The Peacemaker Youth Apprentice Mentoring Program, administered by the Peacemaking Program, is presently funded under a Tribal Youth Program Grant awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, and will continue until funds expire and funds from other sources are obtained.

         Leadership is the key to success in every profession.  At the core of becoming a leader is self-knowledge, an understanding of the environment on which self-knowledge is based so that the environment may be mapped, and learning essential skills in serving the community in which you live. 

         The goal of the Peacemaker Youth Education and Apprentice Program is to imbue leaders of the next generations with a strong sense of Diné cultural foundation that will strengthen and aid them in all their future challenges.  Additionally, the goal is to ensure peacemaking skills are passed on to the next generations. Of particular importance is conveying hózh̨óji naat’aah to our children through a method that will make them leaders in hózh̨óji naat’aah themselves. 

         The Peacemaker Youth Apprentice Mentoring Program passes peacemaker skills to the next generation in a controlled school or organizational environment.  Youth leaders are selected by their teachers, or may volunteer.  The selected students have leadership qualities and will have shown an interest in traditional teachings, even if they are lacking in knowledge of those teachings

         The youth apprentices will have an orientation, then will follow the peacemaker mentor and become “youth peacemaker apprentices.”  The peacemaker mentor will have cleared background checks and received training from the Dept. of Diné Language and Culture and the Diné Hatathli Association. 

         The youth will observe and assist in peacemaking sessions and life value engagements, which will normally take place after-school on school grounds. The apprentices work closely with the peacemaker mentors, following and observing them as they prepare for and conduct peacemaking sessions until the mentor feels that the youth apprentice is, himself or herself, ready to conduct hózh̨óji naat’aah themselves among their student peers.  After a period of time, the youth will lead his or her own peacemaking session or life value engagement.  The length of the mentoring is on a case-by-case basis. 

         Upon completion, there will be a ceremony in which a certificate of completion will be conferred on the Youth Peacemaker.  He or she will also receive a letter of appreciation from the Chief Justice that may assist them in college applications.  The youth apprentice is now a Youth Peacemaker.

Bá Nazhnit’á dóó

Baa Ndazhnit’á

Tséłkéí dóó Ch’ikéí

Doo bił nahonitł’agóó

Binahat’a’ nizhónígo choyooł’įįgo,

Yoołgai Saad Dootł’izhi Saad yee yáłti’go,

K’é bił béé hózingo

Adéé hólzingo, K’é nídzingo, K’éniigo, éí idééłníígo yee yáłti’go,

Na’nitin bee hólǭǫgo, Yee hináago, Yee naaghaago,

Ha’ahóni doo Sihasin bee hólǭǫgo

Díí t’áá ałtsǫ éí yek’ék’ehgóó át’éigo,

Bá nizhónígo yee bił hahodít éigo;

Éí Bá Nazhnit’á wolyé

Díkwíida yilt’éigo éí Baa Ndazhnit’á wolyé.

         Young Men and Women, a superior leader and scholar is an intelligent decision-maker, has confidence and resiliency, demonstrates well thought out plans; speaks the Language of well thought-out knowledge and wisdom and has vibrant initiative to live hózhóógo; has discipline in mind, body and spirit.

         Young people who have these qualities are elevated as Baa Nazhnit’á and are part of the select group, Bá Ndazhit’á, youths who are resilient and unhesitant, who speak their minds openly, who demonstrate well thought out plans using attained knowledge, wisdom and teachings, and who live in visions of their world and their destiny, sharing their thoughts openly.

         Young men and women of such leadership qualities and character, with your attained wisdom, you are Bá Ndazhit’á, elevated as Baa Nashnit’á, confident and independent.