Jennifer Nez Denetdale facts for kids

Jennifer Nez Denetdale is a professor who teaches about American studies at the University of New Mexico. She focuses on Native American Studies, looking at how things like race, social class, and gender affect people. She also leads the University of New Mexico's Institute for American Research.

Professor Denetdale is an expert in Navajo history and culture. She studies how colonization (when one group takes control of another) and decolonization (when people regain control) have changed the Navajo people's lives. She also leads the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, which works to protect human rights for the Navajo people. Denetdale strongly supports students who want to study Indigenous cultures, Navajo women, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Early Life and Family

Jennifer Nez Denetdale grew up in Tohatchi, New Mexico, with her three sisters and one brother. Her parents both went to the Stewart Indian School, which was a boarding school in Carson City, Nevada.

In Navajo culture, people belong to different clans. Jennifer Denetdale is part of the Zia (or Weaver) Clan, and she was born for the Salt People Clan. Her grandfathers on her mother's side are from the Red House clan, and her grandfathers on her father's side are from the Water-Running-Together Clan.

Education and Mentors

Jennifer Denetdale earned her master's degree in English from Northern Arizona University (NAU). Later, in 1999, she received her doctorate degree in history from NAU. She was the very first person of Diné (Navajo) background to earn a Ph.D. in History.

She credits two of her former professors, Luci Tapahonso and Louis Owens, as important mentors. They helped guide her during her journey to get a higher education.

Books and Presentations

Professor Denetdale has written books and essays, and given many talks about Navajo history and culture. Here are some of her works:

• Indigenous Leadership and Gender in the 21st Century
• The Long Walk: The Forced Navajo Exile
• Nation to Nation: 09 Bad Acts / Bad Paper - Jennifer Nez Denetdale
• Reclaiming Navajo History
• Reclaiming Diné History The Legacies of Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita
• Nothing Left for Me: Federal Policy and the Photography of Milton Snow in Diné Bikéyah

Awards and Recognition

Jennifer Nez Denetdale has received several awards for her important work:

• Rainbow Naatsilid True Colors award
• UNM Faculty of Color Award
• UNM Sarah Brown Belle award (2013)
• Excellence in Diné Studies (2015)
• UNM Presidential Award of Distinction (2017)

In 2015, she was chosen to give a special speech to the 23rd Navajo Nation Council. This was a great honor and showed how much her work is valued.