The Navajo

The Navajo
Intro to Cultural Anthropology: The Navajo
Ashley Miller
ANT101
Daniel Diaz Reyes
June 16, 2013
The Navajo The Navajo, also known as the Diné, are one of the largest Native American Tribes in
the world. Their culture is made up of very distinct and unique characteristics that have been passed
down from generation to generation. They have been taught to adapt to their surroundings and to the
land. Each moral, standard, belief and value are what make the Navajo so unique to the Native
Americans. In the following, their primary mode of subsistence, kinship system, beliefs, values, and
economic organizations will be briefly examined to gain a better knowledge of the Navajo culture.
The Navajo culture were ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, he does not claim to be a god and wishes not be to worshipped as such. Instead, the
medicine man is paid for his services in livestock, turquoise, blankets, rugs, and etc. The Navajo
believe there are two classes of beings, The Holy people and the Earth people. The Earth people of
the Navajo must do everything they can to maintain the peace and harmony of Mother Earth since
they are an integral part of the universe. According to Discover Navajo, "it is believed that centuries
ago the Holy People taught the Navajo how to live the right way and to conduct their many acts of
everyday life" (Navajo culture, 2008). The Navajo people were taught to live one with animals,
insects, man, and plants. Mt. Blanca to the east, Mt. Taylor to the south, San Francisco Peak to the
west and Mr. Hesperus to the North near Durango, Colorado, were put in place by the holy people in
the four different directions. Jet Black, Turquoise, White Shell, and Yellow Abalone represent the
four directions. The Navajo culture uses the number four to symbolize many other different things.
For example, there are four seasons and four distinct directions. The Navajo economy depended on
two primary sources–agriculture learned from the pueblo peoples and livestock such as sheep, goats,
and horses obtained initially form the Spaniards. Because the San Juan River was one of the few
reliable sources of water in Navajo territory, during the summer months
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Dineh and Walbiri Cultures: A Comparison of Art Essays
Art originally in earlier cultures had a different purpose. Currently people create art for an aesthetic
purpose for others to view in galleries, theaters, or museums creating distance for the audience.
Initially art was created for purposes other than aesthetics, and people participated and interacted
with the art and artist. This intertwined relationship between humans and art is especially seen in the
Dineh and Wilbiri cultures. These two groups created drypaintings. People in both these groups
directly interacted with the paintings instead of viewing them from a distance. Currently, there is a
sense of distance instead of interaction. In these groups, humans participated directly with the artist
and the art itself. In both ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The guardians can be Gods as seen in _____ Figure 1. The guardian holy spirit in white at the
opening of the painting in the east is the male Talking God. In the west, there is a male holy spirit
named Calling God. This emphasis on deities within the drypaintings furthermore accentuates on
contagion. As the patient sits on the dry paintings, not only is the patient coming in contact with the
drypainting that has power flowing from holy spirits making it a deity, but the holy spirits within the
painting itself.
The Navajo believe in hózhó, a Navajo term for balance. When hocho or imbalance occurs, there is
a need for a chanter or a sand painter to perform a ritualistic prayer, which is known as a chant, an
example being a Night Chant. Highwater, in the article The Navajo Night Chant, outlines the
procedure for this ritualistic prayer. The first four days are devoted to purification, and the last four
days are for healing. "At the midnight on the fourth day the divinities are ceremonially awakened.
These powers descend from their homes and appear in the great sand paintings that are made by the
chanter (a shaman) on the fifth day through the eighth days of the ceremony. These complex
iconographic drypaintings manifest the divinities and make it possible for them to touch their bodies
to the patient's body and in this manner to transmit

The Navajo People Are The Largest Native American Tribe
The Navajo people are the largest Native American tribe in the United States, now with over
300,000 members. They are native to a large chunk of Southwestern United States, mostly in New
Mexico and Arizona, but also partially in Utah and Colorado. It was sometime between 1100 – 1500
A.D. when a distinguishable Navajo culture began to appear. The first Western contact that is known
with the Navajo occurred near 1581 – 1583 A.D. Historians believe that the Navajo were relatively
peaceful with their new Spanish neighbors. However there were some times over the centuries after
the Spanish settlement in which the Navajo fought Spanish settlers to retain their land.
The Navajo's first contact with the United States came during the Mexican American War. The area
where the Navajo lived was seen as a strategic area for the United States military. Troops were
therefore brought to Navajo land to form treaties with them. Both sides more or less ignored these
treaties. Navajo groups and New Mexican settlers would often clash. The United States government
began mobilizing troops to New Mexico, and proceeded to establish military bases there. This
initially established a precedence that the government could take advantage of the Navajo people.
For the most part, the Navajo wanted to avoid any conflict, and the United States government chose
to exploit this.
Uranium is a naturally occuring chemical element that can be mined from ore in many parts of the
Southwestern United States where

Essay My experience at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum
INTRODUCTION Some say that it is better not to dwell on the past because it cannot be changed.
To these people, it is not necessarily bad to reminisce on what has happened throughout the years,
but it is better to focus on what is taking place right now. They believe that the present is another
chance to start fresh and anew without letting past experiences burden them. However, what they do
not seem to realize is that the past, present, and future are interrelated. The present is a result of the
past, while the future depends entirely on the choices, (and course of action for those choices), that
are made in the present. With that being said, studying humanity and past cultures are significant to
society. Attempting to understand why ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The collections of this museum include displays for the Natural History, Anthropology, and History
departments. Although not all of the exhibits are shown year round, the display for the Native
Americans of Southern California is. It features the Chumash, Tongva, Serrano, Luiseno, Cahuilla,
and Kumeyaay tribes. There are also some exhibits for non–Californian tribes such as the Navajo
and Pueblo peoples. Out of all of the aforementioned tribes, this paper mainly focuses on the
Luiseno, Kumeyaay, and Navajo. These three stood out the most because of the contents within each
of the exhibits. The artifacts associated with each culture were unique and eye–catching. MUSEUM
EXHIBIT 1) Artifact Display The three departments mentioned earlier were divided into distinct
sections and subsections. The exhibits for the Natural History collection were located on the left side
of the museum. It included different displays for perfectly preserved animal specimens, minerals,
fossils of plants, and desert findings by American biologist, Edmund C. Jaeger. Located directly
across from this segment was the History section, which consisted of artifacts relating to tools and
equipment as well as pictures of early residents in order to show how Riverside developed over
time. In addition to this, different time periods in American history were displayed such as the Civil
War. It contained personal portraits, old models of weapons, and replicas of

The Navajo Culture
The Navajo Culture David Rodriguez Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ANT: 101 Amy Van
Surksum June 24, 2013 The Navajo Culture American culture is made up of many different people,
and many of those people come from Indian tribes. The United States Governments Federal Register
lists 566 tribes recognized as of August 2012. One of those tribes is the Navajo which can be found
primarily in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Navajo culture is one that many people
associate with by what is portrayed in movies. People view the culture as land raiding individuals
that pillaged and wreaked havoc with anyone and anything they came in contact with. Navajo
started from the beginning in what is known as Changing Woman, and ... Show more content on
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A traditional ceremony consists of feeding friends and visitors attending, the wedding ceremony
would take place in the hogan with the groom and his father or uncle sitting on the west side
followed by the bride and her father or uncle. Sitting beside the boy on his right side they would be
positioned towards the east which was facing the door. Starting with the girl she would pour water
onto the boy's hands and he would wash them, then he would do the same to her washing her hands,
this symbolized purity and cleansing. A medicine man would then pray quietly while arranging a
corn meal mush decorated with pollen, they would then take turns eating the mush starting with the
boy followed by the girl. Usually they were instructed to eat it all, but if it was not all eaten it would
be passed to each of the boys family members so they could have a bite. Once the mush was eaten
the mother of the boy would keep the basket where the mush had been and preserve it at all times,
this was important to a successful marriage. Traditional weddings were held at night, but modern
traditions allow them to be held in the daytime, and because of this some believe it is the reason for
divorce and family problems. Once the wedding ceremony was over the couple would stay in the
hogan while family and friends went home. Traditional Navajo

The Navajo People and Their Environmental Concerns Essay
The Navajo People and Their Environmental Concerns
Introduction
This nation was built on the foundation that "All Men are Created Equal." Under the eyes of God,
no man is better than another. This has held our nation together and forced us to exist
interdependently. We are fortunate to live in a nation that possesses such a wealth of diversity. It
makes our nation unique and gives people the opportunity to learn about the beauty of culture.
However, history has shown us that not all have embraced diversity. For this reason, civil rights
movements have long been a part of our history. Citizens of this country recognize key figures in
Civil Rights movements such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez who have promoted ...
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census, 37% of Navajos live under the poverty line.
 The Navajo Indian Reservation is the largest reservation in the nation.
 Native Americans and Alaskan Natives account for only 1.5% of the entire nation's
population, most of which reside in the western and southwestern states of the United States ().
 In total, American Indians own approximately 55 millions acres.
 This land amount is less than 3% of what they originally owned.
 About 250 different tribal languages are spoken.
 Indians are the only U.S. minority that must legally prove its minority status.
These numbers represent the struggle the Native American faces. First, 97% of their land was taken
away from them over the last 500 years. The land belonged to their ancestors. No land titles or
claims existed before the arrival of the Spanish and English. Their lands were communal and they
existed with unwritten boundaries. Cases of such cultural displacement exist amongst indigenous
people around the globe. For instance, the Mapuche Indians in Chile were victims of the Spanish
conquest. Before 1866, the Mapuche lived on over 100,000 square kilometers of land. Between
1866 and 1927, they were forced to then live on 5,000

Comparing Alvord's The Scalpel And The Silver Bear
After reading Alvord and Cohen's The Scalpel and the Silver Bear, I found myself looking at the
world in a new spiritual way. Alvord is known to many as the first Navajo woman surgeon. Having
grown up as a Navajo with a white mother, her life was a constant mix of her Navajo ways and the
ways of the Western world. One of the main philosophies of her Navajo culture of healing that she
focuses on is 'walking in beauty'. The Navajo do not view the body as a single being but as a
connection to the rest of the world. With the belief that everything is connected, the Navajo believe
that negativity in any aspect of one's life will bring something bad to the person later. A harmonious
life, one in which their mind, body and spirit is positively connected to those around them, leads to a
healthy one. When Alvord decided to go against her Navajo ways and enter the world of Western
medicine she did so with the goal to bring the healing philosophies of her people with ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Alvord uses her personal experiences of working as a Navajo surgeon to teach her readers the
philosophies her people follow to heal. Her philosophy is that instead of looking at each patient as a
mechanical system with each part separate, look at their mind, body and spirit as being connected. If
one can do this, patient care will improve. She also touches upon being culturally competent in the
work place by knowing your patient population's beliefs on healing and health care. After reading
her story, I believe that in order to be the best health care provider one must look into the spiritual
aspects of their patients' lives. As providers we must provide care using the biopsychosocial model
of care and become knowledgeable on our patients beliefs. Like Alvord states within her story, we
must walk in beauty, become harmoniously connected to those around us, and care for our patients
in a positive

Native American Tribe : The Tribes Of Now Arizona And New...
Starting in the 1400s, the Native American tribe called the Dineh occupied the territories of now
Arizona and New Mexico. In their language, Dineh means "the people", in which they call their
homeland Dinetah. They got the name Navajo from the Spanish so that they wouldn 't get confused
with the Apache tribe, for they looked very much alike. The Navajo had a unique lifestyle and
focused on art, religion, and farming. They had many conflicts with their neighbors and especially
the United States Army. When they were relocated to different parts of the South, they had the
integrity and unification to presume their traditions, especially their art and religion. The Navajo had
a lifestyle that is not too diverse than the American style of living today. They lived in homes, raised
livestock, and the public had roles that are a bit similar to ones in our society. They lived in cone
shaped houses called hogans. At first, logs and poles were used as framework, but in later years,
they used stone or adobe. The doorways always faced east so that the first thing the family saw was
the morning sun. They also raised livestock to increase herds instead of the usual in which the tribe
would use up the supply for food. They first received goats and sheep from the Spanish, in which
they used for meat, milk, and wool. They also acquired horses at about the same time. Horses gave
them greater mobility during raiding and hunting activity. The roles of the people are also similar to
the world

The West Side Of The Mississippi River Essay
Upon the arrival to the North America continent the majority of the European settlers stood close
towards the Eastern waters. Decades would pass for an idea to spark for the attempt to discover the
West side of the Mississippi River. Two Native American tribes dominated the West, however in
completely different geographical regions. Both the Chinook and Navajo tribe resided in the
Western part of North America, the Chinook had a different ideology and society structure then the
Southwestern Navajo tribe. The story of life can be described as the notorious Adam and Eve
chapter, yet Native Americans would disclose a different tail. The creation on how the world was
shaped and formed many societies have a different logic and beliefs. The Northwest region of
America is the home to a tribe called the Chinook. The prelude begins of a man who originally fell
from the sky and shortly after discovered a woman from the ground according to the First People
(n.d) "The first men of the tribe came from the sky because they were the offspring of Thunderbird.
The men then found and plucked women from the valley floor. This was the first Chinook tribe.".
The men would pull out women from rocks and it gave the shape of a woman. Original stories told
by the Chinook tribe who lived in what is now Oregon and Washington state have completely
different views on how life, men and women were created. Where down south the Navajos have a
different point of view. The Navajos believed in multiple

The Navajo People Were Non Existent At A Point?
The Navajo people were non–existent at a point in time, many different people from a
conglomeration of many different tribes made up the Navajo, or Dine, people. The people came
together to form their own distinctive culture less than one hundred years before the Spanish
Conquest. In the Navajo culture many aspects of life are important. Some of the most important
aspects are the ties to their spiritual beliefs and the way that they tell stories and creations of those
beliefs. Many Navajo men and women are tied to their culture by the items they create, these sacred
items include rug weaving, silversmithing, and pottery making. Rug and blanket weaving is among
the most popular artistry from the Navajo people. Weaving dates back to the ... Show more content
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The weavers of the rugs have been a tradition since rug weaving started. When a baby girl is born in
the Navajo Tribe they place spider webs on the baby's hands to ensure they will be a weaver when
they are older. The traditional Navajo rug loom has no mechanical parts; the supporting poles are the
usually made of wood or steel poles. The steel poles are more common today than they were in the
1800's. The warp will determine the size of the rug and how big the rug will be. The Navajo women
never draw out their designs, but the designs are usually spiritual and represent the four cardinal
directions, stories, or Navajo culture. The four cardinal designs, and the number four is very
important in the Navajo culture. The Holy people gave the Navajo people borders made of four
mountains protecting their land. The four mountains are Mount Blanca, Mount Taylor, San
Francisco Peak, and Mount Hesperus, always starting from the East. The weavers always start at the
bottom of the rug and work their way up just like plants grow upward. The weavers never tie knots
in the rug, to switch colors the weaver uses a separate ball of yarn and pounds it into the the loom.
The weaver will work their way to the top and the weaving comb will not fit in the top of the warp
to pound down the wool. The weaving comb is very important in the Navajo culture and has many

Tony Hillerman's The Ghostaway Essay
Tony Hillerman's The Ghostaway
In a country that is the melting pot for many cultures, it is hard to interact with all of them. Tony
Hillerman educates readers about one culture, the Navajos, through his novel, The Ghostway. After
a shooting occurs in the quiet Indian reservation, a Navajo police Jim Chee, officer overcomes many
obstacles physically, mentally, and spiritually to sort the case out and protect a young girl. He is
constantly struggling with his identity, whether or not he should continue living his life as a Navajo
or cross over to mainstream "white" life. Although the book's main plot is about a murder and police
investigations, a theme that the book is always making references about is cultural differences and
how these ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Chee is eating at a diner in the city of L.A. he finds it intriguing that it is difficult to figure out
the ethnic identity of the waitress, " On the big reservation, where people were scarce and scattered,
one tended to lump them into categories." (146) Chee compares how the people from where he is
from are not stuck into categories but are all the same. He was not use to seeing so many different
races and it was hard for him to distinguish what race is what. Chee also found it to be complicated
when it came to see life through other ways rather than the Navajo way because it was so different
form what he was used to and he can not make the change.
A way that the author also showed cultural differences is through the character Vaggan, a white hit
man that wanted the death of those around him. There are times in the book where the author would
tell the story from the point of view of Chee to the point of view of Vaggan. During the first meeting
between Chee and Vaggan the author does this where Chee is called " an indian" instead of by his
name, " The Indian said something in Navajo and laughed." (205) By calling him an Indian, the
author shows how Vaggan's ignorance made him assume that Chee was nothing but a drunk Indian.
Since Chee and Vaggan are adversaries to each other it is reasonable to compare them and see how
they match up to each other. Vagaan is a violent white man with disregard to human life

Bear Ears National Monument
President Donald Trump reduced the Bears Ears National Monument this past December to 201,876
acres from the 1.35 million acres that President Barack Obama set aside in 2016. This reduction was
recommended by the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Other opponents of the creation of the Bears
Ears National Monument include Utah Governor Gary Herbert and several commissioners of San
Juan County where the monument is located. President Trump said the monument should not have
been created over the objections of the citizens of Utah. Not all the citizens of Utah objected to the
creation of this monument. Bears Ears is a sacred site to local members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi,
Zuni, and Ute Mountain Ute tribes. They want Bears Ears to have protections

An Introduction Of Navajo Constellations
An Introduction to Navajo Constellations Throughout our existence, mankind has looked up to the
stars with a fantastical wonderment that excites a feeling of the unknown. In order to understand the
heavens above us, ancient cultures created grand mythologies utilizing valiant heroes, gods, and life
practices and then imbedded these stories into the stars in the form of constellations. One of these
cultures is the Navajo Native American tribe that resided in the southwest region of the United
States. By viewing these constellations and the myths behind them, we can learn about what they
Navajo held scared and how they viewed the world around them. An important aspect of Navajo
culture is the time period in which traditional stories can be told. Stories of the sky which include
the moon, sun, and stars can only be told during the winter months which is regarded as the time
from the first first, usually in October, until the first thunderstorm, usually in late February. It is
currently winter as this is being written so the following information falls in accordance with Navajo
tradition. We ask that this only be read and shared during the appropriate time period to respect the
traditions of a most noble people. The Navajo are the largest federally recognized Native American
Indian tribe in the United States. The Diné Bikéyah or "Navajoland" encompasses 27,000 square
miles residing within Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico and contains a population of over 220,000
natives. The

Heritage Assessment Essay
Running Head: Heritage Assessment
Heritage Assessment
Grand Canyon University
NRS–429V
January 22, 2011 Heritage Assessment Heritage is as individual as a fingerprint when it comes to
some cultures. Every individual has their own heritage, and this is very different between different
cultures. Heritage consists of determination of one's ethnic, religious, and cultural background
(Spector, 2009). When we look at someone's heritage, we look at traditional health methods used to
maintain health, protect health, and restore health; these concepts deal with a person's physical,
mental, and spiritual beliefs. This paper will compare these health methods among the Chinese,
Hispanic, and Navajo heritages and look at the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Nguyen, personal communication, January 15, 2011). The Chinese people believe that is someone
has excess "hot" then they need to balance that with something "cold." If someone is giving off a
"hot" vibe then they need something like a cooling herbal tea, which will bring them back to a
balance. In the Chinese culture, they also use herbal plants, such as, garlic, fresh ginger, and tree
fungus because they believe these help to prevent illness (B. Nguyen, personal communication,
January 15, 2011). The Hispanic cultures, like the Chinese, also believe in needing a balance
between "hot" and "cold" (R. Marquez–Castro, personal communication, January 15, 2011). They
classify diseases as "hot" or "cold, and need to find ways to balance between these. Examples of
"hot" diseases are hypertension, diabetes, and acid reflux. "Cold" diseases, for example, are
pneumonia, and menstrual cramps. By maintaining a balance at all times, the people believe that
they can avoid illness most of the time. In the Hispanic culture, there are beliefs of the "evil eye."
Turquoise is used to rid the "evil eye" which will protect their health, can stop harm from happening
to them. Health restoration deals with the beliefs and home remedies that a group would use to help
restore their health (Spector, 2009). This means that once a person is diagnosed with an illness, how
they approach and treat it. The Hispanic community believes

The Diversity And Culture Of The Native American Society
The world is constantly changing and people are making a strong attempt to keep up. What happens
when culture and the ways you know to be true are challenged by the ways of the world? The Native
American people faced these, along with many other, challenges as Anglo–American society began
to blossom and overtake the area. What challenges have the Diné faced while trying to remain true
to their culture, yet reside in a non–native society? It what ways have these experiences altered their
way of life for better or worse? Is it possible to be a part of such a swift moving society and hold
true to traditional values and culture? The Navajo people have tried the best they can to carry on
with traditions, but as the world changes the people must ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
On the flip side, he said it had a lot to do with shaping him into the person he is now. His
experiences gave him the wisdom and knowledge he needed to be able to help others later in his life.
Throughout his life he has felt discrimination, even in elementary school. All the Native kids were
forced to be in the same class and were treated as if they didn't belong. They were ashamed to speak
their own language in fear that others would make fun of them or reject them further. They found it
easiest to be a part of society by staying with their group of Native kids while the Non–Native kids
formed their clicks or groups. His parent, along with many others, fought with the school to get their
kids in classes that were intermixed. Once Conrad got to middle school things started to improve
since they had multiple classes in a day they were given the chance to interact more with other
students and make friends outside of their group. Another thing they found really difficult in
growing up was dating. I never really thought about how people discriminate against people they
date, but I can see that it is a big problem throughout cultures. For Conrad and his friends, they
would ask girls to dance or other things and more often than not they would be rejected or the girl
would find some excuse to not be around during the dance or activity. He said that it got to a point
where his friends wouldn't even go to activities. They wanted to branch out

Essay Characters in A Thief Of Time By Tony Hillerman
In A Thief of Time, Tony Hillerman's characters display perspectives of diverse cultural
backgrounds. In Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn we see a shared heritage, as well as their contrasting
points of view which stem from choosing different values to live by. Quite a few characters in
Hillerman's book, who are not of Navajo blood, connect themselves with Navajo culture through
digs, collection, and personal gain. This essay will briefly touch on the view points of three
characters; Jim Chee, Joe Leaphorn, and Richard DuMont. In these three, we are able to see a
variety of cultural angles and values through their interactions with a single interface, death. The
differences between Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn are blatantly apparent ... Show more content on
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In refuting the practicality of Navajo traditions it is easier for him to ignore them. In Jim Chee,
Leaphorn sees a path which is the polar opposite of his own. "Chee seemed to think an island of
180,000 Navajos could live the old way in a white ocean Not practical. Navajos had to compete in
the real world. The Navajo Way didn't teach competition. Far from it,"( 227). In Leaphorn's
character we are able to see the turmoil that arises when one doesn't have defined values. Without
Emma in his physical life he is unable to ignore the empty space where cultural and religious
connections would normally reside. After a year of dealing with his wife's death, Leaphorn assesses
the option of using the practices of his Navajo predecessors. "And Emma's laughter. It was
everywhere he looked. He should sell the house or burn it. Abandon the house contaminated by the
death, lest the ghost sickness infect you and you died. Wise were the elders of his people.. But
instead, he would play this pointless game,"( 63). Because Leaphorn does not side with the Christian
religion and declines the use of Navajo traditions, he lacks the external support required to find
closure with death. . In Richard DuMont's character we see a collectors perspective on death warped
by the hunt for personal gain. His need for an impressive tale overshadows any feelings of sorrow he
might feel for the murdered pothunters. DuMont, unlike the anthropologists in the book, sees

Navajo
Running Head: Nation within a Nation
Amy Lamb
Ashford University
ANT 101
Instructor Rebekah Zinser
July 29th 2013
The Navajo, also known as Dine`, are some of the first Indians who set foot in America. The
primary mode of subsistence for any culture means a way of supporting life. The Navajo's primary
modes of subsistence are pastoralists. How does a pastoralist society impact beliefs and values,
healing and sickness, and kinship of the Navajo culture? These are the three aspects I plan to discuss
and prove that the Navajo Nation is a Nation within a Nation. The Navajo Nation is a semi–
autonomous Native American–governed territory covering 27,425 square miles, occupying portions
of northeastern Arizona, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the early twentieth century oil and gas lead the US government to form a Navajo business
council. Herbert J. Hagerman was hired by the US government to lead Navajo tribal councils and
run the meetings. (Lee, 2010) In the 1940's the Navajo nation changed tremendously. They no
longer raised sheep or livestock, instead thousands of Navajo people went off to find wage labor to
supplement their income instead. The tribal council industrialized itself. (Lee, 2007) In the 1970's
the Navajo nation was reorganized and the reservation had someone in control of the nation. Peter
MacDonald was elected chairman of the council and made new powers direct the Navajo
government. In 1998 the tribal council passed a Navajo Nation Local Governance Act that allowed
local matters to be made by local level people, allowing more local authority. The current
government structure is now an agency to the Navajo society, yet it is non–Navajo nature, and the
people of Navajo have never sanctioned it. Today the Navajo Nation doesn't have the self sufficient
powers it once did. Congress and US Supreme courts have limited the powers of the tribal
government. . Today, Supreme Court decisions still keep the Native Americans from having their
ability to self determine, and give the Native Americans limited sovereignty. (Lee, 2007) The
Navajo's believe there are the Earth people and the Holy people. They are believers of the body
being a part of sacred

Essay about History of the Navajo Tribe
INTRODUCTION According to the history of the Navajo Tribe, the Holy People lived in the
underworld and helped by guiding the First Man and First Woman to earth (McCoy 1988). The Holy
People are said to be attracted to songs, dances, and chants during the ceremony along with the
creation of Sandpainting. The Sandpainting is used in the healing process of the ceremony to draw a
picture that tells a story of the Holy People. The Navajo culture have amazed so many people to how
beautifully constructed the rituals are performed. Although, the ritual has been passed on from
generation to generation, how the Navajo rituals are ways of communication has been questioned by
so many. Many believe that it way for the patient to come into "...harmony... ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
After the Spanish had settled into the Navajo society, there were some hostility taking place between
the two groups and then came along the Americans who then demanded for the land. The Americans
had invaded because of the tribal refusal to surrender the land, which was what led to the Long
Walks. The Long Walk took place between 1863 and 1864; the goal of the walk to Bosque Redondo
was to withdraw the Navajos from their land. In order for the plan to go into action, on October 31,
1862, the establishment of the Fort Sumner was declared and war was made against the Mescalero
Apache and Navajo Indian tribes (Robert 2004). As shown in figure 1, a 300 miles route was walked
by children, women, and men for about two months. Once they reached the destination, an
estimation of 200 people had died from starvation. A couple years later had gone by when the
United States decided to introduce a treaty in1868 that allowed the Navajos to return to their homes
also now called the reservations. SCARED BELIEF Myths are of great importance in the Navajo
community because it is believed that it was a way to connect to the Holy People. The myth helps
recognize symbolized supernatural in chants, translates the meaning of songs, and explains the
importance of the ritual objects (Lamphere 1969). For example, there is myth of the two heroes who
had gone through some misfortunes but thanks to the supernatural's aid, the two heroes created a

Navajo People Case Study
Communication Challenges for the Navajo People In the United States, countless cultural groups
exist, spreading their ideas and beliefs across the country. When studying a culture, one cannot
ignore the roles of stereotyping and ethnocentrism, as these are present while nearly every culture.
Stereotyping is defined as brazen, negative statements about a specific culture, which could lead to
distrust or negative feelings (Neuliep, 2014). However, ethnocentrism is when one views his culture
as supreme and all other cultures are viewed and rated in regards to the person's own culture
(Neuliep, 2014). Though ethnocentrism and stereotyping seem like unrelated topics, there is some
correlation between the two. For instance, if one views other cultures with the idea that his own
culture is the standard by which all other cultures must be ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
For example, the cartoon of the Native American dressed in his traditional garb with the children
asking him if he was a mascot or a character in a movie displays a lack of cultural sensitivity and
could create the false idea that the Navajo people wear these headdresses. Though the Navajo people
occasionally wear these headdresses for traditional dances and customs, most modern Navajo people
do not wear these headdresses, and they wear modern clothing (Utah.com, 2017). However, the
stereotypes of all Native American people being alcoholics and lazy, can significantly impact how
people view the Navajo people. Believing these stereotypes can create a sense of suspicion and
disgust for the Navajo people, and some people would feel their culture is superior to the Navajo
culture. Furthermore, the ethnocentric idea that the Anglo–American people have no respect for
nature can create a sense of bitterness and distrust in the Navajo people, since nature is one of the
Navajo people's most important values (Navajopeople.org,

Navajo People : Health Effects Of Uranium Mining
Navajo People: Health Effects of Uranium Mining
The growing demand for consumer goods, such as electricity, fuel for vehicles, plastics and
petrochemical products, etc., threatens the biodiversity. It also threatens the ecosystems and effects
the environmental health. Many Navajo people traveled to mines off the reservation seeking work
and would often move their families with them in mine camps. The mineworkers, the only job that
was available, were paid at an hourly wage was less than a dollar. The jobs included blasters, timber
men, muckers, transporters, and millers. Other health hazards have emerged, in particular uranium
mining. The hazards of uranium mining have caused serious respiratory disease and that other
respiratory illnesses, including silicosis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and emphysema, were causing
deaths in uranium mineworkers at rates approaching those from lung cancer.
Though, there were more than 1000 abandoned uranium mines are on Navajo Reservation, over 7
million tons of uranium ore were extracted from Navajo lands and approximate 750 mines in
operation. Uranium has been extracted from open–pits and underground mines. The milling process
extracts uranium oxide from ore to form yellowcake, a yellow or brown powder that contains about
90 percent uranium oxide. The total volume of mill tailings generated in the U.S. is over 95 percent
of the volume of all radioactive waste from all power production.
Uranium is a very heavy metal which can

Kinaalda: A Girl's Puberty Ceremony
There are a number of activities that take place during the ceremony and each part has its own
purpose and significance. As a whole, the procession takes place over a course of four days and
within a decent amount of time of the first menstruation. However, in the event of the child being
away at boarding school they will go home immediately or if this is not an option then the ceremony
must be postponed. The ordering of events take place over the course of the four days directly relate
to the myth of the origins of Kinaalda. For instance, in Marie Shirley's Kinaalda the order and the
events that take place resemble closely the events that took place during the mythical origin story.
For Shirley's own ceremony the events that take ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some of the next events include removing and cutting of the cake. This is done by cutting in from
the eastern side and moving the knife clockwise. The final molding takes place, combing, and
painting of the girl's body in white clay signaling the end of the public part of the ceremony. As
stated by Harold Driver (1941), "the girls' puberty ceremony is an integral part of the culture,
indispensable for both the girl and the community". The myth of the origin of Kinaalda depict the
ceremony as a means of procreation in a holy and sanctified way. From a young age girls are
expected to take part in this ceremony, as it is a public sign to the community that she is officially a
woman and is educated in the ways of being a proper female Navajo figure. For instance, younger
girls take part in family members' Kinaalda to become better acquainted with what will be required
from them. In the case of Rose Mitchell (2001), she says "I remember my older sister's Kinaalda
because she was the one I herded with all during my young days". If this event is not taken seriously
many feel that those four days determine the future quality of the girl's life. The moment she begins
the events of the puberty ceremony her actions and attitude are watched closely, because many feel
that her behavior "during the ceremony is indicative of the kind of person she will be in the future"
(Frisbie, 1967). In addition to this, the girls mind and body are at this time most susceptible to

Dinka Cattle
In the text Loss of Culturally Vital Cattle Leaves Dinka Tribe Adrift in Refugee Camps, it states,
"The cow has always been the focus of their culture. Cattle stood at the heart of virtually every
important tradition and ceremony in Dinka life. Myths rose up around the animal. The Dinka wrote
songs about it. They created dances to honor it." Clearly, the Dinka tribe honors their cattle, and
when they left, they were devastated. Cows were a part of every tradition in Dinka life. Without the
cows, they will have to adjust how they perform rituals and other events, for instance marriages.
Before the war, the boy's family would give cattle to the Dinka girl's relatives, but now, negotiations
in the dowry ceremony are held by handshakes and pledges.

The Tribe Of The Navajo Nation
The Group of people that will be described in my paper is the Navajos of the Navajo Nation, located
in the northeastern part of Arizona, and their religious beliefs. Another topic that will be discussed is
the ceremonies that are held among the Navajo tribe. The reason this topic interest me is due to my
wife and hearing stories about ways she was taught as a child. Also how much of an impact it has
had in her life due to family members taking part in these ceremonies. According to the history of
the Navajo Tribe, the Holy People lived in the underworld and helped by guiding the First Man and
First Woman to earth (McCoy 1988). The Holy People are said to be attracted to songs, dances, and
chants during the ceremony along with the creation of Sandpainting. The Sandpainting is used in the
healing process of the ceremony to draw a picture that tells a story of the Holy People. The Navajo
culture have amazed so many people to how beautifully constructed the rituals are performed.
Although, the ritual has been passed on from generation to generation, how the Navajo rituals are
ways of communication has been questioned by so many. Many believe that it way for the patient to
come into "...harmony... " with the universe (Klukhohn and Leighton 1974). The hypothesis for the
question was presented based on exploration of the culture done by researchers; concluding that, the
Navajo rituals are a way of communication to their ancestors/the Holy People, who are worshiped in
return of good

Cultural Values Of Cultures, Navajo, Laguna, And Euro...
This essay will explore the cultural values of three different cultures; Navajo, Laguna, and Euro–
American culture. Two of the cultures that I will be exploring are the Native communities that I
have been well exposed to since I was a child. The values that I will be discussing are gender,
education, and money. Growing up on a reservation in New Mexico, I have a closer insight on the
similarities and differences of those values.
The first value I will be analyzing is gender. Gender is a topic that varies in every culture. The idea
is gender has changed and evolved from the settlement of Europeans in the beginning of this nation.
Many of the values that were adopted by the Europeans were inspired by the Native Americans.
They were changed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With that said, the man, hastiin, is the second gender. Although important, they aren 't on the same '
'level' of the woman. They hold the same values of the common man in Western culture, being the
protector and "breadwinner."
The third gender is called the nadleeh, or hermaphrodite in English. They are individuals that
demonstrate characteristics of the opposite gender. There are the female–bodied nadleeh and the
male–bodied nadleeh. This is a Navajo, and common Native tradition, that has been adopted to fit
the gender diversity in communities and society.
The masculine female gender is different from the primary female. Meaning they don 't subject
themselves to the primary female roles, they occupy the roles that are usually associated with men.
This also applies to the feminine male gender. The feminine male gender performs work that is
usually performed by the females. This concept was also developed to identify with gender
diversity.
Modern day concepts of gay and lesbian have been adapted into Native culture. But those who with
identify those concepts would not be connected with with cultural concepts of the nadleeh gender.
There are complicated concepts of relationships when you analyze the gender values of Native
communities and the values that the Euro–Americans have now. Navajos have five separate gender
categories that arise from the five genders explained above. Those categories are traditional,
transitional, contemporary, acculturated, and

Bosque Redondo Assassination
Following his arrival to the American Southwest in 1862, Brigadier General James Henry Carleton
of the Union Army would oversee the process of destroying Native American powers throughout the
Territory until his reassignment in 1867. The Navajo s or Diné , in their language, were one such
power that Carleton set about destroying. The process of destruction took many forms as the tribes
faced both physical and cultural assaults from the American military, while the New Mexican
citizens, and rival tribes of Native Americans engaged in raids, attacks, and taking captives from the
Navajos. In its final stage, this destruction took form as Bosque Redondo, a reservation planned as
an experiment by Carleton to finalize the pacification of Native ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Bosque Redondo and Fort Sumner were located together where there had been a grove of
cottonwood trees that sat along the Pecos River.,. Carleton had supported the reservation as the last
step to Indian removal in the area, seeking to drive the Navajos from their homeland to the
reservation by way of violence. Furthermore, he made various attempts to have it explained to the
Navajos that Bosque Redondo was their only means of salvation. To Navajo chiefs Barboncito and
Delgadito, Carlton wished it explained that those Navajos who claimed not to be guilty of murder
and robbery, that for their own preservation and as a means of validating their innocence, must come
to Bosque Redondo as a means of separating themselves from the guilty parties. Carleton explained
to his subordinates that they had no power to negotiate surrender with the Navajos, and that they
must explain the conditions by which surrender could be accepted, stating that if approached by
Navajos seeking peace it should be explained to them that they must, "Go to the Bosque Redondo,
or we will pursue and destroy you. We will not make peace with you on any other terms" It was by
this process that the Navajo as a power were intended to be destroyed, with even innocent parties
forced to subject themselves to the will of the United States through internment at Bosque

Matrilineal Society In The Ghostway
The Ghostway incorporates countless references to the Navajo way of life while still providing a
captivating mystery storyline for readers. Adhering to the Navajo way means participating in a
matrilineal society, respecting elders, being a happy and calm person, and having aligned thoughts
on prostitution as the rest of the Navajo culture. One of the major components in The Ghostway is
the matrilineal aspect of Navajo life that is portrayed. Three scenarios where you can see the
matrilineal society is how Chee introduces himself to people, how Margaret's character was
portrayed, and how she saved Chee twice. When Chee introduced his family and himself, he would
not only use Navajo first and English second, but he would also refer to

Ned's Tradition In Boarding School
From the time Ned enters boarding school, to his time as a code talker, tradition plays a very
important role throughout the story. At first, Navajo traditions and language are practically beaten
out of students in boarding school. A Wooden sign at the entrance of the school reads, "Tradition is
the enemy of progress" (Bruchac, p.23). At school, the children were told not to even speak their
language, and if they were caught, they were punished severely. As Ned put it, "Anything that
belonged to the Navajo way was bad, and our Navajo language was the worst." (Bruchac, p.23) As
Ned goes into high school, the culture of the Navajos is still strongly discouraged, though not as
much as in his earlier years. In one instance, Ned says something

What Are The Characteristics Of Music In Native American...
Music is a powerful force that plays a role in cultures all around the world. From special ceremonies
such as weddings or funerals to church services to casual listening in daily life, music plays a role in
all aspects of life. It can be a form of expression, a way to celebrate, or something that people feel a
sense of identity with. Although influenced by others' styles, many cultures have their own overall
distinct style(s) of music. In Native American culture, music plays an important role in multifarious
ceremonies and rituals including powwows, the Ghost Dance, Nightway ceremonies, and house
dedications. To Native Americans, a powwow is described in several ways. A powwow can be an
intimate tribal gathering, a massive dance competition for large cash prizes, a memorial for a dead
relative, a social affair where people gather to dance, sing, drum, eat, re–establish family ties and
make new friends or a combination of these descriptions. Each powwow is distinctive; however,
intertribal powwows share many characteristics. Typically held around open, outdoor spaces,
powwows usually begin on a Friday and end on Sunday. The most active powwow season is from
the early spring until fall. There are two types of songs used in powwows: traditional and straight.
Traditional songs include Native text and are also known as "word" songs. Straight songs, called
"war dance" songs in the south, make use of vocables, which are nonsense syllables as opposed to
words that have meaning to

What Is The Long Walk Essay
All of the sudden, the Navajos were forced to move off their land without any reason as to why.
They were kicked out of their homes and held captive against their will and either had the choice to
move or die. The Long Walk is about how the U.S. government forced the Navajos to walk from
their homeland to a fort in New Mexico. Many died from the journey to imprisonment. Did the U.S.
government do the right thing to send the Navajos on a 300 mile trek or should the U.S. government
have left the Navajos at their homeland? The topics that will be discussed is what the Long Walk
was, previous conflicts between the U.S. government and the Navajos and what happened after the
Navajos returned to their homeland.
The Long Walk is where the United States ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some of the people who were involved were U.S.army soldiers, one of whom was Kit Carson.
Mainly, though, they were Navajos: including men, women and children. Many Navajos refused to
be confined upon a reservation by the U.S. government. This journey was lead by Kit Carson and if
any Navajo resisted they would be killed.
Kit Carson was born on December 24, 1809 in Kentucky. He was raised on the Missouri frontier and
had to give up his education to help his mother raise his 10 siblings after his father died in 1818.
Even then he became an experienced trapper and hunter in his twenties, and by the 1850s he was an
American soldier. Kit Carson eventually became an American Indian agent and most of his military
was directed against the Navajo Indians. This is how he became the leader of the Long Walk.
After the Navajos arrived at Fort Sumner for imprisonment there were too many people, nearly
double of the Fort's capacity. There were issues with firewood, water and crops. There was not
enough firewood to supply the warmth needed. The water was bad and made many sick with
diseases. The crops failed and were infested by worms not giving them enough food for everybody
to eat. So many of the Navajos died due the government's lack of

Essay on Cultural Aspects of the Navajo Indians
Culture gives definition to a group of people's way of life. Culture defines people; It is who the
people are. The Navajo Indians are a group located in the southwestern part of the United States
with a distinct culture. They originated there sometime between the year "1200 and 1500" (Craats
4). Unlike the beginning of their residence in the United States, different aspects of the culture have
changed, but the Navajo people still remain a culturally rich group of people.
To this day, their political organization, economy, social organization, and religious beliefs are the
four major elements that make them who they are as a whole. Before establishing the political
structure that spoke for the entire Navajo community, a smaller ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Unlike the war leaders, the peace leaders or local headman were chosen by the Navajo people
through an election, and a ceremony, Chief Blessing Way ritual, was held after elections. The
applicable individuals had to possess the characteristics of "exemplary character, oratorical ability,
personal magnetism, and proven ability to serve in both the practical and religious aspects of the
culture" (Hill 25). Though they held a leadership role within the community, this role did not allow
them to persuade the Navajo people in any way. "The natani [WPM: the local headmen] acted as
general economic director and encouraged productive activities" (Hill 27), and "In the legal sphere
he [WPM: the local headman] arbitrated disputes over damages, acted as mediator in quarrels
between individuals, remonstrated with wrong–doers, and adjusted family difficulties" (Hill 27).
Since peace leaders were never in a position to persuade their community of Navajo people, they
only upheld the values of the Navajo without suggesting any change. Though there are no more
local headmen to direct the Navajo's economy, the Navajo's economy still persists today though it
has changed slightly. The Navajos planted crops as a source of substance. Their farming methods
changed due to Congress approving the Navajo Irrigation Implementation Project (NIIP) in the
1960s, and by the mid–1990s, a farm called the Navajo Agricultural Products Incorporated (NAPI)
was producing and packaging profitable

Native American And First Nations Gender Identities Essay
One of the difficulties in studying and assessing the effects and causes of changing terminologies
and beliefs regarding Native American and First Nations gender identities is the incredible variety
between both the histories of different tribes and the individual's understanding of personal identity.
It is a frequent and recurring problem in academia surrounding minority groups, whether they be
racial, ethnic, sexual, or gender minorities, that the voices of actual members of the group being
studied are ignored. What they are saying can be sterilized, particularly when the researcher is not a
member of the group. The reality of the emotional and practical reasons for terminology used by
these individuals cannot be understood without direct input from their voices, and as such five
different perspectives regarding identity and terminology taken by Native American individuals are
represented here. These examples are taken from blog posts regarding various topics surrounding
these ideas, and the tribes represented include the Navajo, White Bear Clan, Cree, Metis, and
Mi'kmaq people. While each of the five have different relationships to their Native ancestry, all five
individuals take a perspective regarding the use of the term two–spirit. While all five take a positive
stance on the use of the word, applying it to themselves, their understanding and emotional
attachment to the word varies. For Navajo individual Jae Burbank, the discovery of being two–spirit
came after plans

Cultural Competence in Nursing
Running head: CULTURAL COMPETENCE
Cultural Competence in Nursing
Kerry Dempsey
Grand Canyon University–Nsg 429
October 14, 2012
Cultural Competence in Nursing Understanding different cultures and backgrounds is an essential
part of nursing. This country continues to grow and combine people from just about anywhere you
could possibly think of and even some places that you would not think of. In the healthcare field
emphasis is placed on being culturally competent for this reason. Being able to understand a
patient's ideas and beliefs and the patient to understand those of the United States will only help to
improve the health of patients. The Author's Heritage This author is bi–racial. Her ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
A few other traditions that Abel stated his mother passed on from her mother were she would put
sugar on any kind of cut to stop the bleeding. Abel stated "All the poor cultures have poor ways." By
this he means that many cultures utilize what they have to heal an ailment or just to stay healthy.
Some other things that Abel remembers are drinking castor oil or cod liver oil for bowel
maintenance. His mother would line her ten children up, and give all of them their spoonful of oil.
Some of these traditions are used in Abel's family and some he has chosen to leave behind.
This author also interviewed Jamie and Tina who are Navajo Americans. They both stated that in
their cultures they utilize a medicine man to help with any sort of problem that someone in the
family may have. According to Edelman and Mandle, "Native Americans believe that a state of
health exists when a person lives in total harmony with nature." (Edelman & Mandle,pg 42)When
Native Americans feel they are out of harmony they will utilize a medicine man. The medicine man
will perform ceremonies while using any number of items such as: music, plants, herbs and objects
that are symbolic of the person in need of healing, the illness or the treatment. (Barber, 2012) Jamie
stated that in her familiy it was customary to wake up, go outside and face east, say a blessing and
use corn pollen on their heads and bodies. She stated this was done to

Essay On Navajo People
History of the Navajo People
The people who were going to become the Navajo tribe settled in what would be the mountains of
New Mexico in or around the 1600's. Prior to that time the area was the home of the Anasazi (The
Ancient Ones.) The Anasazi had lived there for approximately 1200 years but, for unexplained
reasons, they abandoned their highly developed dwellings and moved westward and southward.
A new group of people, the Athapascans, migrated from what are now Canada, Alaska, and the
American Northwest southward to settle in the Southwest of America. Some of this group of
Southern Athapascans settled the mountainous region of New Mexico and came to be known as the
Navajos, or as they prefer to be called, Dine (the People.) ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Army at Fort Defiance; finally, the Fort was abandoned only because troops were needed to fight in
the Civil War. The Army returned in 1863 and General Carleton, Commandant of the Military
Department of New Mexico ordered Kit Carson to move the Dine from their homes to a reservation
that he had created in the plains of eastern New Mexico, Bosque Redondo. Carson carried out the
orders by slaughtering men, women and children, destroying livestock and burning their crops. One
of the final and bloodier battles took place in the Canyon de Chelly. When the Dine finally
surrendered they were forced to walk from their homelands to their new place of residence several
hundred miles away. This came to me known as The Long Walk. In 1868 United States enters into a
peace treaty with the Navajo Tribe granting it a 3.5 million acre reservation.
In 1882 Executive Order establishes a 2.4 million acre reservation for use and occupancy by the
Hopi "and such other Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to settle thereon." In 1934
legislation adds some lands and defines the boundaries of the Navajo reservation in Arizona. In 1936
District Six, a 499,258–acre area within the 1882 reservation is recognized as encompassing all of
the lands exclusively occupied by the Hopi. In 1941 District Six is expanded to 631,194 acres;
Navajo families are forced to move and never compensated or provided

Native American Traditions And Traditions Of Clothing,...
"The Navajos did not make war just to steal and kill; they earned their reputation as warriors
fighting to protect their lands, properties, and families– and a just cause it was." The Navajo tribe is
one of the oldest and is the largest tribe in the United States and branches from the Apache tribe.
Their characteristics and traditions of clothing, shelter, and food are still around today. This tribe is
known for their peacefulness and religious beliefs and 0many experts consider their lifestyle to have
been a wealth of culture. They were resilient and seemed to recuperate from the many hardships
they faced, even destitution. Navajo traditions were orally passed on to younger generations from
elders, and even other tribes that the navajos branched from. They formed a very distinct type of
religion known as the Peyote religion. This religion was unconventional compared to other native
american religions. Some of their rituals used in healing members of the tribe could last for days and
even over a week. Every aspect of their life involved some type of religious ceremony. When it
came to planting crops and harvesting they would pray, sing, and dance to the sun god named
Tsohanoai for a bountiful year. Not all followed this religion once Christianity was shared with
them. In more modern times between twenty and fifty percent now identify themselves as
Christians. Another large part of their religion and beliefs are their healing ceremonies. "In 1941 an

The Navajo Ways of Life
Navajo Way of Life Kathleen E. St.Cyr ANT101 Jeffrey Ratcliffe July 16, 2012 Every culture has a
primary mode of subsistence that makes them unique. Among the Navajo culture their primary
mode of subsistence are pastoralists. Pastoralists have an impact on different aspects with in the
culture. The aspects that I will be discussing will be the Navajo's beliefs and values, sickness and
healing, kinship, and their social organization. "Pastoralists are those who regularly move in search
of naturally occurring grass and water." (Nowak & Laird, 2010) Navajo's are an Indian tribe that live
on reservations and sometimes reside on public domains outside of the reservations. The Navajo
nation is the largest reservation in North ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The healing ceremony, which is also called a "sing" is one of the most well–known. This is where
the sandpainting, like I talked about in the previous paragraph, is made by the medicine man. These
ceremonies are used to cope with the uncertainties and dangers that occur in the world as well. The
Navajo have a kinship system that follows the lineage of the woman. When a baby is born, he or she
belongs to the clan of the mother. Navajo children are "born to" the mother's clan and taker her clan
name, and are "born for" the father's clan. This way Navajos know who they are through
identification. When a man is ready to marry he is to marry someone outside of his clan. They
consider it incest if he was to marry someone in the same clan even though they are not blood
related. The clan name is passed from the mother to the child. The Navajo way a man is to introduce
himself to others by stating his maternal and paternal clans on both sides of his family. This is so
other Navajos know where you they came from. When two Navajos meet for the first time they refer
to each other as "brother" and 'sister." This for Americans would be cousins. Father's and mother's
cousins in the American way are thought of as aunts and uncles in the Navajo way. Grandparent's
brothers and sisters in the American way are thought of as grandma's and grandpa's in the Navajo
way. When a Navajo

Navajo Culture Research Paper
Across America, countless tribes and cultures have been practiced for centuries. There is so much
diversity amongst these people ranging from the north eastern Iroquois to the south western Hopi
people. Even though these people live in such different lifestyles, many of the indigenous tribes
have similar perspectives on the world, especially after western expansion during the 1800's. Tribes,
no matter where they are geographically, all have some sort of tradition or ritual that they do which
can be for spirits, new and old, or for the people themselves. Three individual indigenous people
who are some of the more well–known in modern day standards are the Hopi, Navajo, and Lakota
people. All of whom live in different locations across North America. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Similar to the Navajo, the Lakota are a matriarchal society. The Lakota people practice similar
traditions to the Navajo in that direction matters. Whether is be East or West the direction is
important to their religion the same way east is important to the Navajo's belief of the rising sun. To
the Lakota people directions have a unique color associated with it and certain characteristics as
well. North is white and is portrayed as cold, South is yellow and known for its full–days, East is red
for its sunrise, and West is black as that is where the sky becomes dark. However, there are two
additional directions, up and down, up is blue because of the sky, and down is green because of the
earth. This is the backbone of the Lakota people. Another tradition in which the Lakota people are
unique to is the Sun Dance. During the hottest day of the year, men, and men only, pierce their chest
with a hook tied to a rope and connect to a pole to dance. This is done as a vision quest for the
individual dancing as they do so until they collapse or the day is done. One last tradition that both
Hopi and Navajo people can relate to are sweat lodges. However, in Lakota people they are referred
to as Rock Lodges or Inipi. The reason for this is because it is for their ancestors (the rocks) who are
being focused on, not the individuals within. The rock lodge is seen as the womb of the earth. This
is why

Navajo Culture
Final Draft on Navajo Culture David Cable ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Prof.
Justine Lemos July 19, 2012 I) Introduction: The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American
group in America today, and is the biggest Indian reservation in the United States. Situated in the
northeastern part of Arizona and in the northwestern part of New Mexico, it is comprised of nearly
ten million acres, or roughly fifteen thousand square miles. In this research paper the author will
discuss at least three aspects of the Navajo culture that will include the kinship that the Navajo have
with each other, the social structure within Navajo society, the economic organization that sustains
the culture and their beliefs and values that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Navajo family is usually a nuclear one that consists of the husband, his wife and their children
living in small wooden and mud houses called a Hogan, and live in small communities with other
families. Although the mother is the main nurturer and authority figure of the family, the father still
plays a large role in helping the mother raise the children and teaching them manners and their
legends and chants. It is also the father's responsibility for punishing and teaching respect to his
children. And as his sons' get older, it is not uncommon for the father to become his sons'
companion. B) Social Organization: The leadership among the Navajo is an informal one, which is
to say that there is lack of power and authority amongst the groups. Instead, leadership is earned
slowly over time by how well he takes care of his sheep. Initially a newly married man will leave his
sheep with his parents group, slowly moving his herd to his wife's family group after children and
marital stability have been established. Leadership is usually held by men who own the healthiest
and largest herds of sheep, but they don't have the ability to impose authority or their will over
anyone. And in times of action, unanimity is the cultural rule among the Navajo leaders (Nowak,
Laird, 2010). Although it is unlikely for a woman to be a leader in Navajo society, she is likely to
own just as many sheep as the men do, with the herds being kept

Explore the Role of the Trickster Figure in Native...
Who is the trickster figure in Native American culture? What roles do the tricksters play? Drawing
on the readings we have done so far for this course, explore what types of language or symbols the
trickster is associated with and their relation to cultural values. In your answer, be sure to consider
how the trickster figure relates to native American oral culture (the role of 'stories' for example). It
sounds simple enough to consider the role of the trickster in Native American culture, but
examination of various literatures from The Norton Anthology of American Literature leads one to
discover the ambiguity of the term 'trickster' within this individual culture. The trickster figure can
be seen on one hand simply as a composition of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Coyote is later punished for his crime against nature, when he flings the dead dogs to the
'east...south...west...[and] north', demonstrating a lack of care for his food, a show of great disrespect
according to Navajo culture. Eventually, the trickster is reduced to 'begging but to no avail' for the
food belonging to Shilna'ash, formerly inferior to Coyote throughout the tale. This is an example of
a common feature of trickster tales, which 'can be seen as moral examples re–affirming the rules of
society' (Hynes, W. Doty, W. 7). Beneath the comedy, whether light–hearted or vicious, the
punishment or humiliation of the trickster teaches those who are listening to the tale how to behave,
and warns them to comply with cultural rules. The Winnebago Trickster Cycle ends in the trickster
nearly drowning in his own 'dung' (Norton Anthology, 2011, 110), a situation which is surely
universally undesirable. So although the tricksters in both these tales entertain themselves and their
audiences, they also end up in situations which are not to be taken light–heartedly. This
demonstrates the importance of the trickster orally, as moral messages are conveyed whilst interest
of the audience is still obtained, this interest being evident partly from the fact that these tales,
which are rather unsophisticated and simplistic on the surface, are still being explored and closely
examined today. The Trickster figure is also used to

The Navajo

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