Böcker utgivna av Native Child Dinetah

This book is a source of vocabulary and grammatical information that is indispensable for teachers and students of the Navajo language. Beginning with an explanation of the Navajo sound system, the publication is followed by a 125 page long outline of Navajo grammar. The work presented is also composed of a two part dictionary: 247 pages Navajo - English and 101 pages English - Navajo. Young and Morgan have used painstaking care in gathering, arranging and describing the numberless complex details of Navajo language. Originally published in 1943, it was supplemented with 'The Vocabulary of Colloquial Navajo' in 1950, using a wealth of sentence examples for each verb entry. Both publications are now once more made available by Native Child Dinétah.

Almost 90 years have passed since Gladys Reichard moved into a dug out which was built like a hogan, but without a smokehole.  It was located 6 miles south of the Hubbel Trading Post in the Ganado area. A well–known Navajo singer's place, Red Point, is where Reichard spent eight summers and parts of two winters.  On the Navaho reservation she learned the language and participated in daily and ceremonial life.  She witnessed performances of many chants including the 'Male Shooting Chant Holy' given by Red Point.  Two of these were sung over her.        Reichard was considered a relative of her host family and became part of their kinship and clan relationship system, expressed in the Navajo way as a concept: k’é.  Having placed herself in such a unique position and being taught to weave by 'relatives', enabled her to record in an openly biographical manner.  She recorded her progress as well as trials and frustrations in becoming proficient in the art of traditional Navajo weaving.  We  witness and learn about daily life and ceremonial occurrences in Navajoland: the desert climate and its effect on people and animals, the growing importance of the role of trading posts for Navajo economy, the influence the railway had on the People, the early beginnings of a tribal government, a wedding ceremony,  the conflicts that a new health care system brings and how it is clashing with traditional healing ceremonies. We also learn about the food being consumed, at a time when self sufficiency was still the order of the day, and the white man’s food was mostly a welcome change in the daily diet rather than a diabetes creating  curse, brought upon by drastic lifestyle changes.        Reichard’s book is  a historical time capsule, an eyewitness report of the fast changing culture and society of the Diné in the thirties of the 20th century.

This illustrated book includes 20 authentic traditional Navajo corn recipes. It is a unique and never before published resource about traditional corn food. Historic cooking utensils are introduced and basic traditional cooking methods are clearly explained at the beginning, step by step. For example: you will learn to make juniper ashes. All food items are labeled in Diné Bizaad (Navajo Language) and in English. Historical context of how and when food was prepared is also provided. You will find a wealth of information about Navajo food preparation and will be able to follow the recipes yourself at home. This book wants to contribute to the revitalization of a diet that has proven itself for hundreds of years. It is based on unique traditions that have their roots on this continent dating back thousands of years. We can learn from an intuitive food wisdom of the people who lived on this continent before us.