Arizona Archaeological Society

 

 
 

Desert Foothill Chapter - Monthly Meeting

  • 11 Nov 2015
  • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • The Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (near the Dairy Queen)

Dr. Laura Tohe is Diné/Navajo.  She is Sleepy Rock clan born for the Bitter Water clan.  Her father was a Navajo Code Talker.  During WWII a select group of Navajo men enlisted in the Marines with a unique weapon, the Navajo language.  Some as young as 16 years old enlisted and most had never left the Navajo reservation.  Forbidden to speak Navajo language at school, they developed a secret code and created new words for radio transmission in the South Pacific.  The Japanese military never deciphered the code and for over 40 years a cloak of secrecy hung over the Code Talker’s service. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed August 14 as National Navajo Code Talker day.  Laura Tohe describes the Code Talkers’ unique cultural background, how the code was devised and used, and how Navajo spiritual beliefs were used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Reception and socialization at 7:00 pm, program begins approximately 7:30 pm.

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