Diné Studies Association

10/12/2026

Happy ✨Áádóó ahxéhee’ nitsaago! Thank you to all who joined us this weekend at the 24th Diné Studies Conference at Fort Lewis College. Your attendance and thoughtful contributions were deeply appreciated and helped make the conference a success.

I hope you will take a few moments to complete our anonymous survey. Your candid feedback will help our team understand what went well, identify opportunities for growth, and continue to improve future events.

10/09/2026

Whether you’re attending the 24th Diné Studies Conference or spending this weekend in Durango, stop by the Student Union Plaza at Fort Lewis College for our Indigenous Market, featuring local artists and small businesses!

What: Indigenous Market
When: THIS Saturday 10/10 and Sunday 10/11, 9:30am-4:30pm
Where: Student Union Plaza @ Fort Lewis College. See the map on the flyer for location!

10/09/2026

➕➕➕➕

📣 CALL FOR DINÉ STUDIES BOARD NOMINATIONS!

The Diné Studies Association is seeking to fill FOUR (4) Board seats, and we invite you to nominate yourself or another individual who is committed to supporting Diné culture, language, scholarship, and community.

Board member expectations include:
• Contributing an average of 3 hours per month, increasing to up to 5 hours per month in the lead-up to the next symposium/conference.
• Supporting the planning, coordination, and fundraising efforts for DSA symposiums and conferences.
• Attending all Diné Studies Board meetings throughout the duration of the term.
• Participating in a post-election orientation to review the organization’s bylaws and connect with current Board Directors.

📍 IMPORTANT: All nominees must attend the Business Meeting on Sunday, October 11, 2026, to share their background and express their interest in serving on the Board.

📝 Ready to nominate? Scan the QR code to access the nomination form. You may nominate yourself or another individual.

Serving on the Board is an opportunity to contribute your time, knowledge, and leadership to an organization dedicated to upholding Diné culture and language, promoting ethical and responsible research, and strengthening the exchange of ideas within our community.

Help shape the future of Diné Studies! 🪶

10/07/2026

➕➕➕➕

TWO DAYS AWAY! 🪶✨

The 24th Diné Studies Conference is almost here! Join us this weekend at Fort Lewis College for Halee Bee Nánís’dzá - Pathways back to the Homeland.

This gathering brings together Diné knowledge holders, elders, scholars, educators, students, artists, and community members to share knowledge, stories, culture, and experiences.

Here’s a glimpse of what to expect:

🌄 FRIDAY, OCT. 9 — Pre-Conference
Join us for a cultural outing to Dibé Nitsaa, followed by a pre-conference reception. The cultural outing is free and open to the public.

📚 SATURDAY, OCT. 10 — Conference Day 1
Start the day with a blessing and welcome, followed by plenary sessions, book talks, panels, and presentations exploring Diné governance, history, culture, education, community, and contemporary issues.

🌎 SUNDAY, OCT. 11 — Conference Day 2
Continue the conversation with plenary sessions, roundtables, and presentations focused on land protection, cultural knowledge, community experiences, and pathways for carrying Diné knowledge forward.

📲 Want to see the full program, speakers, session descriptions, and schedule? Scan the QR code on this post or visit dinestudies.org/2026-registration.

🎟️ SAME-DAY REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE!
It’s not too late to join us. Registration for non-elders and non-students includes lunch and refreshments for all three days. Special rates are available for students and elders, and Fort Lewis College students attend FREE!

Come listen. Come learn. Come share. Come be part of the gathering.

09/19/2026

Coming Home Nihikéyah Photo and Essay Contest! Undergraduate Native Students from any university! Win $500 for your essay. Submit a photo and a 500 word essay that answers the question: “What does coming home mean to you and how is home expressed in your photograph?” Photograph and Essay is due Monday, October 5, 2026. The winner will be announced at the upcoming Diné Studies Association Conference on October 11, 2026 at Fort Lewis College. Do not us AI tools to generate responses. Please e-mail your 300KB png or jpg, along with your 500 word essay. Include your name, tribe, clans, hometown, university, and grade level. Committee will review the entries: Lloyd L. Lee, Wendy S. Greyeyes, and Ebony Gonzalez. Send materials to [email protected] dinestudies Navajo Nation Library

09/19/2026

Call for Vendors!

Call for vendors at the 24th Diné Studies Conference! Limited vending space available! If you or someone you know is interested in vending at our conference, complete an application TODAY! Vendor applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026. Scan the QR code or visit https://forms.gle/3tLRyF1jHo2E1kZ87 to complete an application.

09/19/2026

Our conference agenda is now live! Visit https://dinestudies.org/2026dsaconferenceprogram or scan the QR to see all the events and presentations for the 24th Diné Studies Conference in Durango, CO October 9-11. Register today!

09/19/2026

Call for vendors at the 24th Diné Studies Conference! Limited vending space available! If you or someone you know is interested in vending at our conference, complete an application TODAY! Vendor applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026. Scan the QR code or visit https://forms.gle/3tLRyF1jHo2E1kZ87 to complete an application.

09/15/2026

The Diné Studies Association is an all-volunteer, Native-run organization and we are taking time before our next conference to highlight our board leadership.

Isabella Shey Robbins is a scholar, curator, & educator from Cameron, AZ. She received her Ph.D. in the History of Art and American Studies from Yale University in May 2026. She has over a decade of teaching, curatorial, & research experience. Broadly, her research considers contemporary artists’ relationship to indigeneity (as both an identity and a concept), land, and transit, as well as the cultural, environmental, and legal histories across Australia, Canada, and the U.S. Her research has been supported by the School for Advanced Research where she held the Katrin H. Lamon Fellowship (2024-25) and the Center for the Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art where she was a Chester Dale Fellow (2024-26). She also earned an M.A. in Public Humanities from Brown University and a B.A. in Art History from Stanford University. In fall 2026, she will join the Art History department at the University of Arizona as an assistant professor. She proudly serves as the treasurer of the Diné Studies Association.

Here’s a great article published by the Navajo Times, covering Isabella’s most recent accomplishment 🎓:

https://navajotimes.com/reznews/find-your-rhythm-chief-manuelito-scholars-prepare-for-college-with-lessons-from-those-who-came-before/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUWgnlwZG9mBWZkaWQWUOc7-xR4TBRBMhT2Fnb_6Cb2YXoxPWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6Hb6xcrUxNJbkG73pNKr0eflgIyJyiaAZkT2jFYccTMUXEd7mjOpaxbmub9Q_aem_sZXjakTlo-__JaM_6jeRuw