Cibola Navajo language program going full-speed

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

MILAN — In its second year in the Cibola County School District, the Navajo Oral Language Program is fully established in two area schools and looking to expand into a third.

Director of Indian Education for the district, Gloria Hale, said the program began in the 2006-2007 as a half-time program at Mount Taylor Elementary School in Grants and Milan Elementary, with the two schools sharing a $50,000 grant from the New Mexico Department of Education Indian Education Division. This school year, each school received a full-time $50,000 grant with additional monies coming from the district’s Impact Eight funds. Hale said the district’s Indian Education program will try to develop Navajo and Keres programs at Grants High School, but so far neither is available there.

Hale said the Navajo program is adapted from a program developed by the Navajo Tribal Division of Education Curriculum Center for use in Navajo schools.

Both elementary schools have full-time teachers for the kindergarten through sixth-grade pupils, who spend part of each day in the Navajo language program classroom.

Sharon Velarde came to Mount Taylor from Gallup, where she was teaching under both New Mexico and Navajo Nation certifications. Marie Tapaha joined the staff at Milan Elementary after teaching in Borrego Pass; she has also written books in the Navajo language, Hale said.

Part of the oral language program includes learning traditional Navajo ways, said Hale. Pupils learn by hands on activities, using stone to grind corn, traditional looms and spindles to turn raw wool into rugs and making baskets. She also said that young people learning where they are in the tribes clan structure is important. Milan fourth-grader Winona Morgan said her favorite thing about being in the program is being able to introduce herself in the Navajo way.

Like many of the program participants, Morgan and her twin sister, Wyonna, have help at home for language lessons. Both parents speak Navajo and English and maintain traditional Navajo ways. Their father, James Martin, said he supports the kids “110 percent,” helping in the school and making sure the family greets the day in accordance with tradition. He said the family takes Sunday to observe the tribal ways, like tying their hair in buns, because the rest of the week is caught up in busy schedules getting ready for school and work and there is not the time.

The girls’ grandmother will help at home, too If she has a hard time, Winona said. Hale said family involvement is a major element in the Indian education programs and as many as 98 percent of the pupils have families that take part.

Next week, the Milan Navajo language students, families and teachers will demonstrate parent involvement and some of the skills learned in class. The public is invited to join the school in celebrating Native American Week in Room 106 at Milan Elementary, starting on Tuesday.

Tuesday: Bead work, and documentary video, “Desert Rock;”

Wednesday: Bead work and Navajo Wedding Basket making;

Thursday: Traditional dancing and drums demonstration, with traditional dress and dance participation;

Friday: Free day, with arts, corn grinding, color bingo, weaving and wool carding.

Information: Marie Tapaha, room 106, Milan Elementary, 285-2727.