Revitalization of Diné Bizaad: A New Era for the Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation has marked a significant milestone by officially recognizing Diné Bizaad as its language. This decision, ratified on Christmas Eve by President Buu Nygren, underscores a commitment to preserving and promoting the Navajo language for future generations. Nygren emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “One of my priorities coming in as President has always been to make sure that we make Navajo cool again.”
Incorporating the language into everyday life, the government plans to feature Diné words on public signage, including stop signs and police vehicles. To further facilitate language learning, the president’s office will release weekly language modules on social media platforms.
President Nygren envisions a comprehensive program to train legal professionals to use Navajo in court settings, reflecting the language’s growing importance. Collaboration with the Diné Language Teachers Association is also on the agenda to bolster its presence in educational institutions.
Currently, Diné Bizaad is the most widely spoken Native American language in the United States. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates an increase in speakers, with over 170,000 individuals using Navajo at home in 2019, compared to about 132,000 in 2000.
—
Read More Arizona News
