Biligaana

Or "bilagaana." There's a great piece in the May 11 NYT sports section about three young women from Navajoland in Arizona who helped earn their degrees by playing volleyball for C.W. Post. Speaking of the coach, "She is our biligaana," Nez said, explaining that the world means "white mother." Then Vecsey goes on to comment "In a culture in which women are strong and spiritual, that is no small honor." Uh-huh! "Bilagaana" or "biligaana" merely means "white person" or "Anglo," and usually not very fondly. I love this site showing the members of the staff of the Rough Rock school, including their clans, where applicable, and where not, describing them as "Bilagaana."