Yazzie is a member of the Navajo Nation (Diné) tribe and the first Indigenous City Councilor in Durango, and she joins the likes of former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, former NASA astronaut John Herrington, and classical composer and pianist Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. The display is designed to allow Native American students to “see themselves on the wall,” according to Jennifer Fernandez, Park’s Native American Cultural Liaison.
“Featuring someone local is a new thing for us,” Fernandez said. “Councilor Yazzie is the first City Councilor who’s a female Indigenous woman in Durango. It’s a big thing for the boys and girls to see that.”
Yazzie said she was honored to be included in Park’s Native American Hallways of Heritage.
“I’ve been in this neighborhood for many years, and I’ve seen all the changes, but I’m really thrilled that the school is reaching out to diverse populations,” she said, adding that she was amazed by the number of students in Park’s Native American Crew, which includes 75 students in Pre-K through 5th grade, representing multiple tribes. “Part of the reason I ran for City Council was to let the children know that there are role models they can look up to.”
The visit from Yazzie was one of several events planned by Durango School District’s Title VI Native American Education program to honor Native American Heritage Month in November and reflect the district’s ongoing work in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).