Dził Ditł’ooí School of Empowerment Action and Perseverance (DEAP)
Grants Awarded
DEAP's land-based learning (LBL) curriculum encourages Diné student engagement through hands-on science, math, technology, and engineering applications alongside distinct culture-oriented learning like corn pollen harvest, Navajo Herbology, and astral study. Benefits encompass food security, social-emotional wellbeing, cultural revitalization, and enhanced educational and community involvement. With up to 58 Diné students participating in the 2024-2025 school year, the curriculum includes outdoor activities like hiking, cycling and traditional hunting skills, coordinated by Outdoor Learning Leaders and community Knowledge Keepers. Overnight camping at sacred sites like the Gobernador Knob and Huérfano Mountain will offer more valuable on-site experiences. The program also includes traditional hunting education, cycling activities, and an accessible Gear Library, ensuring program availability for all participants. Desired results include 100% active student participation, regularly collected feedback for program betterment, and an increase in after-school involvement.
Named after the sacred mountain at the heart of Navajo, Dził Ditł’ooí School of Empowerment, Action and Perseverance (DEAP) is a community-based, Indigenous-designed state charter school in Navajo, New Mexico serving 58 Diné students grades 6-12. DEAP’s curriculum is rooted in the Diné values of Land Based Learning, Diné Language & Culture, Personal Wellness, and Community Action & Service Learning, and meets New Mexico’s Common Core Standards and Diné Standards for each grade. DEAP was created in close conversation with the community and founded in 2015 to honor the strength and wisdom of Diné people. Through a decolonizing, culturally relevant, and responsive Indigenous framework, DEAP pairs rigorous academics with cultural and linguistic practices that prepare our 100% Diné student body to be proud of our histories, harness our power, and become changemakers in our community. As a result of a DEAP education, students are able to use their cultural, vocational, and academic skills to analyze their surroundings in order to plan the transformation of their community and their world; live a healthy life and use the tools they were taught to achieve holistic wellness; use their understanding of identity and its impact on local and global communities to promote the restoration and perpetuation of Diné culture; and honor the history and the legacy of the Dził Ditł’ooí area by consciously balancing the needs of the land with the needs of the people. Our structure helps our students achieve their goals through small class sizes where each is given individual support, pairings with DEAP advisory mentors who work with students and families, and Native educators who are focused on supporting students’ physical, spiritual, and socio-emotional wellness. DEAP curriculum incorporates service learning for community action and Land-based Learning (LBL) to help students develop and implement leadership skills and prepare for college, career, and community growth. Though our community struggled with distance learning and enduring COVID-related issues, our school enrollment, community partnerships, and graduation rates have continued to grow. Since 2021 we have increased enrollment from 47 to 58 Diné students with a graduation rate of over 85%. Because we were founded with community input and prioritize authentic support and partnership, DEAP is a hub for local groups and a space for family events including Service Days, Grandparent Days, Feast Days, as well as leading community efforts in food sovereignty.