Ishi Bishi Ak'inaashdlizhii

Yá’át’ééh shi éí Náníbaa’ yinishyé. Tsé njíkiní éí nishli dóó Tótsohnii báshíshchíín. Áádóó Táchii’nii éí da shichei dóó Kiyaa’áanii éí da shinálí. Kót’éego éí Diné asdzáán nishlí. Ishi Bishi Ak'inaashdlizhii dóó yinishyé éí bádí biniinaa alk’idáá shi’ázhi’. Shima Lók’aanteel di bighan áádóó shizhé’é Steamboat Canyon di bighan. Shima Názlínídi ólta’di naalnish áádóó shizhé’é t’áá hooghandi naalnish. Shima dóó shizhé’é íiyisi bíhoséssa’.
Lók’aanteel déé íiyisi naashá. Dóó Tséhootsooí di shi’dizhchí’. New Jersey di shighan. Lats’áadah nááhaigo áadi shighan.Tádiin dóó ba’aa t’áálá’í shinááhai. Yaadilah saní asdzáán silíí. Shi’álchíní ádin ‘íyisíí nisin ndi dóó shee hóló. Shi’ach’oonídóó Diné nilí éí biniinaa shi’álchíní ádin. Shi’ach’ooní éí bilagáana nilí Italian hoolyé. Naaki shi’lééchaa’í Waka áádóó Yazhí éíshi’awee ádaat’é. Shi’lééchaa’í t’áá’íiyisi shil yá’át’ééh.

I am a Diné (pronounced Din-neh), more commonly known in English as Navajo. An indigenous woman to this country called the United States of America.

I was taught by my late grandmother that as a Diné, I am to always properly introduce myself by conveying my four clans. My Diné name is Náníbaa‘, this is the name that identifies myself with our Holy People. It means 'she that has returned from the raid.'
I was born & raised on the reservation, mainly in the care of my non-English speaking grandmother. She made sure that the Diné language was my first language & scolded me for speaking any English. She wasn't fond of the white man's influences on any of her grandchildren.
During our long days out while grazing the sheep in the vast openness of the reservation, I use to sing to her & our animals. I made up my own songs, usually about an animal or insect we came across in our daily travels. There I was with my unkempt braids, red clay on my face (our version of sunscreen), singing away. I sung to the sheep, I sung to the sheepdogs, I sung to the horse that carried us and I sung to my grandmother whom always enjoyed the silliness of my entertainment. She would smile at me and chuckle, encouraging me to sing more. Those long quiet sheep herding days are all but a distant memory now, memories that I have come to cherish as I mature into the woman that my grandmother envisioned me to be. I miss my grandmother tremendously. I owe every aspect of my being to her, as she raised me to value my heritage, my family and to never forget who I am and where I come from. I am Diné and proud of it.
I currently reside on the east coast, away from my family & people. It has been a lonely journey, however every morning I greet the sun and give him my offerings. In return he brings with him my grandmother, she rides her horse by his side - my protector. For a brief moment in the stillness of early dawn I can be with her again. She comes through me with the fierceness of her light, from the tip of my toes to the top of my head, from my left hand to my right. She touches my heart, my thinking, my being, preparing me for the new day before me. I am truly grateful for the many good things that have come to me and am even more grateful for the many more good things to come.