“Navajo Highways” is intended to “serve as an educational tool aimed at Navajo children from Pre-K to 3rd grade,” according to a synopsis.
The plot of “Navajo Highways” unfolds as the main character, Sadie — a Navajo kid who has grown up in the city — decides to spend her summer on the Navajo reservation with her grandmother to immerse herself in Navajo culture and language. It takes place in the fictitious town of Mitten Creek, on the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation, around her family and warm community.
“It was always puppetry or some sort of inanimate projects that are brought to life by people,” Sands said. “I just made that connection – there was never an Indigenous puppet on those platforms.” “This is sort of the first effort to build a library – there’s some other animation stuff that was in the ‘70s through the San Juan County School District here in Utah, but it’s so outdated,” Begay said.
“There’s a connection to the land and culture we have that’s so rooted beyond when America first became America,” Sands said. “What I really like about the show is it incorporates the Navajo language in an easy way for kids to learn new words and phrases,” Yazzie said.