The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature, which was inspired by a comment between a student and professor at San Juan College (SJC), was recently published through the University of Arizona Press. The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature honors over 30 contributors and weaves their experiences in a reflective volume to be enjoyed by anyone interested in Diné culture, identity, and language.
Some years ago, before her retirement from the English department, Dr. Connie Jacobs had a serendipitous conversation with her student Byron Aspaas after a class in which she had introduced local poets such as Luci Tapahonso. Afterwards, Aspaas commented that he didn’t even realize there were Navajo writers. From that moment, Dr. Jacobs was on a quest to collaborate with her friends and colleagues Esther G. Belin, Jeff Berglund, and Anthony Webster in collecting, compiling and celebrating the myriad voices and experiences of Diné writers in the region, including Aspaas, who is now a writer himself.
Anthology Writers/Editors Have Strong Ties to San Juan College
More than a collection of poems, stories and essays, this anthology celebrates the relationships that have developed among the writers and editors themselves. In addition to Dr. Jacobs, professor emerita, and Aspaas, who graduated from SJC before continuing to the Institute of American Indian Arts for his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Fine Arts degrees, this anthology includes Michael Thompson, former director of the Alternative Licensure Program, who wrote the Resources for Teachers and Reader. Both Tacey (Sáanii) Atcitty and Esther Belin are former instructors in the English department, and their poetry is featured in the anthology.
Many of the writers in the anthology have read or performed at San Juan College over the years, including Gloria Emerson, Tina Descheenie, Luci Tapahonso, Rex Lee Jim, Venaya Yazzie and Sherwin Bitsui. Reading their selections in the anthology is like welcoming them to campus again.
The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature was officially launched in April by the University of Arizona Press, and the following week Dr. Andrea Cooper coordinated a virtual reading with SJC’s One Book One Community in conjunction with Joy Harjo’s memoir Crazy Brave. More plans are underway for events throughout the region to introduce and inspire the next generation of students and writers, including a reading on campus on November 11. Copies of The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature are available at SJC Library and Bookstore.