The Challenge

Across the Navajo Nation, financial barriers are not abstract — they are daily. With average household incomes of $33,323 and an unbanked rate of 16.3 percent (nearly four times the national average), many families face predatory lending, limited credit access, and no clear path to home ownership or economic stability.

The Work

This was a partnership between Ecodeo, The Wells Fargo Foundation, The Navajo Nation and Oweesta to produce a bilingual financial literacy video series for the Navajo Nation. It was an honor to produce 16 videos, 8 in English and 8 in Diné, in a complex, multi-partner collaboration that required cultural care, linguistic precision, permits, complex translation in a rare language and deep coordination across three organizations. The series covers budgeting, saving, credit building, banking access, and entrepreneurship, designed to reach Navajo families where they are. This educational video series supports Navajo Financial Mobility classes, carried directly to local chapters by community representatives. In schools, the content is integrated into hands-on banking instruction for students.

The Impact

In April 2026, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren proclaimed Financial Literacy Month and released the video series as its centerpiece. The initiative puts practical financial knowledge into the hands of families working toward real goals: buying a home, building credit, securing a vehicle, planning for the future.