INDIGENOUS ARTS

DINÉ LANGUAGE

In the early American Indian boarding schools, children were often punished for speaking in their Native languages. Yet ironically, American Indian languages played an important role in the positive outcomes of World Wars I and II, where American Indians fluent in their traditional languages were used to send secret messages in battle. The most famous among these are the Navajo Code Talkers. Throughout the years, many students have attended HIS whose fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and great uncles were Code Talkers. Today, most students do not speak in their Native language. Yet many of their grandparents only speak Diné. By teaching students Diné, HIS hopes to help reconnect Navajo youth with their elders.

NAVAJO HISTORY

Many people are familiar with the Trail of Tears, but few have heard about the Long Walk. During the 1860s, Kit Carson began his campaign against the Navajo by using a “scorched earth policy,” in which he burned their crops and destroyed food stores in an effort to ruin their ability to sustain themselves. This destructive war resulted in the removal of the Navajo from their homeland of the Four Corners area (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona) to Southeastern New Mexico. Carson forced more than 8,500 men, women, and children to walk across New Mexico for imprisonment at the Bosque Redondo Reservation, over 400 miles from their homes. Along the way, 200 Diné people died from exposure and starvation. Upon arrival, the Diné were given poor food that led to illness and famine. Deprivation, disease, and death plagued the Diné. In total, one out of four people died. Eventually, the military admitted the effort a failure and allowed the Diné to return home. As part of their history class, students retrace the steps of the Long Walk to help them understand the experiences of their ancestors that affect their lives today.

NAVAJO NATION GOVERNMENT

Today, the Navajo Nation extends into the states of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico and covers 27,000 square miles. Since a tribal government was first established in 1923, the Navajo Nation has evolved into the largest and most sophisticated form of Native American government in the United States. Every year, HIS students visit the Navajo Nation capital in Window Rock as part of their Navajo government class, learning first hand how its three-branch system of government operates.

INDIGENOUS ARTS

Pottery making, weaving, and beading are fast becoming lost skills. The Indigenous Arts program at HIS focuses on traditional practices while inspiring students to tap into their creativity and to connect with their culture.

Art has a special way of reaching students, said Zak Adams, founder of the Indigenous Arts program. “They can use it to express themselves when words can’t. What I have seen of our students is that they are starving for their own culture,” said Zak.

Art provides many benefits for mental health and emotional wellbeing, which include a sense of accomplishment, an increase in drive, and improved concentration. Studies suggest that art can be valuable in treating depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).