Dził Ditł’ooí School of Empowerment Action and Perseverance (DEAP School) is a public charter school located in rural Navajo, New Mexico, serving 55 students in grades 6-12 for the 2023-2024 school year. DEAP School is dedicated to educating and empowering Diné students through a culturally reflective curriculum and a framework that emphasizes four key areas: Wellness & Perseverance, Land-Based Learning, Service Learning for Community Action and Leadership, and Diné Empowerment Through Cultural Revitalization and Relevancy.
Supported by the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), DEAP School’s project, “Expanding Access to Agricultural Education in Navajo, NM,” aims to offer agribusiness education and practical experience to 55 Diné students. This includes a specialized curriculum for 10 student farmer interns. The project is designed to enhance the school’s capacity to provide agricultural education, career pathways, and promote food sovereignty for current and future Native producers and their communities. It addresses a significant challenge in Indian Country—supporting Native youth and the next generation of agricultural producers—as the average age of farmers continues to rise. DEAP School is leading the way in nurturing new Native agriculturalists and preparing them for the agriculture sector.
