Ya' at' eeh - Hello Friends

Diné Bé Iiná’ was founded in 1991. Our mission is to restore the balance between Navajo culture, life, and land. We seek to preserve, protect, and promote the Diné way of life.

"Sheep is Life" is our flagship event.  2016 will be our 20th anual celebration. This three day event is offered free to the public. It includes educational programs on sheep production, fiber arts; culinary arts featuring lamb and traditional foods; a Navajo-Churro sheep and wool show; group discussion of important issues; demonstrations on Navajo weaving, felting, spinning, dying and other arts and crafts; an awards ceremony that includes the Youth Horizon Leadership Award, the Gold Tooth Begay Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Shepherdes of the year Award. We attract 250 or more participants from all across Navajo Nation, the Four Corners Region and beyond. The Dine College and Land Grant Office are our hosts.

We are asking our freinds and supporters to lend a hand as volunteers and or make a financial contribution to help cover our expenses for Sheep is Life. Our expenses include stipends for presentors, facilities, sheep and wool show costs, equipment, and staff for this year's 2016 Sheep is Life Celebration.

Our programs help people learn about and honor the Dine’ lifeways which revolve around land stewardship, traditional shepherding, agriculture, weaving and the extended family. We seek to address the needs of Diné sheep and goat producers with a focus on, but not be restricted to the Navajo-Churro Sheep and promote a community-based food system.

By encouraging local leadership, cross-generational interaction, and providing “train the trainer” experiences for Diné presenters we are building capacity for cultural expression and self suficiency.

In addition to the annual Sheep is Life event, other core outreach, community development and educational programs sponsored by Diné Bé Iiná (DBI) include community based Spinoff Groups, the Navajo-Churro Lamb Presidium, and mini Sheep is Life events.  We collaborate with Northern Dine Youth Council and other youth programs, Tribal Extension and Land Grant Office, Diné College, and Crown Point Technological College on events they sponsor. Our aim is to be sustainable in providing community outreach, build grassroots involvement in our organization, and encourage a leadership ethic with a focus on youth.

Your assistance will be appreciated.

Ahéhee', Thank you