SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and First Lady Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren met with Diné children’s book author Janessa Parker on December 11 for a meaningful discussion focused on cultural preservation, language revitalization, and the power of storytelling. Parker, author of “I Am the Sun,” shared her personal journey learning the Navajo language and her motivation to create children’s books that reflect Diné identity, values, and lived experiences.
The meeting held special meaning for the First Lady, who has read “I Am the Sun” to her two children. She and President Nygren expressed appreciation for Parker’s work, noting how her stories create space for Navajo children to see themselves reflected in literature while encouraging language learning at an early age.
President Nygren highlighted his Administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Navajo language revitalization, including plans to deliver future radio addresses fully in Navajo and support bilingual Navajo-English publications. He also discussed current collaborations with Navajo language advisor Peter Thomas, who brings decades of experience in teaching and interpreting the language, and emphasized the importance of making Navajo literature more accessible to families and schools.
The conversation explored potential next steps, including translating I Am the Sun into Navajo and English, adding Navajo titles to the book, recording the author reading the Navajo version to support accurate pronunciation, and exploring future Navajo-English children’s book projects.
“This kind of work matters,” President Nygren said. “Our language carries our teachings, our worldview, and our identity. When children can hear and see Navajo in books created for them, it strengthens who they are and who we are as a Nation.”
The informal meeting reflected a shared commitment to preserving Diné culture, uplifting Navajo voices, and ensuring the Navajo language continues to thrive for future generations.
