The Diné Education Bulletin

Hello, readers, and welcome back for another recap of news and other events and updates from the Department of Diné Education!

Here we are in the back half of July and I hope you're staying dry where you are. We've been getting a lot of rain around Window Rock lately. Other local areas have gotten so much that there are dangers of flooding. While we're grateful for this rain, we also hope our families and communities are safe.

Perhaps this can be viewed as a time when our preparations are enough for the task ahead of us. Like, do we have enough food and supplies if the roads are washed out? How about the gas and tires on our vehicles? Do you have batteries for flashlights or candles if the power goes out? I'm sure some of you have had to answer one of these questions if you've been getting this rain.

It can be tricky to think about future plans at times when you have a lot on your plate right now. But careful planning for the future is one of the best things you can do for your own wellbeing as well as those around you. It's often said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Thank my father for sharing that with me!

As we prepare to turn the page to August in just a few days from this publication, we're already staring at a new school year on the horizon. The cool mornings and less sunlight show us that fall is also coming up quickly. How can you prepare for these events to ensure a safe time for everybody?

We hope some of the stories we've gathered can help you figure out what you can do on your end to get ready for upcoming events. With that, read on to see some of the wonderful work our partners have done—and stay dry out there!

Cody M. Begaye

It's the middle of summer, so what better way to mark the season by firing up the grill? Diné College decided to do just that.

The Crownpoint Center got together to kick off the Eastern Navajo Fair week with their first-ever Navajo Green Chile Burger Cook-Off. The aroma of roasted chiles and sizzling burger patties filled the air for excited guests. Three cooks traveled from Albuquerque, Crownpoint, and Shiprock to flaunt their skills and techniques to craft the best green chile burger with frybread and tortillas. Ultimately, it was Liz McKenzie who took home top honors.

All told, the cook-off brought together students, faculty, and community members for food, fun, and games that also highlighted the importance of sharing meals in Navajo culture.

"Food brings us together as a community, and in Native culture, sharing a meal is at the heart of how we care for one another," Student Success Coach Tyrel Pablo said.

Guests also heard about Diné College's fall 2026 classes, adult education programs, and campus resources. With the new academic year just weeks ago, this was a prime opportunity to share about the work our academic partners undertake all year.

"We are happy with the turnout from our community, faculty, and supporters. This cook off was a wonderful way to launch the Eastern Navajo Fair season and invite everyone to discover all the academic and community programs Diné College has to offer right here in Crownpoint," Tyrone J. Begay, Crownpoint Center Manager, said.

The next summer event for the Crownpoint Center is the Just Move It Run/Walk on Aug. 3. We hope you can join them!

If you've stepped into a Walmart or other store lately, you've probably seen the displays that made children either excited, or nervous, or maybe a mix of both.

Yes sir, back-to-school shopping has arrived once more. But amid all the supply lists and new outfits, the State of New Mexico is once again providing some relief to families eager to browse the shelves.

New Mexico's annual Tax-Free Weekend runs from Friday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 2.

Eligible items to be exempt from taxes that weekend include clothing and shoes under $100 per item; computers under $1,000; related computer hardware under $500; and many school supplies priced under $30 each.

Certain items are noted to be excluded, so it's a good idea to check for a full list with the business before you shop.

Getting ready to go back to school is a busy time, so it can be overwhelming for some families, not to mention the students. But this bit of aid should help them stretch their dollars further as they get ready to return to the classroom.

The recent concerns of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity on or near the Navajo Nation led DODE safety leaders to design and dispense the following posters.

We are always happy to celebrate in our schools' successes locally, but it becomes extra special when they can be recognized at the national level.

Hence, we are very excited and proud to share that Navajo Preparatory School's Naat’áanii Youth Council was named the 2026 United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY) Youth Council of the Year at the national conference in Oklahoma on July 16.

This award honors and commemorates the leadership, service, and commitment of the Naat’áanii Youth Council and all the incredible work their students and alumni continues to put in. Current council members got to receive and celebrate this award alongside alumni Watson Whitford, Tristan Joe, and Vydell Willie, whose journeys as leaders began in the Naat’áanii Youth Council.

The school gave plenty of credit to Mrs. Jensen, who has served as advisor of the Naat’áanii Youth Council for the past 17 years. She has mentored and served the students to help shape generations of Navajo Prep student leaders. Her impact is likely to be felt for years to come.

The Naat’áanii Youth Council members continue to dress themselves with leadership every day. Congratulations once again to all the Navajo Prep students, alumni, and staff who have been part of this wonderful story!

Our students are our top priority as educators, and their safety is one of our most important goals. This is why we champion the events that our partners in and around Window Rock hold throughout the year to support them as well.

One such event took place this past week. Local community members, Navajo Nation leaders, and the Navajo Division for Children and Family Services came together on July 20 for the Every Child Matters Awareness Walk from the Navajo Nation Museum to the Council Chamber in Window Rock. This walk made for a prominent sight at the start of the 25th Navajo Nation Council's summer session.

The walk is a part of healing from trauma that occurred during the boarding school era and helping families understand how losing their child at that time impacts them now, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Crotty said before the walk began.

Organized by the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force, the walk is a part of healing from trauma that occurred to Navajo students during the boarding school era from decades past and helping the families understand how losing a child at that time continues to impact their community.

Council Delegate Amber Crotty, who also serves as the chair for the MMDR Task Force, said when a child goes missing, there needs to be an action plan in place as well as notice sent to the community. The focus of the task force has always been on the children and their families should be able to get the support they need.

“Every child, we should know where they’re at … We just want to make sure they know that we love them,” Crotty said.

NDCFS Deputy Director and Diné Action Plan Advisory Group Chair Sonlatsa Jim also joined the awareness walk. She has been instrumental in many of our DODE safety meetings over the past years and we recognize her efforts for pushing for improving the safety of our schools and communities.

“I would like to acknowledge and remember the children and youth who have been murdered. We must continue to build support systems for parents and families who have lost a child to violence such as drunk driving and child abuse,” she said.