Guided by the Mountains

Navajo Political Philosophy and Governance

Michael Lerma, Foreword by Avery Denny, and Afterword by Robert Yazzie

The first book to present Indigenous philosophy as the foundation behind traditional and contemporary governance
Incorporates both visual interpretations (in the form of schema) and narrative accounts on traditional and contemporary Diné institutions of government from Dine philosophers to explain how Diné governance institutions operated during Pre-Contact and Post-Contact times
Advances a coherent analysis of Navajo institutions, while also providing a first-time normative account of Diné philosophy

Guided by the Mountains

Navajo Political Philosophy and Governance

Michael Lerma, Foreword by Avery Denny, and Afterword by Robert Yazzie

Description

What do traditional Indigenous institutions of governance offer to our understanding of the contemporary challenges faced by the Navajo Nation today and tomorrow? Guided by the Mountains looks at the tensions between Indigenous political philosophy and the challenges faced by Indigenous nations in building political institutions that address contemporary problems and enact "good governance." Specifically, it looks at Navajo, or Diné, political thought, focusing on traditional Diné institutions that offer "a new (old) understanding of contemporary governance challenges" facing the Navajo Nation.

Arguing not only for the existence but also the persistence of traditional Navajo political thought and policy, Guided by the Mountains asserts that "traditional" Indigenous philosophy provides a model for creating effective governance institutions that address current issues faced by Indigenous nations. Incorporating both visual interpretations and narrative accounts of traditional and contemporary Diné institutions of government from Diné philosophers, the book is the first to represent Indigenous philosophy as the foundation behind traditional and contemporary governance. It also explains how Diné governance institutions operated during Pre-Contact and Post-Contact times. This path-breaking book stands as the first-time normative account of Diné philosophy.

Guided by the Mountains

Navajo Political Philosophy and Governance

Michael Lerma, Foreword by Avery Denny, and Afterword by Robert Yazzie

LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
FOREWORD: IS THERE A NAVAJO GOOD GOVERNANCE? by Hataalii Avery Denny
INTRODUCTION: DZIl LEEZH - ENTER, EXIT, and RETURN HOME
CHAPTER I: SISNAAJINI (Mount Taylor) - PHILOSOPHY OF DINÉ THINKING
CHAPTER II: TSOODZIL (Mount Blanca) - INTERRUPTED PLANNING IN THE HISTORY OF DINÉ GOVERNANCE
CHAPTER III: DOOK'O'OSLIID (San Francisco Peaks) - LIVING CONCEPTS OF DINÉ GOVERNANCE
CHAPTER IV: TEARING DOWN 'IINÁ HOOGHAN - CONCEPTS OF MODERN NAVAJO NATION GOVERNANCE
CHAPTER V: DIBÉ NITSAA (Mount Hesperus) - REGENERATING CONCEPTS OF DINÉ GOVERNANCE
CHAPTER VI: DZILNÁ'OODILII (Doorway Mountain) AND CH'OOL'I'I (Chimney Mountain): SELF-GENERATING TRADITIONAL DINÉ INSTITUTIONS IN THE FACE OF COLONIAL INTERACTION
CHAPTER VII: ATSA (Eagle) AND MA'II TSO (Wolf): SEARCH FROM ABOVE, SEARCH FROM THE EARTH
AFTERWORD: PRINCIPLES OF DINÉ LEADERSHIP by The Honorable Robert Yazzie
NOTES
REFERENCES
INDEX

Guided by the Mountains

Navajo Political Philosophy and Governance

Michael Lerma, Foreword by Avery Denny, and Afterword by Robert Yazzie

Author Information

Michael Lerma, Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Northern Arizona University, Foreword by Avery Denny, Professor of Dine' Studies, Dine' College, and Afterword by Robert Yazzie, Chief Justice Emeritus, Navajo Nation, and Director of Dine' Policy Institute, Dine' College

Michael Lerma is the Dean of Business and Social Science at Dine College. He is formerly the Associate Professor of Politics and International Affairs, and Applied Indigenous Studies at Northern Arizona University.

Avery Denny is Professor of Diné Studies at Diné College.

Robert Yazzie is Associate Professor of Law Advocate, School of Diné and Law Studies, Navajo Technical University.