Bruin Highlight: Past, Present & Future
This November 2024 we are highlighting Native Bruin Amber Kanazbah Crotty from the Navajo Nation with a major in History class of 2007.
Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty ’07 is a member of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, serves on the Budget and Finance Committee, and is the chair for the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Taskforce and New Mexico Delegate Caucus. Delegate Crotty has worked diligently in strengthening responses to sexual violence, exploring data sharing and cross-deputation with outside agencies, strengthening sexual assault laws, and addressing any other issues related to sexual assault crimes on the Navajo Nation. The Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Taskforce is empowered to coordinate all federal, county and state programs with other standing committees and branches of the Navajo Nation government to provide the most effective delivery of services to the Navajo Nation.
Crotty is of the Kinyaa’áanii Clan and her maternal grandfather is Deeshchii’nii. She is originally from Tó Halstooí (Sheep Springs, New Mexico), and comes from a long legacy of female leaders, strong weavers, tenacious sheepherders and loving grandmothers. As a leader, mother and community member, Crotty advocates for Navajo Citizens who have little to no political agency such as domestic violence victims, sexual assault survivors, vulnerable children, LGBTQ2Si, mental health issues, unsheltered relatives and ICWA children/families. She is a firm believer in “Ałchíní bá a’nít’á – Do it for the Children.”
Crotty majored in history at UCLA.
“Once a Native Bruin, always a Native Bruin. In 2005, I transferred to UCLA as a young mother on TANF. My experience was unique, as I needed to secure safe housing and childcare while completing summer transfer courses.
On my first day on campus, the Transfer Summer Program staff took me to the annual Pow Wow, where I met the American Indian Student Association (AISA) family. Working with the American Indian Recruitment Program provided an opportunity to support and guide Native community college students transferring into UCLA. The Tribal Learning Community and Educational Exchange grounded my research, creating an opportunity for me to return home to work at Diné College.
My Native Bruin experience was filled with laughter, love and hardship. It was the AISA family that supported us during dark times, helping to break generational trauma bonds of violence and alcohol. Through tough, guided conversations, we became part of each other’s healing journey. I will be forever grateful.”