacrificed their lives to ensure the language was preserved for the future generations, for us, and for those to come.

From our ancestors who perished during Hwéeldi, The Long Walk, to the great American heroes of World War II, the Navajo Code Talkers, our Navajo ancestors knew the power of the Navajo language and sacrificed greatly for its preservation.

Now it is our turn. We, too, must be responsible for protecting this Great Covenant.

Vote against the amendments to the Navajo language fluency requirements during the referendum election. Our Navajo language holds great teachings that must be preserved. It is important that our leaders are able to speak and understand the Navajo language because it is our foundation, the core value of who we are as a people and a nation.
We should continue to be proud and let’s all join hands as elderly folks and teach the young people the Navajo culture and by all means, teach them the Navajo language. That’s the way to survive and that’s the way to keep us going, not to diminish the Navajo language.

I plead with you, for all of you to go out and vote against the Navajo language fluency amendments in the referendum on July 21. Let’s keep up the language and let’s keep our hope alive. Thank you.

---