K’ÉMMUNITY
Háíla (Who is) Dr. Andy Nez?
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Dr. Andy Nez, 25th Navajo Nation Council
Representing Chapters: Fort Defiance - AZ | Sawmill - AZ | Crystal - NM | Red Lake - NM
Yá'át'ééh shik'éí, shidine'é. Tł'ógi nishłį, Tódich'iinii bashishchiin, Táchii'nii da shicheii dóó Tł'ááshchi'í da shinalí. Andy Nez 'éí shízhi' dóó Tséhootsooí dóó náhookosjigo Ts'idiilyisiitah dahojiní, 'aadi ch'ishikee'. I am of the Weaver Clan born for the Bitter Water People. My maternal grandfathers are the Red Running into the Water People and my paternal grandfathers are the Red Bottom Cheek People. My name is Andy Nez, and my roots stem from a community north of Fort Defiance, AZ, called Rabbitbrush. My mother is Geraldine Nez and my late father was Andrew Nez. My maternal grandparents are the late John and Esther Harvey and my paternal grandparents are the late Julius and Margaret Nez. My paternal lineage stems from Blue Canyon, AZ.
As a longtime residence of Rabbitbrush, I grew up alongside my maternal grandmother's teachings. She epitomized and instilled into me the values of k'é and building community. #K'émmunity is a concept that shaped me at a very early age. To me, this concept embodies our contribution to community through our values of k'é. As we persist with appreciating, building, and improving the state of our communities, k'é is our fundamental foundation that should perpetuate a mission of committment to keeping our communities flourishing. I am committed to working with you all as we plant seeds throughout our communities - that we all can continue to nourish into fruition...and ultimately, our product becomes more seeds that eventually lead to a field and cycle that preserves activity, longevity, and reciprocity.
I am a proud alum to Navajo Pine High School in Navajo, NM. Following my graduation, I pursued higher education to obtain additional tools necessary to give back to our Diné communities. In addition to my Diné upbringing and foundation, I possess a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Mexico in Native American Studies (focus: Building Native Nations) and minored in Navajo Language and Linguistics. I also achieved a Masters in Education (focus: Curriculum and Instruction within Career and Technical education from NAU. And in 2021, I successfully defended my dissertation and earned my educational doctorate in Educational Leadership - Organizational Development from GCU.
Education:
Education is limitless and is not defined and confined based on institutions of Western academia. Yes, our schools can benefit from more advocacy, but they could also be surrounded by additional resources because Navajos thrive in varying ways – thus, working to establish community resources, relying on our community members, enhancing grassroot organizations, investing in our youth, providing ongoing opportunities, and capacity building. Everyone has something to offer – and it is about time we take advantage of it.
Diné Bizaad:
Nihizaad dóó nihi ‘ó’ool’į baa hasti’. Collectively, let’s enrich our community schools, programs, organizations, and environments to become more responsive to Diné bizaad by advocating for support, building curriculum, setting expectations, celebrating diversity and increasing community involvement.
Equality:
Not only must we omit discrimination against our LGBTQ+ relatives, but we need to ensure equal opportunity to the Nation’s vision and mission is visible. NN employees, NN organizations, programs, departments, Veterans, and other populations deserve equal access, treatment and expectation. We should not tolerate barriers and parameters that limit Navajo citizens from having equal opportunity, personally and professionally. For example, housing should not be limited to certain populations based on a criterion but available for our people who seek to make a living in their communities, especially our students who have desires to contribute to our Navajo economy – every seed should be nourished.
K’émmunity:
Whether we celebrate or face obscurity with challenges, k’é is a powerful tool. Our communities face distinct challenges, but we also have lots to celebrate. We have a degree of challenges with roads, infrastructure, housing, access to internet, ARPA funding allocations, or other means that directly affect our families – and k’é is a powerful tool. A tool to use and strategize so that we see progress supported by evidence, that our affected community members are informed, and we build toward celebration. Oh, the possibilities when working together!
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