‘Adoone’é Bahane’: A Story about the Naakai Dine’é Clan

by Keanu Simpson

Jó yá’át’ééh ’anołtsó shik’é dóó shikiské danoołígíí dóó ’anołtsó Diyin Dine’é ba’ałchiní danoołígíí. Shí ’éí Keanu Simpson yinishyé. ’Adoone’é nishłígíí ’éí Naakahí/Naakai Dine’é ’éí nishłí ’adóó Tł’ááshchí’i bashishchiin ’adóó Tsénjikiní ’éí dashicheii ’adoo Bit’ahnii ’éí dashinálí. Niléí Tsin naaleełí, Hoozdo Hahoodzo’ígíí (Steamboat, Arizona) ’éí ’aají naashá. ’A’aají Shimá dóó bik’é’ígíí ’aají dah bighan. 

’Ałk’idą́ą́, it was told that there was a group of Navajo’s who roamed the land. One day, they came across another group of Navajo’s who questioned where they had come from. “Ha’íí doone’é danólį,” but the roaming group answered that they did not know who they were. “Hwolá ha’ííshįį nįįdlí.” In that moment, the roaming group of Navajos was given the name, Naakahí Dine’é. That name was meant to identify them with a clan and to acknowledge how they were found roaming the land. Naakahí Dine’é is the name for the people that are born into that bloodline and can be translated as “Roaming/Nomadic People.”  

Leading The Way Vol. 23 No. 6