Dine College

The Navajo Language Documentation and Daily Life Program Is a Small Start-up Program That Will Build Navajo Language Capacity Through the Preservation of Ceremonial Language and the Exploration of Everyday Experience. Ceremonial Language Will Be Preserved by Documenting Site Visits to the Homes of Medicine Men, as Well as Special Gatherings That Convene Medicine Men Together. the Din Sovereignty Institute Will Convene Medicine Men From Across Navajo Nation and Host Two Gatherings at Din Colleges Main Campus in Tsaile, Arizona, Located in the Heart of Navajo Nation. a Videographer and Program Staff Will Document and Record What Is Learned at the Gatherings. in Addition, Program Staff Will Make Site Visits to Learn From Medicine Men in the Specific Context of Where They Live. This Is Because Many Linguistic and Ceremonial Practices Are Place-based, and Informed by the Homes and Immediate Environs of the Medicine Men. the Documentation of the Gatherings and Site Visits Will Result in the Production of Electronic and Print Media. the Documentary Record Will Be a Resource That Enhances the Understanding of Ceremonial Language, and Will Include Descriptions of the Physical Expressions and Mental States That Attend Ceremonial Language Use. Media Produced Will Be a Resource for Language Capacity Building, and Have Many Uses That Include But Are Not Limited to, Increasing the Number and Proficiency of Speakers, Enhancing Curricula, and Improving the Mental Health and Wellbeing of the Din People. the Navajo Language Will Be Revitalized Through a Series of Navajo-only Podcasts That Invite People to Share How They Are Adapting and Transforming Navajo Language to Describe and Deal With the World Today. These Podcasts Will Be Broadcast Across Navajo Nation, and We Expect This Format to Be Popular Among All Generations. the College Will Archive the Podcast for Use by the Community and Researchers.