Navajo fine artist Teddy Draper Jr. will speak about the experiences of his father, Teddy Draper Sr., a World War II Navajo “code talker,” during a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday program at the Bartholomew County Public Library.
The program, “Legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers,” will be presented in the Red Room of the public library, 636 Fifth St., Columbus.
Teddy Sr.’s work with the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific instilled a sense of the value of the Navajo language that his son has carried forward throughout his life, said Mary Clare Speckner, community services coordinator at the Columbus library.
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Teddy Jr. lives in Chinle, Arizona, where he dedicates much of his time promoting Navajo culture and mentoring local youth in sports and other activities.
The program is free, organized by The Language Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to Native American language revitalization based in Bloomington. It is funded through support of the Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County as part of its Welcoming Community grant program.
