Ádahooníłígíí facts for kids
Frontpage of Ádahooníłígíí
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| Type | monthly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Navajo Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Language | Navajo (1943–1947) Navajo and English (1947–1957) |
| Ceased publication | 1957 |
| OCLC number | 17364489 |
Ádahooníłígíí (which means "occurrences in the area" or "current events" in Navajo) was a special newspaper. It was printed in the Navajo language every month. This newspaper was published in the southwestern United States from 1943 to 1957.
It was one of the very first newspapers in the U.S. to be written in a Native American language. Before Ádahooníłígíí, only the Cherokee Phoenix (from 1828 to 1834) was a regular newspaper in a Native American language. Ádahooníłígíí was the first newspaper ever published in Navajo. For a time, it was the only one written completely in Navajo. In 2019, about 100 copies of the newspaper were put online by the University of Arizona Library. This means people can now read them easily!
Contents
Ádahooníłígíí was published by the Navajo Agency. This agency was part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a U.S. government office. The newspaper was printed in Window Rock, Arizona. It helped make the Navajo writing system more standard and consistent because it was read by many people.
Before this newspaper, most of the written materials available to Navajo people were religious books. There were also parts of Diyin God Bizaad, which was a Navajo translation of the Bible.
When Ádahooníłígíí Started
The first issue of Ádahooníłígíí came out in August 1943. The newspaper's editors were Robert W. Young and William Morgan, Sr. (who was Navajo). These two had also worked together on The Navajo Language, which is a very important dictionary still used today.
How the Newspaper Changed Over Time
When it first started, the newspaper was printed on a single folded sheet of paper. It was given out at chapter houses, which are local community centers for the Navajo people. From 1943 to 1947, the newspaper was written entirely in Navajo.
After 1947, articles started to be published in both Navajo and English. Sometimes, they would have an English summary of the content. In its early years, the newspaper's main job was to share the U.S. government's views on World War II with the Navajo people. It also helped connect Navajo soldiers serving in the military with their families and communities back home.
Why the Newspaper Stopped Printing
In the 1950s, the U.S. government changed its policies towards Native American tribes. This led to less funding for Ádahooníłígíí from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because of this, the newspaper stopped being published in 1957.
Soon after Ádahooníłígíí closed, a new newspaper called the Navajo Times began. The Navajo Times is written in English. It is still the main newspaper for the Navajo Nation today.
See also
In Spanish: Ádahooníłígíí para niños
