Honoring Rex Lee Jim: Poet, Leader, and Visionary

We extend our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Rex Lee Jim. We honor him as a teacher, a school board member, a tribal leader, and as a visionary poet whose words will continue to guide generations to come. His poem “Tree of Peace” was written in Diné bizaad and English to support future generations.

 

Hózhǫ́ǫ́jí T’iis

Nitsáhákees bá hooghangi

Nahat’á bá hooghangi

Nídíshchíí’ yá yiih danées’ą́ągi

Nanise’ ałtaas’áí ni’ yii’ dadées’eezgi

Hózhǫ́ǫ́jí t’iis eetsi

Kodóó náasjį’

Tsosts’id

Ałk’iná’ázhchį į́jį’ bá nitsíníkees

Bá nahó’á

Ho’dooniid

Bee tsibąąs hadaałt’é nídoodleeł

Ho’dooniid.

 

Tree of Peace

At the house made of thought

At the house made of action

Where the ponderosa trees meet the sky

Where varied plants take root in the earth

We plant a tree of peace

From here on

Think for seven generations,

Act for them,

We are told.

In this way the hoop will become whole again,

They are told.