In this powerful conversation, Dr. Christine Ami shares her journey of navigating the cultural arts program at Diné College during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the lens of Wołí Bee, a Navajo concept of perseverance, she discusses how Indigenous cultural arts serve as a lifeline of resilience, community connection, and healing. Christine explores the challenges of maintaining educational programs, supporting students, and preserving cultural practices while facing personal grief and professional transitions during an unprecedented global crisis.

Dr. Christine Ami is a Diné scholar, weaver, and educator at Diné College, specializing in cultural arts and Indigenous studies. With expertise in grant management, curriculum development, and Indigenous animal studies, she has dedicated her career to preserving and promoting Indigenous cultural practices. Christine is an NEH award recipient and continues to research and teach about the intersections of Indigenous culture, education, and community resilience.

Resources:

Christine Marie Ami, "Wołí bee: Diné Cultural Arts Amid Pandemics,"
in COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic, eds. Farina King and Wade Davies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).

Christine M. Ami website

Christine M. Ami, "Meet Our Faculty," School of Business and Social Science, Diné College website

Christine Ami, "Between the Loom and the Laptop: A Diné Sabbatical," Tribal College Journal (Summer 2025), tribalcollegejournal.org/between-the-loom-and-the-laptop-a-tribal-college-faculty-sabbatical/.

Christine Ami, "'When Waters Rise and Rocks Speak': An Analysis of Indigenous Research Credential Theft by an Ally,” Wicazo Sa Review. 34, 2 (2022), muse.jhu.edu/issue/48824.

Christine Ami, "Politics of Distrust: The Navajo Nation’s use of propaganda devices to recruit participants for COVID-19 trial vaccine," Indian Country Today (2020), https://ictnews.org/opinion/politics-of-distrust-the-navajo-nations-use-of-propaganda-devices-to-recruit-participants-for-covid-19-trial-vaccine/.

Christine Ami, "Review Essay: The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature (Esther G. Belin, Jeff Berglund, Connie A. Jacobs, Anthony Webster, and Sherwin Bitsui, eds.)," Transmotion 8, 1 (2022): 209-217, https://doi.org/10.22024/UniKent/03/tm.1064.

Christine Ami, "Playing Indian: Internal Colonization Seated at the Navajo Loom," Navajo Cultural Arts Program Blog (2020), https://lib.dinecollege.edu/NCAP_Blog/02-2020.

Dr. Christine Ami, "Navajo Cultural Arts Program," Diné College YouTube short video (posted 2017)

"Navajo Food Research and Scholarships at Diné College Libraries by Dr. Christine Ami," Diné College Kinyaa'áanii Library Special Collections Series, YouTube video (posted February 8, 2024)