22nd Diné Studies Virtual Conference

Friday-Saturday, June 25-26, 2021

9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time - Window Rock, Arizona)

Note: All sessions are streamed through Zoom Webinar. The opening sessions and concurrent sessions have their own zoom link available below. All times are Mountain Daylight Time (Window Rock, Arizona time).

For registered attendees, here are the instructions to access zoom (click link). Here is a link to the program.

For Presenters, Moderators, Awardees, Candidates, and/or Board of Directors, here are your instructions to access your zoom webinar (click here).

Day 1: Friday June 25, 2021

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.    - Opening Session

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83788865839

Phone: +1 669 900 6833 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799

Webinar ID: 837 8886 5839

  • Prayer

  • Welcome

  • Introduction of DSCI Board Members

  • Keynote

  • Raffle of Gift Baskets

Melanie K. Yazzie (Diné), Ph.D., Assistant Professor/Co-Author of “Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation”

Keynote Speaker: Melanie K. Yazzie (Diné), Ph.D. - Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation

Dr. Melanie K. Yazzie will discuss her co-authored book Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation (Bordertown Violence Working Group: David Correia, Nick Estes, Jennifer Denetdale; Foreword by Radmilla Cody and Brandon Benallie).  The book investigates and explains the violent dynamics of bordertowns.  It is a manual for navigating the violence Native peoples experience in reservation bordertowns and a manifesto for Indigenous liberation built on traditions of Native resistance. 

10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Break

Presenters and Moderators, please sign in 10 to 15 minutes prior to your session. You should have received a unique invitation to your email.

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.            Concurrent Sessions One

Session One: Innovation in Education - Moderated by Dr. Colin Ben, Vice President

  • “The Corn Pollen Model: Following a Holistic Pathway to Diné Well-Being and Success” - Shawn Secatero, Ph.D.

  • “Diné Research Practices and Protocols: An Intersectional Paradigm Incorporating Indigenous Feminism, Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies and Indigenous Knowledge Systems” - Sharon Henderson, Ph.D.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82129031641

Phone: Or Telephone: US: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 821 2903 1641

Session Two: Innovation in Community - Moderated by Dr. Wendy S. Greyeyes, President

  • “Diné Youth Living in Two Worlds: Teachings from the Hooghan and How it Provided the Foundation for a Diné Psychiatrist” - Mary Hasbah Roessel, M.D.

  • “Null curriculum among Diné, 1863-1928 USA, federal responsibilities and shortcomings.” - R. G. Wakeland

  • “Indigenous Student Responses in Adversarial Situations” - Aaron Billie

    Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83513391107

    Phone: +1 669 900 6833

    Webinar ID: 835 1339 1107

Session Three: Innovation in Diné History - Moderated by Dr. Lloyd Lee, Treasurer

  • “The Horse has been with Us since the Beginning” - Kelsey Dayle John, Ph.D.

  • “Navajo Nation Enrollment Criteria for the 21st Century and Beyond” - Lloyd L. Lee, Ph.D.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88351505510

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 883 5150 5510


12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.          Lunch Entertainment

While you take a break and enjoy your lunch, enjoy some music from Ed Kabotie and Indige Femme.

Introduction by Mr. Homer Hubbell, DSCI Board of Director.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83163908154

Phone +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 831 6390 8154

Ed Kabotie (Hopi/Santa Clara Pueblo) - Native Artist

Ed Kabotie is from the Hopi village of Shungopavi and the Tewa village of Khap'o Owinge (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). Kabotie’s culture is the greatest inspiration of my music. By mixing genres, languages, and instrumentation, he seeks to express the virtues, values, and vices of my people. Kabotie states, “Outside of my culture, the musical groups that I find most inspiring are the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley & the Wailers, & Metallica. I grew up playing drums in rock & metal bands and studied guitar as a songwriting instrument.” Link: https://www.reverbnation.com/edkabotie

Elena Higgins and Tash Terry (Indigie Femme).

Elena Higgins and Tash Terry (Indigie Femme).

Indigie Femme is a female group from the Diné Nation and New Zealand. They interweave the connection of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The weavings from their cultural matrilineage, of Dine (Black Mountain, Arizona, USA) and Maori, Samoa (Aotearoa - New Zealand) exude through Tash Terry and Elena Higgins’ dynamic performances! Indigie Femme’s thought-provoking lyrics combined with their powerful voices and fusion of percussions - cajun, medicine drum, djembe, guitars, & harmonica leave their audiences spell bound! The multi award winning duo, Indigie Femme’s music has been described as, “A twist of world beats lavish the acoustic folk duo who tap into their indigenous roots.” Indigie Femme’s worldly vibrations ignite the collective consciousness to bring hope and healing to Mother Earth through their powerful performances. Link: https://indigiefemme.com/index.html


Presenters and Moderators, please sign in 10 to 15 minutes prior to your session. You should have received a unique invitation to your email.

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.          Concurrent Sessions Two

Session One: Innovation in Language - Moderated by Sam Slater, DSCI Board of Directors

  • "Disrupting Spaces to Perpetuate and Sustain the Navajo Language" Panelists: Cynthia Benally, Ph.D., University of Utah; Amelia A. Black, Diné College; Daniel Piper, Ph.D.,Utah State University; Clara Bedonie, Murray City School District

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89298211962

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 892 9821 1962

Session Two: Innovation in Healing - Moderated by Dr. Colin Ben, Vice President

  • "A Hozhooji (Blessing Way) Ceremonial Song" - Panelists: Homer Hubbell, Diné Studies Conference, Inc. and Lorene Legah, Diné Language Instructor

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84777902100

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 847 7790 2100

Session Three: Innovation in Education - Moderated by Mr. Triston Black, DSCI Board of Director

  • "Decolonizing Diné Education: Building a New Educational System for Navajo Nation" - Panelists: Wendy S. Greyeyes, Ph.D., University of New Mexico; Greg Bigman, Clara Pratte, Harvey Rude, Ph.D. and Darrick Franklin

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86366826891

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 863 6682 6891



Day 2: Saturday June 26, 2021

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.            Business Meeting

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83831939457

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 838 3193 9457

10:15 a.m. -10:30 a.m.  Break

Presenters and Moderators, please sign in 10 to 15 minutes prior to your session. You should have received a unique invitation to your email.

10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.           Concurrent Sessions Three

Session One: Innovation in Language - Moderated by Sam Slater, DSCI Board of Directors

  • “Saad K'ídilyé: Planting the Diné Language Seed” - Panelists: Tiffany S. Lee, Ph.D., University of New Mexico; Melvatha Chee, Ph.D., University of New Mexico; Mary Whitehair Frazier, Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute and First Nations Community Healthsource; Warlance Chee, Native American Community Academy; Cheryl Yazzie, University of New Mexico; Manuel Fernandez, Graduate Student, University of New Mexico

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83648148667

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 836 4814 8667

Session Two: Innovation in Education - Moderated by Dr. Colin Ben, Vice President

  •  "Diné Resistance and Transformation for and in Education" - Panelists: Amanda Tachine, Ph.D., Arizona State University; Cynthia Benally, Ph.D., University of Utah; Colin Ben, Ph.D., Arizona State University

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84725363761

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 847 2536 3761

Session Three: Innovation in Climate Change - Moderated by Homer Hubbell, Board of Directors

  • "Groundswell: Indigenous Knowledge and a Call to Action for Climate Change" - Panelists: Mary Hasbah Roessel, M.D. and Joe Neidhardt, M.D.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87596999069

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 875 9699 9069


12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.       Lunch Keynote Speaker

Honorable Rex Lee jim, Executive Director, Navajo Sovereignty Office, Diné College, Author of 'Saad Lá Tah Hózhóón: A Collection of Diné Poetry', former Vice President, Navajo Nation

Rex Lee Jim (Navajo) - Rhetorical Sovereignty: The Voice of the Blue Bird

Mr. Rex Lee Jim will do a reading from his recent book, 'Saad Lá Tah Hózhóón: A Collection of Diné Poetry'. He will interweave his talk with Navajo songs and prayers, speak about freedom of voice as expressed through the Blue Bird, and how we can translate that to contemporary forms of expressions, especially in written and published forms (in Navajo). 

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88995295533

Phone:+1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 889 9529 5533




1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.            Concurrent Sessions Four

Session One: Innovation in Environmental Justice - Moderated by Dr. Lloyd Lee, Treasurer

  • "From Yellow Dirt to Yellow Water: Community Responses to Environmental Contamination in Diné Bikéyah" - Panelists: Teresa Montoya, Ph.D.; Tommy Rock, Ph.D.; Janene Yazzie; and Marc Emerson, Ph.D.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85084367588

Phone: +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 850 8436 7588

Session Two: Innovation in Image and Art - Moderated by Davina Morris, Secretary

  • “Dislocated Landscapes: Visualizing Diné Bikéyah in the Colonial Medium” - Ryuichi Nakayama

  • "It Belongs to All of Us": Sis Łichii'í as a Uniquely Diné Object” - Isabella Robbins

  • “The High Desert Asdzaan and Her Neo-Matriarch Identity” - Venaya Yazzie

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89119488295

Phone: +1 669 900 6833 6099

Webinar ID: 891 1948 8295

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If you need a professional development certificate, complete the form: https://dinestudies.org/pd-certificate