Living Voices: The Diné Elders Project:
Featuring Dudley Yazzie
Preserving Navajo Voices of Wisdom for Present and Future Generations
On August 21 – 24, 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdowns on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, Dudley Yazzie, a 99-year old Diné (Navajo) tribal elder and medicine man, recounted his life stories, teachings, and sacred creation stories in order to preserve them on film for future generations. These important film recordings, translations, and subtitles were digitally recorded and edited in high definition resolution by Purple Root Productions in White Cone, Arizona and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Native consultants, contributors, production assistants, translators, interpreters, and narrators were all Navajos from the same family or clan as Dudley Yazzie.
Diné in Navajo means “The People.”
Its foundation is based on teachings and ceremonies passed down orally from the men and women elders within a clan. We must recognize that Diné elders are a precious resource that have untapped ancient knowledge gained through centuries of teachings.
Their wisdom and prophesies are treasures to a world looking for a better way to live. Unfortunately this knowledge has not been adequately recorded and preserved over the last few decades. Time is running out to preserve their wisdom that still has an unbroken line to the past. The Living Voices project is dedicated to the preservation of Diné ancient teachings through recording the vocal record and images of these elders before they’re gone.
Please join us for this time sensitive project before the ancient wisdom and knowledge of the Diné disappears forever.