Diné College, Oldest Indian College, Honors First Baccalaureates

American Indian College Fund
Monday, 1 June 1998

They marched not to "Pomp and Circumstance," but to a medicine man's Traditional Journey Prayer Song. They carried important tribal cultural symbols--a Navajo basket and sacred greasewood staff.

On May 15th, Navajo graduates made history at the nation's first tribal college, as Diné College honored its first baccalaureates at the school's 30th anniversary commencement.

"This institution started in 1968," college president Dr. Tommy Lewis told 2,000 on-lookers. "This was a dream of our elders. Now, we recognize our first baccalaureate students."

Tribal leaders founded Navajo Community College in 1968 because too many Navajo students were failing at public institutions. Renamed Diné College, the school offers accredited degrees with a tribal perspective. The school's educational philosophy encompasses the traditional Navajo living system, which places human life in harmony with the natural world and universe. (Diné is the Navajos' own word for the tribe.)

Serving more than 2,000 students on the 26,000 square mile reservation, the college's eight satellite facilities make it the largest tribal institution. The main campus in Tsaile, Arizona, is designed in the circular, holistic tradition of the Navajo hogan. Sites for learning, dormitories and maintenance are set out as they would be in the traditional home.

"Navajo people, we have to survive as a nation," said commencement speaker Donald Denetdeal, a history professor at the college.

"We made a commitment to teach the Navajo language to our young ones," said graduate Mary Yazzie of Window Rock, Arizona.

Later, family members joined graduates, faculty and the college's board of regents to celebrate the history-making event. One by one, graduates rose to thank husbands, parents and children for their support. Tears flowed along with pride.

"I learned more about myself," said graduate Dorothy Donald of Kayenta, Arizona. Donald waited until two of her three children graduated from high school before returning to college for her four-year degree.

"She's the first person in our family to get a bachelor's degree," said Donald's daughter, Tasha. "Hopefully, I'll be the second."

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