Navajo Uncle

Hardcover · Ages 4–10 · Grades Pre-K through 5 · Premium Quality Pages

A gift for every man who provides, protects, and shows up for his family.

He provides. He protects. He teaches. He fulfills his responsibilities with Kʼé.

Meet Navajo Uncle — Shidáʼ, the maternal uncle in Diné Bizaad. In the Navajo language, kinship terms are precise and sacred. Shidáʼ carries a particular meaning, a particular responsibility. In a matrilineal society where women carry the clan and the lineage, Uncle’s role is to support, provide, teach, and show up — fulfilling his place within the family and clan through the sacred principle of Kʼé. A beautiful introduction for anyone interested in learning about Diné culture and language.

On his cover, Navajo Uncle wears turquoise jewelry — a ring, bracelet, necklace — and a leather headband of finger-woven deerskin strips. In Diné culture, as a man grows older, he often wears more turquoise — each piece reflecting his life journey, his earned wisdom, and his deepening connection to his people and the land.

• The turquoise ring and bracelet honor the strength of his hands — the work, the protection, the guidance he offers.
• The turquoise necklace carries the balance of earth and sky close to his heart.
• The leather headband represents focus, discipline, and the responsibility of leading younger generations with integrity.

Kʼé — the sacred Diné principle of kinship and reciprocity — calls every person to know their place within the family and clan, and to fulfill it with honor. For Uncle, that means guiding younger relatives, protecting those in his care, and walking in balance alongside the women who carry the clan forward.

Look closely at the inside — Navajo Uncle and Navajo Auntie share the same story within their pages. This was intentional. On the outside we may look different. On the inside, we are one. Every person is equal, important, and deserving of love.

Perfect for: Father’s Day · Graduations · Pre-K through 5th grade classrooms · School and public libraries · Cultural gifting · Native American Heritage Month · Honoring the uncles in your life · Anyone who wants to learn about Diné culture and language

Part of the Navajo Heart Collectible Series by Maureen Mink. Each book honors a milestone. Collect them all.