Native American Studies Final Fall 2023 Semester Projects with Dighadilyeed

NAS316: Indigenous Relationships with Non-Human Animals and NAS370: Traditional Ecological Knowledge classes are studying concepts such as co-existence and walking-in-place (Larsen and Johnson, Being Together In Place, 2017) as well as realities of ecocolonialism and Indigenous stewardship and land management (Hernandez, Fresh Banana Leaves, 2022), to (re)connect with our indigenous lands, animals, and ways of knowing. In doing so, we are in the process of creating an interactive experience for those who walk-with the Diné College Fitness and Botanical Trail. Along the way we hope to reconnect just a bit with our Diné skyscapes, landscapes, dreamscapes, human and nonhuman animals, and the more-than-human entities with whom we co-exist.

What does all that even mean? We know! It all sounds like a lot of jargon, and in reality it is. These are fanciful terms for Diné and Indigenous ways of knowing. Essentially, our Native American Studies students are working with, through, and beyond academic fluff to put us back in dialogue with our responsibilities and obligations of place as Diné academics, scholars, and community members.

Join us on the trail located in Tsaile at the end of the Fall 2023 semester to learn  what the trail has to teach us about ourselves and each other. Access to final presentations will be available via this page for a virtual experience. Final presentations will be posted the week of December 4, 2023 .

NAS Student Projects

Walk the Trail with Us!
In this video you will find a sampling of Diné College NAS316 and NAS370 students projects. In this 40 minute walk you will be able to simultaneously hear and see both the student presentation and the trail.  Students' presentations have been strategically placed on this trail based upon specific points of departure for each students' project.  For singular projects, you can scroll below to find them categories by class.

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NAS316: Indigenous Relationships with the More-Than-Human

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NAS370: Traditional Ecological Knowledge

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An Introduction to the Dighahilyeed Fitness and Botanical Trail

Thanks to correspondence with Dr. Miranda Haskie, we learned that the "Dighadilyeed Fitness and Botanical Trail was dedicated in July 2004 for the 2.5 mile trail encircling the Diné College Tsaile campus. The partnership project was led by Lillie M. Haskie, Administrator of Tsaile Health Clinic and included partnerships with Martha Yazzie, Tsaile Health Clinic Director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the Tsaile/Wheatfields/Blackrock, Lukachukai, and Round Rock Chapter Houses, Apache County, and Diné College."

Starting an Arboretum

Do you like what you see? Are you interested in creating a similar project near you? Check out these resources:
What is an Arboretum?
Create and Arboretum
K'é Community Trail Project
Diné Native Plants Program Restoring Native Plants to Navajo Nation Lands Handbook