Meet Shaniah: Honoring Language, Culture, and Community Through Technology
At the Native American Community Academy, NACA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a spirit of connection and purpose fills every classroom. NACA’s student body is diverse with many cultural and ethnic backgrounds represented, including students from more than 60 different tribes. As the school celebrates its 20th anniversary, its mission remains strong: to prepare students to grow into confident leaders who are academically prepared, secure in their identities, and grounded in wellness.
It is within this connected community that Shaniah Yazzie, a SkoCode educator, helps students explore the intersections of language, culture, and technology. Shaniah describes her SkoCode journey in three words: inspiring, community, and tenacity. Her work at NACA reflects all three.
“I had an art teacher that made a lasting impression on me and how I see mentors. She believed in my work as a young artist and gave me opportunities such as creating a mural for the city of Albuquerque, NM. It made a difference in how I see mentors and how they can come in different forms such as school teachers.” ~ Shaniah
Connecting Culture and Code
Working with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, Shaniah brings creativity and cultural relevance into her lessons. One of her favorite activities began with teaching binary code and the history of the Navajo Code Talkers. She invited students to translate plant names in Diné Bizaad, the Navajo language, and explore how coding and language both represent systems of communication and meaning. When her students learned the Diné word for sumac berry, Chiiłchin, the lesson came to life. Later, during a field trip to the NISN Indigenous Farm Hub, her student spotted the berries and ran to her excitedly saying, “Ms. Shaniah, we found Chiiłchin!”
Learning with Heart
Shaniah weaves K’é (kinship), into her teaching, creating an environment built on belonging. She encourages older students to support younger students, forming what she calls “tiny teachers” who build confidence by sharing what they have learned.
When challenges arise, Shaniah draws strength from her mother and great-grandmother, Mary Totsoni of Tsélani (Cottonwood, Arizona). Mary raised eight children and passed on lessons about family, home, and community which still guides us today. My mom taught me to be self-reliant, to serve others, and to never forget where I come from. Those lessons shape how I teach.”
Shaniah shares these lessons in perseverance and compassion which shines through her work. Her classroom is a space for healing, growth, and pride.
“Every student is unique. Some days they come in excited, and some days they are quiet or unsure. That is okay. What matters is showing up with patience and heart. When they feel supported, they flourish.”
Where Technology Meets Tradition
Through the SkoCode, Shaniah is helping students see technology not as something distant, but as something that belongs to them. It is a beautiful way to protect their stories, share their voices, and build the future on their own terms.
“Our students are creative, confident, and deeply thoughtful. “When they connect computer science to their culture, they realize that their ideas can shape the world. That is what makes this work so meaningful.”
As NACA celebrates 20 years of cultivating leaders, Shaniah carries the mission forward combining culture with technology one lesson and one story at a time.
