Ahéhee'

My deepest thanks go to all the contributors who made ni’hikeyah tʼáá jííkʼe, all free nations, todas las naciones libres: migratory in verse possible.

This project would not exist without your time, insight, and generosity. Community is what makes art, it is the ground from which creative work grows, and art, in turn, nurtures and shapes community. This mutual relationship has been at the heart of ni’hikeyah tʼáá jííkʼe, all free nations, todas las naciones libres: migratory in verse, and being part of it has fundamentally changed how I view translation and language work. I now see translation not simply as a technical or solitary task, but as an act of care, reciprocity, and collective meaning-making. Thank you for helping me realize this.

I want to thank Dr. Tyler Peterson for guiding me on my linguistic journey. Without his important work and mentorship, I would not have found my voice as a language advocate and poet. I also want to thank the Arts Research Center for hosting their Poetry & the Senses, a multi-year initiative. Without their guidance, I would not have discovered my love for community as an artist.

I also want to give my deepest gratitude to our generous supporters, Diné Artisans & Authors Capacity Building Institute (DAACBI). My relationship to this organization began as a fellowship and grew into one of the most valuable pieces of k’é I could ask for. A special thank you to Dr. Shaina A. Nez, the director of DAACBI, who has been my champion throughout this anthology, fighting for what often felt impossible to bring this project into being. Her belief in this work and our community made all the difference.

Thank you all for helping ni’hikeyah tʼáá jííkʼe, all free nations, todas las naciones libres: migratory in verse take root and thrive.