Alysa Landry teaches English, journalism, and creative writing at the Navajo Nation’s Diné College. She has written for Navajo Times–Diné bi Naltsoos, Indian Country Today, the Searchlight New Mexico news organization, and other publications.
Codetalker Begay is a courageous, charismatic, and charitable warrior. His story will be carried by the four winds from generation to generation. May his passion for freedom live in all of us. --Russell Begaye, former president of the Navajo Nation Dine peoples from diverse, complex communities have a history of strength, courage, wisdom, and beauty. The book Thomas H. Begay and the Navajo Code Talkers describes Mr. Begay's strength, the Navajo Code Talkers' courage, how beautiful the Dine language is, and the wisdom that comes from a Navajo way of life. --Lloyd L. Lee (Navajo Nation), author of Dine Identity in a Twentieth-Century World and director of the Center for Regional Studies at the University of New Mexico This book carries the voices and stories of Navajo Code Talker Thomas H. Begay and fellow code talkers, illuminating a fuller context of Dine history and veterans' experiences before, during, and after World War II. Most importantly, this book reveals the challenges and courage of Navajo Code Talkers throughout their lives, including as leaders and advocates of their people and community. I'm the niece of two Navajo Code Talkers who have passed on; Begay's story reminds me that our ancestors will continue to inspire youth and all generations. --Farina King (Dine), author of The Earth Memory Compass: Dine Landscapes and Education in the Twentieth Century