UNM’s Denetdale Joins the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission

Jen­nifer Nez Denetdale

Uni­ver­sity of New Mex­ico Asso­ciate Pro­fes­sor of Amer­i­can Stud­ies Jen­nifer Nez Denet­dale is fill­ing the posi­tion on the Navajo Nation Human Rights Com­mis­sion that requires an “exten­sive back­ground in edu­ca­tion,” accord­ing to the Commission.

Her appoint­ment was con­firmed on Mon­day, Aug. 1, at the Naabik’iyati’ Com­mit­tee of the Navajo Nation Coun­cil was unan­i­mous. She was rec­om­mended by the Navajo Nation Coun­cil Speaker Johnny Naize to the Naabik’iyati’ Committee.

Denet­dale joins Com­mis­sioner Chair­per­son Duane H. Yazzie, Com­mis­sioner Vice-Chairperson Clarence Chee, Com­mis­sioner Steve Dar­den, and Com­mis­sioner Irv­ing Glea­son; and direct seven staff mem­bers for the Com­mis­sion. Denet­dale will serve the remain­der of the term of the vacated posi­tion from the time of appoint­ment to July 2012.

Dur­ing her term, Denet­dale will guide staff at the Com­mis­sion involv­ing areas of civil and human rights, includ­ing but not lim­ited to, employ­ment, hous­ing, cul­tural and intel­lec­tual prop­erty, sacred sites, race dis­crim­i­na­tion, advis­ing accord­ingly as the edu­ca­tional rep­re­sen­ta­tive to the Commission.

As the first-ever Diné/Navajo to earn a Ph.D. in his­tory, Denet­dale is a strong advo­cate for Native peo­ples and strives to fos­ter aca­d­e­mic excel­lence in the next gen­er­a­tion of stu­dents inter­ested in Native Stud­ies. Denet­dale spe­cial­izes in Navajo his­tory and cul­ture; Native Amer­i­can women, gen­der, and fem­i­nisms; and Indige­nous nations, colo­nial­ism and decolonization.

Her book, Reclaim­ing Diné His­tory: The Lega­cies of Navajo Chief Manuelito and Juanita, was pub­lished by the Uni­ver­sity of Ari­zona Press in 2007, received pos­i­tive reviews. Her book for young adults, The Long Walk: The Forced Exile of the Navajo, was pub­lished by Chelsea House in 2007. Denet­dale recently pub­lished the arti­cle, “Secur­ing the Navajo National Bound­aries: War, Patri­o­tism, Tra­di­tion, and the Diné Mar­riage Act of 2005,” for a spe­cial issue on Native Fem­i­nisms in Wicazo Sa Review. She was the co-editor of the spe­cial issue. Last sum­mer she was guest cura­tor for the exhibit, “Hastiin Ch’ilhajíní dóó Diné bi naat’áanii Bahane’: Chief Manuelito & Navajo Lead­ers,” at the Navajo Nation Museum. Her cur­rent research project is a his­tory of Navajo women.

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Com­mis­sion is an autho­rized entity of the Navajo Nation leg­isla­tive branch to advo­cate for Navajo human rights and to address dis­crim­i­na­tory acts against Navajo citizens.

The Commission’s office is located in St. Michaels, where Com­mis­sion­ers meet reg­u­larly every first Fri­day of each month. Com­mis­sioner meet­ings are open to the public.

Media Con­tact: Car­olyn Gon­za­les (505) 277‑5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu