Life in the Navajo Nation: Diné College’s Educational Philosophy
June 10, 2010Daniel No Comments »
We’re conducting our college prep summer classes for high school students in Diné College, a two-year community college in Crownpoint, New Mexico.
I recently read about Diné College’s educational philosophy:
Shitsijí hózhoo doo naashá: With beauty before me, I walk.
Shikéédéé hózhoo doo naashá: With beauty behind me, I walk.
Shiyaagi hózhoo doo naashá: With beauty below me, I walk.
Shík’igi hózhoo doo naashá: With beauty above me, I walk.
Shinaagi hózhoo doo naashá: With beauty around me, I walk.
Shinaagi hózhoo doo naasháShizaad hahóóshoo doo: With beauty I speak.
Sa’ah Naaghí’ Bik’eh Hozhó nishlíí doo k’é: Through this I will have knowledge, balance and strength.
- With beauty before me, I walk.
- I will make short- and long-term plans as I complete my education.
- With beauty behind me, I walk.
- I understand my heritage and what it means to be Navajo.
- With beauty below me, I walk.
- I respect all of nature.
- With beauty above me, I walk.
- I am aware of the sacredness of the universe.
- With beauty around me, I walk.
- I understand my surroundings from both a spiritual and factual perspective.
- With beauty I speak.
- I communicate effectively in both Navajo and English. The Navajo language is our strength; without it we cannot be secure as a nation.
- Through this I will have knowledge, balance and strength.
- I contribute to both Navajo and Western culture, without compromising either one.
Diné College is a small college– it has three classrooms and there are about ten students in each graduating class– but I think it has a big educational philosophy.
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