“Be the Auntie Rez Kids in Palestine Need Right Now”

Diné Civics and Solidarity for Palestine

Authors

  • Jay Stanley Salty Black Sheep Creations
  • Leilani Sabzalian University of Oregon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/ce.v17i1.187090

Keywords:

Indigenous civics, solidarity, internationalism, Palestine

Abstract

Indigenous peoples throughout the world have long been subject to settler colonial violence and elimination. This ongoing legacy of settler colonialism and struggle for Indigenous self-determination provides a felt experience that connects many Indigenous people to Palestinians fighting settler colonial oppression and occupation in their homelands. In this article, we highlight examples of Indigenous solidarity with/for Palestinians and look closely at the advocacy of one Diné educator and artist who transformed her business’ social media site into a powerful platform to educate people about the violence against Palestinians. After examining the rhetorical strategies that underlie this example of Diné civics and solidarity, we  discuss how the legacy of Indigenous civics and solidarity with/for Palestine can contribute to teaching solidarities and activism for a free Palestine.

Author Biographies

Jay Stanley, Salty Black Sheep Creations

Jay Stanley (Diné) grew up on Navajo Nation in Kayenta, Arizona and currently lives in Oregon. She is a mother, educator, and artist, and the founder of Salty Black Sheep Creations, a small business she created to showcase her art, including jewelry, apparel, accessories, and digital designs.       

Leilani Sabzalian, University of Oregon

Leilani Sabzalian (Alutiiq) is an Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies in Education at the University of Oregon where she supports the next generation of Indigenous educators to become teachers within their communities. Her research focuses on creating more just and affirming spaces for Indigenous students in public schools, and preparing all educators to challenge colonialism in curriculum, policy, and practice.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-17

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Palestinian Liberation in Education: Solidarities and Activism for a Free Palestine

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Jay Stanley, Leilani Sabzalian

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with Critical Education agree to the following terms:

  • Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).