Diné Studies Conference, Inc.

20TH Navajo studies conference

Theme: Yideeskąągóó Dinék’eh Nitsáhákees, Éé’deetįįh, dóó Hódzą Bee Ániit’édoo
Navajo Knowledge and Experiences for our Future

Location: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

Date: May 28-30, 2015

The 20th Navajo Studies Conference features eight video conference sessions. The sessions offer original Navajo-centered research presentations for educators and community members, which are grounded in the current knowledge-base, perspectives, and experiences of Navajo people.  We have created a curriculum resource guide to be used in conjunction with the video sessions. Please click on the links below to access both resources.

View 2015 NSCI session videos and program

Download Curriculum Resource Guide

Honorees:

Excellence in Diné Studies: Bihóneedzáago na’askáá’

• Jennifer Denetdale

• James Faris

• Wesley Thomas

Community Service & Leadership: Yił kééhat’ínígíí yil naha’á

• Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM)

• Diabetes Wellness Project

• Diné Citizens Against Ruining our Environment (Diné CARE)

• Miss Navajo Council

Navajo Innovation in Practice: T’áá Diné bá éé’deitánígíí bee oonish

• Diné Policy Institute

• Mark Sorenson (STAR School)

• Manny Wheeler (Navajo Nation Museum)

Navajo Language Leadership: T’áá Diné Bizaad bóhoo’aah yee sizį́

• Louise Benally

• Native Innovation, Inc.

19TH navajo studies conference

Theme: Iiná náhoodleeldóó alta'anáhoo'nííl; Náásgóó biniiyé anooséél
Cycles of Life and Seasons of Change--Cultivating the Seeds of our Future

Location: Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Date: March 14-17, 2012

Honorees:

Excellence in Diné Studies: Bihóneedzáago na’askáá’

• Peter Iverson

• Raymond Austin

• Klara Kelley

• Harris Francis

Community Leadership: Yił kééhat’ínígíí yil naha’á

• Wayne Holm

• Larry Emerson

• Betty O'Jaye

Navajo Innovation in Practice: T’áá Diné bá éé’deitánígíí bee oonish

• Melissa Henry

• Malcolm Benally

18th navajo studies conference

Theme: Na'nitin dóó o'oolííl bee hasht'e ádi'diilnílígíí ahil néidííltah
Defining Navajo Values and Practices for a Sustainable Future

Location: Diné College-Shiprock Campus, Shiprock, New Mexico

Date: March 12-19, 2009

Honorees:

• Benjamin Barney

• Daniel McLaughlin

• Tse Hootsooi Diné Bi' Oltá

• Bahe Billy

17th navajo studies conference

Theme: Hozhóójíí Alchi Sila
Connections of Indigenous Cultures

Location: Diné College, Tsaile, Arizona

Date: November 1-4, 2007

Honorees:

• Jack Jackson, Sr.

• Ferlin Clark

• Johnson Dennison

16th navajo studies conference

Theme: Diyink’ehgo nihigáál naat’i’
In the Sacred Manner We Walk as Diné

Location: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Date: November 1-4, 2006

Honorees:

• Ruth Roessel

• Paul Zolbrod

15th navajo studies conference

Theme: No Theme

Location: Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado

Date: October 20-23, 2004

Honorees:

• Annie Kahn

• Peterson Zah

14th navajo studies conference

Theme: Dził Dadiyinii Bilááhgóó T’áá Diné dóó Bíla’ashdlaa’ii bił nahaz’ą́
Beyond the Mountains: Diné and the Global Village

Location: Diné College, Tsaile, Arizona

Date: April 2-5, 2003

Honorees:

• Lena Fowler

• Diné Medicinemen's Association, Inc.

13th navajo studies conference

Theme: Dzit Naata'á
Living by the Teachings of the Sacred Mountains

Location: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

Date: October 16-20, 2001

Honorees:

• Martha Blue

12th navajo studies conference

Theme: Diné bibee'í'ool'íít ílástsii' nilíigo beiidlée'go K'éédiilyé
Planting and Sharing the Seeds of the Dine Way of Life

Location: San Juan College, Farmington, New Mexico

Date: September 27-30, 2000

Honorees:

• Wildfred Billey (Code Talker)

• Gary Knight

11th navajo studies conference

Theme: Diné be'iina'bindii'a
The Roots of Navajo Life

Location: Navajo Nation Museum, Window Rock, Arizona

Date: October 21-24, 1998

Honorees:

• Oswald "Ossy" Werner

• Charlotte J. Frisbie

• David M. Brugge

• Arthur Hubbard, Sr.

10th navajo studies conference

Theme: Dził Dadiyinii biyi’ dóó biláahdi nihe’iina’ bee ahééh honiilzin
Within and Beyond the Sacred Mountains A Decade of Cultural Exchange

Location: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Date: April 16-19, 1997

Honorees:

• Grace McNeley

• Katherine Spencer Halpern

9th navajo studies conference

Theme: Bi’diilkaalgo łahgo áálnííł
Persistence and Change

Location: Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado

Date: April 10-13, 1996

8th navajo studies conference

Theme: T’áá Diné: Yee Át’éii
The Navajo: A Living Legacy

Location: San Juan College, Farmington, New Mexico

Date: March 15-18, 1995

Honorees:

• Charlotte J. Frisbie

• David M. Brugge

7th navajo studies conference

Theme: Ałk’idą́ą́’ dóó dííjíijį’ áhoot’éhígíí éí binahjį’ éé’deitįįh
A Synthesis of Past, Present and Future Through Transformational Knowledge

Location: Navajo Community College, Tsaile, Arizona

Date: October 6-8, 1993

Honorees:

• Lucy W. Adams

• Raymond Brown

• Guy Gorman

• John C. Martin

• Dillon Platero

• Wilson Skeet

• Carl Todacheene

6th navajo studies conference

Theme: Diné Be'Iina Baah Hanidzin
Preserving Navajo Traditional Life

Location: Window Rock, Arizona

Date: March 11-14, 1992

5th navajo studies conference

Theme: Áhaláhgo naashá
The People Have survived

Location: Navajo Community College-Shiprock Campus, Shiprock, New Mexico

Date: October, 17-20, 1990

Honoree:

• David Aberle

4th navajo studies conference

Theme: Unknown

Location: University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus, Gallup, New Mexico

Date: October 18-21, 1989

3rd navajo studies conference

Theme: Ha’át’íí biniiyé T’áá Diné na’ałkaah
Why Navajo Studies

Location: Navajo Community College, Tsaile, Arizona

Date: 1988

At the third conference emphasis shifted from scholarly plenary sessions and symposia to a variety of traditional Navajo presentations and community activities (e.g., shoe games, dances, etc.). Although many scholarly presentations were given in English, many were presented in the Navajo language. The Navajo Studies Conference organizers acknowledge that Navajo scholars and community members needed to fully participate in all aspects of the conference planning and implementation.

2nd navajo studies conference

Theme: No theme

Location: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

Date: 1987

Honoree:

• Mary Shepardson

The second conference was sponsored by various departments and colleges at Northern Arizona University, by the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, and by the Museum of Northern Arizona. This conference attracted approximately 200 attendees and about forty presentations.

1st navajo studies conference

Theme: No theme

Location: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Date: 1986

The first conference lasted three days and included approximately 30 presentations on a variety of topics that included: archaeology, history, religion, social organization, law, arts. Attendees committed to work together to host the Navajo Studies Conference on an annual basis. Sufficient funds were generated through registration fees to provide scholarship money for Navajo students administered by the University of New MexicoAmerican Indian Student Services, and seed money was collected for the second conference.