Evangeline Parsons Yazzie
Author
Evangeline Parsons Yazzie
“My Navajo world was wonderful!” says Evangeline. Her father taught her about Navajo culture, language, and history; and she enjoyed many hours of storytelling. Her parents were the first teachers and she remembers her father’s saying about learning the Navajo language “speak from the heart.”
Evangeline Parsons Yazzie has authored a four-book novel series along with a Navajo Language textbook, correlated workbook, and a teacher’s edition.
Evangeline lives in the northern Arizona with her family. As the youngest child, she comes from a large family of five brothers and no sisters.
Before she started writing historical romance, Evangeline has written a Navajo language book Diné Bizaad Bínáhoo’aah: Rediscovering the Navajo Language and a children’s book Dzani Yazhi Naazbaa’: Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home. Evangeline beautifully writes in the Navajo language to convey the intimate language once spoken fully by her ancestors.
Books by Evangeline Parsons Yazzie
Her Land, Her Love
The first novel in a sweeping epic of one determined Navajo family’s efforts to persevere during the Long Walk, blends history, romance, conflict, culture, and family in a finely crafted story that is a true work of passion.
When Ninaanibaa’s two daughters are kidnapped, her and her husband Hashké Yił Naabaah (The Warrior Who Fights with Anger) are forced to endure the Long Walk to look for them. Will they escape the shackles of war and reunite with their children within the four sacred mountains of Dinétah?
Her Enemy, Her Love
Volume two in the series by Evangeline Parsons Yazzie
begins at the banks of the Pecos River in Ft Sumner New
Mexico during The Long Walk where, Ninaanibaa and her
husband are reunited with their daughters Deed Yazhi, and her younger sister Dzanibaa after four years of separation.
In Her Enemy, Her Love the oral history of those years of
captivity continues from the perspective of the two sisters;
a story of family, love, resilience and hope.
Her Captive, Her Love
In volume three the legendary story of one Naabeehó family’s resilience during the Long Walk sweeps to the south to the Rio Grande and eastward across the mountains of Mescalero Apache. Dzánibaa’ is taken from her home on Black Mesa, Arizona (Dziłijiin) then rescued by her kind, young Mescalero Apache man.
With her captive, her love at her side she sets out on a journey to Fort Sumner with his Mescalero Apache people. This passionate story weaves together the oral histories of the Black Mesa community and the history of the Naabeehó people.
Their Land, Their Love
Their Land Their Love: The Return Home is the fourth and final volume in the series by Evangeline Parsons-Yazzie. The story begins in Ft. Sumner New Mexico in the spring of 1868 “There is going to be a meeting at the parade grounds. We have our orders to count all the Navajo prisoners. Bring everyone there!” On the parade grounds Naabehó Peace Leaders negotiate the Treaty of 1868 with their captors.
In June they begin the return home, a journey of hope and resilience for Nínáaaníbaa’, her husband Hashké Yił Naabaah, their children and grandchildren.
Dzání Yázhí Naazbaa’: Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home (Paperback)
Dzáníbaa’ is alone when U.S. troops swoop down on her family’s hogan. Before she can run to safety, a soldier grabs her and puts her on his horse. She is taken to Fort Sumner, and from there is forced to walk to Bosque Redondo.
For four long years, Dzáníbaa’ and her family endure incredible hardship and sacrifice. Crops wither. Food is scarce or so tainted that it poisons. Illness strikes. At times there seems no hope of a better future.
Nevertheless, this time of trial gives Dzáníbaa’ a profound sense of herself as a Navajo and of the importance of her culture. As never before, Dzáníbaa’ realizes the significance of the clan system, of the prayers and songs of her people, and of exerting herself to help her family.
Hear Dzáníbaa’’s story, and discover why she is the Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home.
Bilingual: Navajo and English
Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home has won the following Awards:
- 2006 Children’s Choices Book
- 2006 Notable Children’s Social Studies Trade Book
- 2006 IPPY Award Winner for best Multicultural, Nonfiction Juvenile Book
Diné Bizaad Bínáhoo’aah: Rediscovering The Navajo Language
This 448 page textbook provides a verb-based introduction to the Navajo language for college and secondary students. Students are introduced to the Navajo sound system and the Navajo writing system. Clear explanations of vocabulary and grammar provide students with a solid foundation for building communications skills. Through readings, photos and writing exercises, students broaden their knowledge of geography, history and culture.
Students will rediscover the Navajo language and develop communicative competence with Diné Bizaad Bínáhoo’aah: Rediscovering the Navajo Language: