Becoming Miss Navajo AIYLA Award Honors Title
Becoming Miss Navajo and Diné Bich’eekę Yishłeeh celebrated as Honor Books in the American Indian Youth Literature Award presented by the American Library Association.
Becoming Miss Navajo and Diné Bich’eekę Yishłeeh have been selected as Honor Books for the 2022 American Indian Youth Literature Award (AIYLA) presented by the American Library Association. The AIYLA identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.
Jolyana Begay-Kroupa shares her journey to becoming Miss Navajo Nation in this inspiring children’s book filled with pictures from the 2001 Miss Navajo Nation Competition available at www.env-salinabookshelf-staging.kinsta.cloud.
Becoming Miss Navajo and Diné Bich’eekę Yishłeeh are written by Jolyana Begay-Kroupa and designed by Diné artist Corey Begay.
Jolyana Begay-Kroupa had this to say: “This is very exciting! I was very surprised to hear that my book is among the finalist. It’s a perfect reminder that I am right where I am supposed to be! As a child, I remember thinking I wish there were more books in Diné. I wish there were more books that resonated with me, as a Diné child growing up on the beautiful Navajo Nation. I hope this book will inspire others to pursue writing and to continue telling our own story! Thank you all for your help and allowing me to tell my story. I appreciate Salina Publishing and the entire team for believing in me. Ahxéhee nitsaago. Baa Ahxéhee nisin.”
About the Author:
Jolyana Begay-Kroupa, is originally from Ts’iłdiilyésiitah (Rabbitbrush) near Fort Defiance, AZ. She is Navajo (Diné) born into Tachii’nii (Red Running into the Water People) and born for Tsinaajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Her maternal grandfathers are Yé’ii Dine’é Táchii’nii (Giant People of the Red Running into the Water People). Jolyana honorably served as the 50th Miss Navajo Nation (2001-2002) and currently resides in the Phoenix-Metro area where she is the Interim CEO for the Phoenix Indian Center. She has a Masters of Arts in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education – emphasis in American Indian Education Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She currently teaches Navajo language classes at Stanford University and Yale University.