Navajo are of the the Athabascan language group and their relationship and travels are told of on that page. The People have other versions.
| Origin | Some History | Blessingway | Shoe Game | Religion |
|---|
| Legend of Spider Rock | Weaving |
|---|
First man and first woman were created by the Holy People (basketmakers),
and brought to the surface through a series of underworlds. The Navajo
story of their origin is long and complicated with many versions
varying to as having come through twelve underworlds grouped by
fours into three layers, or "rooms" which are also called worlds.
We will find this story.
Only the Creator knows where the beginning is.
The Creator had a thought that created Light in the East.
Then the thought went South to create Water, West to
create Air, and North to create Pollen from emptiness.
This Pollen became Earth.
Light, air, water, and earth is contained in everything within nature;
all of the natural world is interconnected and equal.
All of these elements mixed together, and the first thing created were
the Holy People. These Holy People were given the job and responsibility
of teaching what is right and wrong. Holy people were given the original
laws, then they created the earth and human beings.
The Creator with the help of the Holy People created the Natural
World. They created humans, birds, and all of the Natural World was
put in Hozjo (BALANCE). This Hozjo (harmony, balance, and peace) is
dependent on interconnectedness. All of the Natural World depends
on another. The Navajo say they are glued together with respect, and
together they work in harmony.
To the Navajo this present world is the fifth.
The place of emergence into this level was Xajiinai,
a hole in the La Plata mountains of SW Colorado. The Holy People have the
power to hurt or help, and centuries ago taught the Dineh how to live in
harmony with Mother Earth, Father Sky and the other elements: man,
animals, plants, insects.The Dineh believe that when the
ceremonies cease the world will cease.
The Navajo land is defined as enclosed by four sacred mountains:
SEE:
map of reservation.
The Navajo Reservation is roughly the size of West Virginia and
they are the largest tribe in the U.S. with a population now of 1/4
million. Though current estimates are a capital of one billion dollars,
the average income of a Navajo is $750 a year. The reservation in New
Mexico is on the south bluff of the Animas River, and looks down on
the City of Farmington.
Navajo are famous for weaving of rugs and blankets, and beautiful
silver work. Also see articles relating to the
Churro sheep,
and the
Navajo Churro Sheep Project.
Blessingway, Hozhoogi, is life to the Navajo. From birth
onward this is the center and foundation of all ceremonies.
The hogan, which is considered to be female, is the beginning of
life and is the symbol of the maternal clan.
There is a fuller study of
BlessingWay
at the University of Massachussetts.
The Shoe Game, Keshjee', is centuries old and is not a game.
This sacred Navajo ceremony tells and shows the story of how the cycle
of day and night came to be.
Long ago, in ancient days, the night creatures and the day creatures did
not understand the importance of the cycles of the universe. Each group
wanted it to be either day or night all the time. A contest was held to
see which group
had the most power and this was the first Shoe Game.
The two teams played through the night, trying to guess in which of
four shoes the ball made of yucca root was hidden. As the game went
on each team would gain or lose 102 yucca stems. At sunrise there
was no winner and the animals had
learned that all seasons and cycles are part of the grand plan.
Keshjee', as a game of choices, represents life and the
fact that the natural order of things cannot be changed. Not every
choice can be correct, but the lessons are learned and experience is
gained. Neither lying or cheating can change the outcome and
the payment of a fee of yucca stems is still required.
Though of a different language than the Hopi, both tribes have these
beliefs in common:
A prediction of impending disaster comes from the Navajo. Sheep
are a sacred symbol to these people, for they were given by White
Bead, a much-loved deity of the Navajo, to make their lives easier.
Other than the economic benefits, sheep are revered when praying for
health.
The Navajo say that sheep have only one life and one soul, and that
the unnatural interference by cloning can only come to no good.
This ties in with a
Hopi prophecy.
The Yei Bei Chei dances in Shiprock in late September or early October
present Night Chants, Mountain Chants, and
"Squaw Dances."
Note added May 15, 1999:
Since then I have become aware of the insult this word is to the
Navajo and
all
women. The first following article was the beginning
of my understanding:
Change the Signs.
And then the whole thing fell in on me.
See the further developments at
The S Word
Navajoland Tourism Dept.
Farmington information: 1-800-448-1240.
Back to
Four Corners Postcard.
And we did. Here is a short version:
In 1863-64 the Navajo endured the
Long Walk
to eastern NM, were returned in 1868, and a reservation of
17 million acres was established in 1878.
This has changed and many peoples are coming forth
with
ancient prophecies.
on the Navajo/Hopi Partitioned Land on May 5, 1996.
The use of the word "squaw" is a serious offense. When I
first wrote this article it was from common information
and usage of the word throughout the Southwest.
P.O. Box 663,
Window Rock, AZ 86515
(520) 871-6436 or 7371 or 6659.
and events concerning Native American Indians.
Mark Silversmith Gallery.
Mark researches the tribes and portrays their lives of then and now.
crafts, and enterprises. For quality creations
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Business Directory
for listings and contact information.
© Copyright 1998 by L. Michael Smith. Fair use granted.