Laura Tohe

Jake Skeets, a poet and author, discusses the power of Diné language and its cultural resonance. Joined by Rex Lee Jim, who shares his poem "Language," they explore how voice breathes life into identity. Laura Tohe, the Navajo Nation Poet Laureate, adds depth with her rhythmic poems highlighting the sacredness of language. Together, they reflect on the impact of settler colonialism, the role of poetry in connection, and the intricate dance between language and the environment. Skeets wraps up with his own poem on the act of translation.

Laura Tohe, Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation, discusses the WWII Navajo Code Talkers and how Navajo language was used as a weapon. She shares insights about the formation of the Code Talking Units and the relationship between language and the state. The podcast also explores the power of oral history and the preservation of Navajo stories.