Ádahooníłígíí
Encyclopedia
Ádahooníłígíí was a monthly newspaper that appeared in the Southwestern United States
in the 1940s and early 1950s. After the Cherokee Phoenix
, it was the second regularly circulating newspaper in the United States
that was written in a Native American Indian
language. It was the first newspaper published in Navajo, and to this day, it remains the only publication of its kind that had been written entirely in Navajo.
in Window Rock, Arizona
and contributed to the standardization
of Navajo orthography
, as the only widely available texts intended for a Navajo audience up to that point had been religious publications and parts of Diyin God Bizaad – the Bible
. Its first issue appeared in 1943. The paper was edited by Robert W. Young and William Morgan, Sr. who had also worked on The Navajo Language: A Grammar and Colloquial Dictionary which serves as the standard reference work to this day.
The newspaper was printed on a single folded sheet of newsprint and distributed through the chapter houses
. From 1943 to 1947, it was written entirely in Navajo; after that, articles were published bilingually or with an English summary of its contents. In its early years, the paper's main editorial function was to convey the opinions of "Wááshindoon"
regarding World War II
to the Navajo people and to provide a connection between those Navajos who served in the United States military
and those who had remained at home.
As the effects of the federal government's Indian termination policy
reached the Navajo Nation
, the paper's funding was withdrawn and Ádahooníłígíí ceased publication in 1957. Shortly thereafter, the Navajo Times
– written in English
– began being published, and it remains the Navajo Nation's main print-medium to this day.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 1940s and early 1950s. After the Cherokee Phoenix
Cherokee Phoenix
The Cherokee Phoenix was the first newspaper published by Native Americans in the United States and the first published in a Native American language. The first issue was published in English and Cherokee on February 21, 1828, in New Echota, capital of the Cherokee Nation . The paper continued...
, it was the second regularly circulating newspaper in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that was written in a Native American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
language. It was the first newspaper published in Navajo, and to this day, it remains the only publication of its kind that had been written entirely in Navajo.
History
Ádahooníłígíí was published by the Navajo Agency of the Bureau of Indian AffairsBureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
in Window Rock, Arizona
Window Rock, Arizona
Window Rock is the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a sovereign Native American nation in North America. Window Rock contains the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park, as well as the Navajo Nation World War II Memorial...
and contributed to the standardization
Standard language
A standard language is a language variety used by a group of people in their public discourse. Alternatively, varieties become standard by undergoing a process of standardization, during which it is organized for description in grammars and dictionaries and encoded in such reference works...
of Navajo orthography
Orthography
The orthography of a language specifies a standardized way of using a specific writing system to write the language. Where more than one writing system is used for a language, for example Kurdish, Uyghur, Serbian or Inuktitut, there can be more than one orthography...
, as the only widely available texts intended for a Navajo audience up to that point had been religious publications and parts of Diyin God Bizaad – the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Its first issue appeared in 1943. The paper was edited by Robert W. Young and William Morgan, Sr. who had also worked on The Navajo Language: A Grammar and Colloquial Dictionary which serves as the standard reference work to this day.
The newspaper was printed on a single folded sheet of newsprint and distributed through the chapter houses
Chapter house (Navajo Nation)
A Chapter house is an administrative, communal meeting place on the territory of the Navajo Nation where residents have a forum to express their opinions to their Navajo Nation Council Delegate or to decide on matters concerning their chapter. As of January 2004, there were a total of 110 such...
. From 1943 to 1947, it was written entirely in Navajo; after that, articles were published bilingually or with an English summary of its contents. In its early years, the paper's main editorial function was to convey the opinions of "Wááshindoon"
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
regarding World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to the Navajo people and to provide a connection between those Navajos who served in the United States military
Code talker
Code talkers was a term used to describe people who talk using a coded language. It is frequently used to describe 400 Native American Marines who served in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages...
and those who had remained at home.
As the effects of the federal government's Indian termination policy
Indian termination policy
Indian termination was the policy of the United States from the mid-1940s to the mid-1960s. The belief was that Native Americans would be better off if assimilated as individuals into mainstream American society. To that end, Congress proposed to end the special relationship between tribes and the...
reached the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
, the paper's funding was withdrawn and Ádahooníłígíí ceased publication in 1957. Shortly thereafter, the Navajo Times
Navajo Times
The Navajo Times – known during the early 1980s as Navajo Times Today – is a newspaper created by the Navajo Tribal Council in 1959, which later became the first daily newspaper published by a Native American Indian Nation...
– written in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
– began being published, and it remains the Navajo Nation's main print-medium to this day.