Yazzie Case

Wendy S. Greyeyes (Diné) is an assistant professor of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico and a research consultant with the Department of Diné Education. Lloyd L. Lee (Diné) is a professor of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico and the director for the Center for Regional Studies. Glenabah Martinez (Taos/Diné) is an associate professor in the Department of Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies at the University of New Mexico and the director of the Institute for American Indian Education.

An unchanged education effectuated by systems and institutions not designed for us will continue to marginalize our Indigenous people and children. The heart of this continuing fight is for justice and equity. It is about the right to exist as we choose. Wilhelmina Yazzie personalizes the heartbreaking story of generations of parents in this struggle. She eloquently speaks of her love of her language and culture and the value of a balanced education, treating both as equally valuable for the health of our children and the future well-being of our people."The Yazzie Case is an extraordinarily and profoundly compelling call to action. It should be read by policymakers and educators at all levels. The book provides a history that should be required reading for us to realize what we are doing to ourselves in a state where 80 percent of our children come from linguistic and culturally different backgrounds. That is what enriches our diversity. We must act to do the right thing for the right reasons at the right time. This is the time!"—Regis Pecos, former governor of Cochiti Pueblo"A critically important collection. . . . The text offers high-quality educational and Indigenous education research, and it proposes recommendations and insights for practitioners in the field. Practitioners, lawyers, educators, parents, undergraduate and graduate students, policymakers, and white, non-Native public school teachers--all those who are invested in the education of our Native children will benefit."—John P. Hopkins, author of Indian Education for All: Decolonizing Indigenous Education in Public Schools"A superb collection of essays analyzing the issues involved in the Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit and what needs to be done to fully implement the judge's decision supporting the plaintiffs."—Jon Allan Reyhner, coauthor of American Indian Education: A History

• List of IllustrationsList of TablesPrefaceWilhelmina YazzieIntroduction. An Examination of the Yazzie Side of the Martinez/Yazzie LawsuitWendy S. Greyeyes, Lloyd L. Lee, and Glenabah MartinezPart I. The CaseChapter One. The Legal Significance and Background of the Yazzie/Martinez LawsuitPreston SanchezChapter Two. Post-Summit Report on the Yazzie/Martinez Ruling: Action ReportGlenabah Martinez, Terri Flowerday, Lloyd L. Lee, Leola Paquin, Wendy S. Greyeyes, Nathaniel Charley, and Carlotta Penny BirdChapter Three. Witness Perspective from a Mother and AcademicGeorgina BadoniChapter Four. The Significance of the New Mexico Indian Education Act in the Yazzie/Martinez CaseCarlotta Penny BirdPart II. The ResponseChapter Five. The New Mexico Public Education Department Response: An Analysis of the 2021 Strategic Plan to Resolve the Yazzie/Martinez CaseWendy S. GreyeyesChapter Six. Navajo Nation's Response to the Yazzie/Martinez Case: Implications for Navajo Nation's Educational SovereigntyAlexandra Bray Kinsella, Navajo Nation Department of Justice Attorney (2018-2021)Chapter Seven. Narratives and Responses to Yazzie/Martinez: Tribal Consultation and Community EngagementNatalie MartinezChapter Eight. The Department of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico: Role and Responsibilities with the Yazzie v. New Mexico Education RulingLloyd L. LeePart III. The FutureChapter Nine. The Yazzie/Martinez Ruling: The Politics of Culturally Relevant CurriculumGlenabah MartinezChapter Ten. The Complexities of Language Learning for New Mexico's Indigenous StudentsChristine Sims and Rebecca Blum MartínezChapter Eleven. Diné Language Teacher Institute and Language Immersion EducationTiffany S. Lee, Vincent Werito, and Melvatha R. CheeChapter Twelve. Lessons from the Past: Fifty Years after Sinajini v. Board of Education of San Juan School DistrictCynthia Benally and Donna DeyhleChapter Thirteen. Promoting Solidarity for Social Justice and Indigenous Educational Sovereignty in the Cuba Independent School DistrictLeola Tsinnajinnie Paquin, Shiv R. Desai, Vincent Werito, Nancy López, and Karen Sanchez-GriegoConclusion. Constructing Critically Conscious Race Policy for Our State: The Case for a Re-racialization and Indigenizing of Our Education PoliciesWendy S. Greyeyes and Navajo Nation president Jonathan NezAppendix A. Teaching Recommendations for this BookAppendix B. Martinez/Yazzie v. State of New Mexico Lawsuit TimelineBibliographyContributorsIndex