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Navajo Word of the Day: Sovereignty

1,976 views · Published 23 April 2012 · 1:39 · Indexed 1 November 2026

Channel: daybreakwarrior · 2012 · People & Blogs

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Since today is "Navajo Sovereignty Day," the Navajo Word of the Day is "ak'ídádéest'í̜í̜'," which means "sovereignty." To use it in a sentence, you would say, "Naabeehó t'áá bí bibee haz'áanii yee ak'ídádéest'í̜í̜'," which means Navajos have sovereignty through tribal law." The breakdown:

Naabeehó: Navajos
T'áá bí: on their own
Bibee haz'áanii: their laws
Yee: by means of it
Ak' ídádéest'í̜í̜': they have sovereignty

The Navajo Tribal Council established "Navajo Sovereignty Day" on May 3, 1985, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Navajo Nation had the authority to impose taxes without the approval of the Secretary of Interior in the court case of "Kerr McGee v. Navajo Tribe." Since then, the Navajo Nation has celebrated "Navajo Sovereignty Day" on the 4th Monday of April.

Happy Navajo Soveregnty Day! :-)

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