Diné College Press facts for kids

Diné College Press is like the publishing house for Diné College, which is a college located in Tsaile, Arizona. This college and its press are special because they are located within the lands of the Navajo Nation.

Diné College Press publishes books mainly about Native American people. While many of their books focus on the Navajo people and their history, culture, and stories, they also publish books about other Native American groups and broader topics related to Native American studies. Famous authors like Acoma Pueblo poet Simon J. Ortiz and Pawnee-Otoe-Missouria writer Anna Lee Walters have had their books published by Diné College Press.

Books Published by Diné College Press

Diné College Press has published many important books over the years. These books help share the history, culture, and experiences of Native American people, especially the Navajo.

Early Publications (1970s)

In its early years, the press focused on recording and sharing Navajo history and culture.

• Navajo studies at Navajo Community College (1971) by Ruth Roessel was one of their first books. It helped people learn about the Navajo.
• Navajo history (1971), edited by Ethelou Yazzie, shared important historical events.
• Navajo stories of the long walk period (1973) by Ruth Roessel told stories from a very difficult time in Navajo history, when they were forced to move from their lands.
• Navajo Livestock Reduction: a national disgrace (1974) by Ruth Roessel and Broderick H. Johnson discussed a challenging period when the government reduced Navajo livestock.
• The Navajos' long walk for education (1975) by Hildegard Thompson explored the history of education for the Navajo people.
• Stories of traditional Navajo life and culture (1977) was a collection of stories written by 22 Navajo men and women, edited by Broderick H. Johnson.
• The press also published books about other Native American cultures, such as The Cheyenne (1977) by Peggy V. Beck and books on music and dance of different tribes.
• The sacred: ways of knowledge, sources of life (1977) by Peggy V. Beck, Anna Lee Walters, and Nia Francisco explored important spiritual ideas.
• Navajos and World War II (1977) by Keats Begay shared stories of Navajo involvement in the war.

Later Works (1980s-1990s)

The press continued to publish a wide range of topics, including poetry, government, and traditional knowledge.

• Earth power coming: short fiction in native American literature (1983), edited by Simon J. Ortiz, collected short stories by Native American authors.
• Navaho foreign affairs, 1795-1846 (1983) by Frank D. Reeve looked at the Navajo Nation's relationships with other groups in the past.
• Outcroppings from Navajoland: poems (1984) by Donald Levering featured poems about the Navajo landscape.
• Navajos in the Catholic Church records of New Mexico, 1694-1875 (1985) by David M. Brugge explored historical records.
• Navajo Chapters (1987) by Sam Bingham and Janet Bingham provided insights into Navajo community life.
• Diné bibeehaz'áanii: a handbook of Navajo government (1987) by David E. Wilkins explained how the Navajo government works.
• The myth and prayers of the Great Star chant and the myth of the Coyote chant (1988) by Mary C. Wheelwright shared important Navajo traditional stories and ceremonies.
• The Witch purge of 1878 (1988) by Martha Blue discussed a historical event involving beliefs and accusations within the Navajo community.
• Naniseʹ: a Navajo herbal (1989) by Vernon O. Mayes and Barbara Bayless Lacy described 100 plants found on the Navajo Reservation and their uses.
• The tribally controlled Indian colleges (1990) by Norman T. Oppelt looked at the history of colleges run by Native American tribes.
• The Navajo dictionary on diagnostic terminology (1991) helped with understanding medical terms in the Navajo language.
• Right after sundown: teaching stories of the Navajos (1991) by Marilyne Virginia Mabery shared traditional teaching stories.
• Comanche warbonnet: a story of Quanah Parker (1991) by Troxey Kemper told the story of a famous Comanche leader.
• Storm pattern: poems from two Navajo women (1993) by Della Frank and Roberta D. Joe featured poetry.
• Modern American Indian tribal government and politics (1993) by Howard Meredith explained how tribal governments work today.
• The English-Navajo children's picture dictionary (1995) by Roman de los Santos helped children learn words in both English and Navajo.