Marjorie “Grandma” Thomas Navajo Educator

March 13, 2013 by

Marjorie “Grandma” Thomas, an educator, author and fundraiser 

She was born in Ganado in 1931, and as a child was sent to the Ganado Mission Indian boarding school, which she hated. Her mother, Naanibaa Gorman, worked as a health care worker and translator.

Marjorie "Grandma" Thomas, an educator, author and fundraiser

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

Marjorie said “When I went to the boarding school we were punished for speaking Navajo. I made up my mind not to have something that was mine taken away from me.”

So she quit school and got married.and raised eight children.
At age 29, upon the urging of her husband, she went back to school for her General Education Diploma.

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After graduating from Farmington, New Mexico, High School, she helped start the Navajo language program in Chinle, Arizona

She was a teacher and principal in Tuba City and served as a principal and Associate Superintendent for the Chinle Unified School District. and has worked with curriculum and school reform for over 30 years.

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She has served as a a teacher, bilingual coordinator, and principal in schools on the Navajo Nation and has worked with curriculum and school reform for over 30 years.

She has a BA in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University, an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of New Mexico

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In recognition of her efforts she received an honorary doctorate from the University of New Mexico and from Diné College.

Marjorie Thomas continues to use her language as a storyteller and as an advocate for youth. She is known as “Grandma Thomas” to the youth of the Navajo Nation.

Now retired, Marjorie Thomas wrote two children’s books, printed in both, Navajo and English:
White Nose the Sheep Dog by Marjorie W. Thomas (Dec 1, 2000)
Bidii by Marjorie W. Thomas (Dec 1, 2000)

She a founded and continues to raise funds for the Central Navajo Youth Opportunity Coalition. For many years Grandma Marjorie Thomas, has led an annual walk from Chinle to Window Rock to raise money to build a youth center in the Central Navajo Agency.

 

This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2009.

It contains stories Grandma Marjorie Thomas of Chinle, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about her life.

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation Museum, Navajo Nation Library, Winona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

 

Navajo People Website Links:

Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

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Ruth Roessel, Navajo Educator (Video)

January 31, 2013 by

Ruth Roessel, an educator and founder of the Rough Rock Community School in Rough Rock, Arizona on the Navajo Nation.

In addition, Ruth and her husband, Bob Roessel, are credited with helping to found Navajo Community College in the 1960s– Now Diné College.

Ruth Roessel with Navajo Rug

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

She was director of Native American Studies at Rough Rock Community School and a principal at Round Rock Elementary School. She was active in the American Federation of Teachers, Navajo Women’s Association, North American Indian Women’s Association, and the Arizona Women in Higher Education.

Ruth Roessel Interview Navajo Oral History Project

 Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

Ruth Roessel with her husband Bob Roessel are remembered for their work and dedication that led to the founding of both the Rough Rock Demonstration School in 1966 and Navajo Community College, now Diné College, in 1968.

 

Ruth Roessel, Navajo Educator in Office

Photo by Tom Grier/Navajo Oral History Project.

She and her husband were devoted to helping the Navajo people maintain their cultural identity, know their history, embrace the Navajo language, and treat others with respect and k’e.

Books by Ruth W. Roessel:

Navajo livestock reduction : a national disgrace
Navajo stories of the long walk period
Navajo studies at Navajo Community College
Papers on Navajo culture and life
Women in Navajo society

Ruth Roessel died in april of 2012 in Cortez, Colorado, after a brief illness. She was 77.

 

This documentary film was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2009.

It contains stories Harry Walters of Cove, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about his life.

This documentary film is archived at the Navajo Nation Museum, Navajo Nation Library, Winona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State UniversityMass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation

 

Navajo People Website Links:

Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

 

 

 

Filed Under: Navajo Oral History Project Tagged With: , , , , ,

Navajo Educator and Leader Lettie Nave (Video)

November 3, 2012 by

This documentary film contains stories Lettie Nave (Navajo) of Tsaile, Arizona, told the students during several hours of interviews about her life.

It was researched, photographed, edited and produced by students of Winona State University (Winona, Minnesota) and Diné College (Tsaile, Arizona, Navajo Nation) during summer 2010.

This film is archived at the Navajo Nation Museum, Navajo Nation Library, Winona State University Library, and Diné College Library, and will be archived at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

The film is part of the Navajo Oral History project, a multi-year collaboration between the Winona State University Mass Communication Department and Diné College– The official Tribal College of the Navajo Nation.

 

Navajo People Website Links:
Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language – Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

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