Navajo Nation President Nygren Meets UNM Program to Advance Diné Bizaad Revitalization

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren traveled to Albuquerque on March 13 to meet with the University of New Mexico's Navajo Language Program, bringing renewed institutional attention to the future of Diné Bizaad at a moment when urban Navajo communities say access to instruction has never been more urgent.

The NLP, which has operated since 1970, is dedicated to the study of the Diné language, linguistics, history, and culture. The program offers courses, conducts research, and publishes findings in Navajo linguistics. The meeting included program director Melvatha Chee and instructors Mary Whitehair and Nathaniel Brown, with discussions centering on sustaining Diné Bizaad through education, research, and family and community engagement.

Program leaders stressed that while children begin acquiring language at an early age, consistent use at home remains critical to maintaining fluency. The concern is particular to students who leave home for school and lose daily contact with fluent speakers, severing a transmission chain that formal instruction alone cannot fully replace.

Whitehair and Brown, who also work as community advocates, pushed the conversation toward a gap that classroom programs often cannot address: urban access. With significant numbers of Diné people living in Albuquerque and other cities far from the Nation's core communities, both instructors emphasized the need for language learning opportunities outside reservation boundaries.

Leaders highlighted Saad K'idilyé, a grassroots nonprofit based in Albuquerque, as one answer to that gap. The organization's name translates to "The Planting of the Language Seed" in English, and it is described as the first Diné language immersion program focused on language and cultural revitalization. In August 2026, the program will begin its fifth year operating as a fully licensed early childhood education and child care center, serving prenatal families, infants, toddlers, and pre-K students.

Nygren did not limit his visit to the NLP meeting. He also met separately with the UNM Diné Student Club to outline initiatives his office is advancing to strengthen Diné Bizaad across the Nation. Those efforts include expanding online language resources through monthly Diné stories, vocabulary lessons, and conversational tools; integrating Diné Bizaad into daily Navajo Nation government operations; increasing bilingual signage; supporting early childhood immersion programs; and expanding language resources including books, films, and writing tools.

"I'm proud of you all for continuing to learn how to speak and teach Navajo," Nygren told those gathered. "Many young people are learning, but we must also understand the meaning behind our words and teachings."

The Office of the President framed the NLP's work in generational terms, stating that its efforts "continue to strengthen language revitalization and ensure that Diné knowledge systems are carried forward for future generations." Nygren reinforced that framing directly: "Ensuring that younger generations continue to learn, speak, and live Diné Bizaad is a shared responsibility.