Set to launch in late January, ‘Navajo Highways’ looks to revitalize the Navajo language
Pete Sands grew up speaking the Navajo language, but he realizes this is no longer the case for many Navajo children. The “Navajo Times” reported that in 1980, 93 percent of the Navajo population spoke the language. In 2010, the percentage of speakers dropped to just 51 percent.
Sands believes this is detrimental both for the youth’s relationships with their elders and the Navajo culture itself.
“Once the language is gone, then the culture ceases to exist, or it ceases to have the impact it used to,” Sands told the Sun.
Sands believes that the drop in the number of those who speak the Navajo language can largely be attributed to the increase in outside influences. He didn’t learn to speak English until he went to elementary school. But with TV and media, children are exposed to outside influences at a much earlier age and much more frequently than he was.
One way to respond to this growing problem is to encourage young people to learn the language, and Sands decided a great way to do that would be through a program for kids.
“People learn visually,” Sands pointed out. “If we watch somebody do something, instead of telling us how to do it, it’s easier for people to learn.”
Sands has worked as a musician and filmmaker. Through his work on the show “Yellowstone,” Sands connected with screenwriter Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan helped Sands learn about the industry, including screenwriting.
In 2019, Sands was invited to the set of “Sesame Street” where he got a behind-the-scenes look at how the puppets come to life. Sands also sat in on a classroom where a teacher used a puppet to communicate with her students. These experiences convinced him that a puppet show for kids could be an effective way to help them learn the Navajo language.
Sands’ show entitled “Navajo Highways” follows the life of a young Navajo girl named Sadie. He’s worked hard to make the set and the characters as authentic as possible. While a green screen is used for some settings, physical sets were designed for places like Sadie’s house.
“I want to make sure that the backgrounds and the homes the characters live in reflect the people who live here on the reservation,” Sands said.
While Sands has experience with filmmaking and screenwriting, he doesn’t have experience teaching language. Since the main purpose of the show is to help kids learn the Navajo language, Sands brought in Mabel Martin to host the show. Martin has worked in education for around 15 years. Though Martin learned the Navajo language as a child and is fluent, one day when a student asked how to say a word, it took her a while to remember.
“I had to think about it, and it took me by surprise. I thought, ‘I better find a way, so I don’t forget my language.’” Martin said. “It was happening because I didn’t use it.”
Soon, a position at her school opened up for a Navajo culture teacher, and Martin quickly took the job. Since then, she has worked to find enjoyable ways to teach her students the language, including recording videos and posting them on YouTube. All this experience has helped prepare Martin for her role hosting the show.
“I just see those puppets as my students in my classroom,” Martin said. “I’m just using those skills of how I speak to my students and how I interact with my students.”
In addition to Martin, Sands has between five and seven people helping him with the show, and he’s working to teach them how to embody the puppets and bring the show to life. He’s grateful for Martin’s expertise in the language, because he knows that for the program to be a success, it needs to be accurate, as well as entertaining.
“Mabel interprets the Navajo, like how to say [things] correctly and how to use [words] correctly. We want to make sure we do it right, and we don’t just throw words around every now and then.” Sands said. “It’s a teaching show.”
“We haven’t lost the language yet, but it’s asleep.” Martin said. “We’re going to wake it up and inspire our youth.
“When I teach the language, I don’t just teach it to my students; I have to inspire them.”
“Navajo Highways” will be available on YouTube beginning Jan. 30.
By Rachel Pfeiffer
Sun Correspondent
