Saad K’idilyé is grounded in the Diné way of life using the stories and teachings of the cornfield as it pertains to child growth and development; the mountains and hogan are applied as thinking and planning tools to root, guide, and design language and holistic learning for our relatives, mothers, fathers, and children in planting the language for future generations.

Saad K’idilyé is a grassroots language and cultural revitalization organization that officially formed in 2020 and is part of the NACA-Inspired Schools Network (a Better Way Foundation grantee partner). Diné tribal members in the Albuquerque area wanted to provide the local urban Diné population with access to Diné language, cultural practices, and ceremonial support. The majority of Diné speakers and cultural experts live on the Navajo Nation territory, which results in most revitalization efforts being inaccessible to non-residents. Saad K’idilyé’s team of educators and Diné speakers organized to become a trusted resource for the 18,000 Diné members in Albuquerque. The program’s founding team decided the best means to building the reconnection to culture and identity was through the formation of a language nest—an immersion-based approach to language revitalization for early childhood learners that relies heavily on intergenerational learning and family engagement.

Better Way’s funding will support Saad K’idilyé in the expansion of its Caretaker Language Apprenticeship Program, specifically the recruitment of fluent Diné speakers for positions in the language nest and the expansion of an infant classroom and an additional toddler classroom. The program intentionally develops teachers in-house through an apprenticeship program that offers hands-on classroom experience, professional development, and more than 1,000 Diné immersion hours. Fluent Caretakers and the Executive Director serve as mentors, providing guidance and immersion opportunities. The program includes time spent with apprentices and Caretakers, apprentice participation in professional development, and monthly wellness check-ins. Apprentices commit to speaking Diné exclusively while assisting Caretakers. Additionally, access to professional development training and monthly check-ins are integral components. The program is built collaboratively with the apprentice cohort to address the unique challenges and needs of the community adults working towards fluency and becoming language teachers.

We are excited to welcome Saad K’idilyé as a partner!