Full Breakdown
Navajo Highways: Emmy-Winning Puppet Series Revitalizes the Navajo Language
8/20/2026, 4:18:40 AM
Series Overview and Achievements
"Navajo Highways" is a children’s puppet series filmed in Utah that is presented almost entirely in the Navajo language. The program targets first-through-third-grade viewers, aiming to combine entertainment with language instruction. It has earned two Emmy Awards and its first season is currently available on the FNX app. The show’s premiere on the Navajo Nation in Window Rock moved elders to tears, underscoring its cultural resonance.
Creator Pete Sands and Creative Vision
Creator Pete Sands, a native of Montezuma Creek on the Navajo Nation, conceived the series as a way to keep the language alive for children who might otherwise never hear it. He stresses that authentic representation—Navajo characters played by Navajo actors and accurate cultural depictions—is non-negotiable. Sands built the narrative around a young narrator, Sadie, who returns from the city to reconnect with her heritage, believing that early-grade audiences are especially open to wonder and curiosity. He also emphasizes that understanding the language’s nuance is essential, noting that a single Navajo word can convey multiple English meanings.
Production Details and Community Impact
In the first season Sands voiced roughly 80 % of the puppets, performing about seven distinct voices. For the upcoming season he is expanding the puppeteering team, a shift he admits was initially resisted because he feared others would not grasp the characters. The new season leans further into the show’s “matriarchal side,” featuring more female guest stars and storylines. Beyond filming, Sands visits schools and community centers year-round, reinforcing the educational mission. His own daughter, Rainey, treats the puppets as personal treasures, reflecting the series’ ability to foster a sense of ownership among young viewers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One Navajo word could mean four or five different things in English,” — Pete Sands
- “I wanted real, authentic representation — having Navajo characters being played by Navajo people, and showing the real Navajo culture as best as we can,” — Pete Sands
- “You've got to have the audience along for the ride, somebody they can learn along with,” — Pete Sands
- “She's like, 'That's mine, that's my puppet,'” — Pete Sands
- “That really moved me, because I wasn't prepared for that,” — Pete Sands
- “I just felt like there's a lot more cultural stories, and they evolve, than the feminine side," Sands said.” — Pete Sands
