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Chinle Public School Educational Posters

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-963-OV

Scope and Content

Contains 9 colorful illustrated posters (11" x 17") describing the Diné clan system, the oral history of Diné cosmology, mythology and philosophy and the history of Navajo migrations and settlements. Sixteen posters were added to the collection in April 2023.The posters depict animals, birds, the Navajo cradleboard, Navajo vowels and alphabet, and constellations.

Dates

  • 2013

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biography / History

The Chinle Unified School District #24 and its Federal Programs/Curriculum Center have been developing Navajo culturally related materials for classroom use since early 1980’s. They have created a set of posters depicting the Origin Of The Clans Story through colorful illustrations beginning with The Birth Of White Shell Woman and the role she played in the creation of Navajo clans and to the time where Navajos returned to live in Dinétah, a place where the ancient ones lived. To produce these posters they gathered information from numerous Navajo medicine men and Navajo culture instructors for reference. The cultural stories they used were recorded and written with permission of the storytellers and some versions have been passed on for many generations through oral teachings of the elders. The art work which was created based on the stories was then digitized and the lines were refined and colors added using computer graphics. It is the district's hope that these materials be utilized and appreciated by whoever uses them because they believe that the clans and the stories are essential in teaching about family values, self identity and the importance of kinship.

Source: Chinle Unified School District #24 Curriculum Center web page

Extent

25 Posters

Abstract

Educational posters of Diné (Navajo) cultural and religious emergence stories, migration and settlement history.
Title
Finding aid of Chinle Public School Educational Posters, 2013
Status
Completed
Date
© 2016
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English, Navajo

Revision Statements

  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451