Her Captive, Her Love

Written by Evangeline Parsons Yazzie

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.

“I wrote this novel for several reasons. First, it was to share with Navajo youth the truth about their history as told by their Navajo elders; second, it was to inform Navajo youth about the strength of their ancestors and their Navajo people; third, it was to present the painful history of the Navajo people from an unusual viewpoint— that of a love story; fourth, it was to inform Navajo youth about the strength of love in terms of survival of an individual, a family, and of a people; and finally, it was to instill within Navajo youth and Navajos of all ages pride for their people, knowing they come from strong stock.”

— Evangeline Parsons Yazzie