indigenous languages

President Buu Nygren signed legislation last week officially recognizing the Navajo language, Diné Bizaad, as the nation’s official language.

A new film offers a fictional portrayal of westward expansion in the 19th century. It features real people and places, including Arizona’s White Mountain Apache Tribe. An Arizona language instructor taught actors how to speak Apache for the film.

The U.S. Department of Education has announced more than $8 million in grant funding across three key initiatives for Indigenous student languages.

During this weekend’s Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, a member of the Navajo Nation will use North American Indian Sign Language to perform the song America the Beautiful.

This year marked the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Navajo Code Talkers and the first year the day was recognized as a legal state holiday.

A groundbreaking ceremony is planned August at the site of the future Navajo Code Talker Museum in New Mexico. The 300-acre area will be developed into a museum honoring the 400 Navajo Code Talkers who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII and used their native Diné language to stump the Japanese Army.

Only seven Arizona counties are required to offer voting materials in an Indigenous language.