Navajo Indians Research Paper

Let’s start with the language portion of the Peoplehood matrix and the affects that settler colonialism has had on Navajo. In Peoplehood, it is stated that the language portion of the Peoplehood matrix is “a group-particular language, by way of its nuances, references, and grammar, gives a sacred history a meaning of its own, particularly if origin, creation, migration, and other stories are spoken rather than written” (Holm, et al. pg. 13). Especially in the late nineteenth century, Navajo children like many other indigenous children were sent to boarding schools. Settler colonialism resulted in a need to as Native Words Native Warriors puts it “eliminate traditional American Indian ways of life and replace them with mainstream American culture.”

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

Every culture has their own way of life, their own religious beliefs, their own marriage beliefs, their own values and feelings on life and the options it has to offer. Each culture has their own way to run things within their own government, and own way to keep their economy up to their standards. Also each culture and society have their own 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, economic organization, gender relations and sickness and healing.

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

In earlier times the Native Americans who resided in Arizona, lived of the natural resources provided by the land. For instance the Hopi was known for their great dry farming skills and their ability to adapt to the dry desert climate by using different agricultural practices. Today, agriculture continues to be an essential way of life for the Hopi, and managed to keep their culture intact. Many associate their success to their tribal isolated area that is surrounded by the Navajo (Hopi People).

The Navajo are centrally located in the Southwestern United States. Even though their culture is in America, it differs from the culture of Western America. The difference lies in everything from religion to personal expression. In fact, a significant portion of personal expression done by Navajo individuals is shown through their artwork. The artwork is a not only a representation of the Navajo lifestyle, but their significance to history. The Navajo artwork that will be discussed includes artforms such as sand painting, rugs, pottery, and silver making; these will be defined and the technique and/or creative process will be explained as well.

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.

The Navajo (or Dine), which means “The People” are located on the Navajo reservation, spanning more than 27,000 miles, at the four corners of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. The 2010 Census Brief reports

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 Tribe The Navajo Tribe resides in Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. They are one of the most well known tribes because of their history. They are also one of the most creative tribes and have items they have made that are very popular today. Navajo jewelry is recognizable and distinguishable by the turquoise stone that is in all of it.

For as long as I could remember, I’ve always wanted to learn more about my people, where we came from, and how we are all still here today. I grew up listening to stories about my ancestors. So, as I’m typing this paper I will also be learning more about my people. One of the most tragic events that’s happen in Navajo history is The Long Walk. This tragic event changed the lives of many Navajo’s.

Arizona’s historical development dates back to thousands of years ago. Arizona holds the second largest amount of indigenous/ Native American population of any other state in the United States. One of the first groups of people to live on Arizona’s land was the Native Americans, or otherwise called the American Indians. These Natives came much before any of the Europeans, or the Spanish settlers came to Arizona. There were three main Native American groups that truly began the exploration of Arizona. These groups include the Anasazi, Hohokam, and Mogollon tribes. Each of their tribes settled in different sections of Arizona ranging from Northeastern to Southeastern parts of the land.

The world view of the Navajo who had lived for many centuries on the high Colorado Plateau was one of living in balance with all of nature, as the stewards of their vast homeland which covered parts of four modern states. They had no concept of religion as being something separate from living day to day and prayed to many spirits. It was also a matriarchal society and had no single powerful leader as their pastoral lifestyle living in scattered independent family groups require no such entity. This brought them repeatedly into conflict with Spanish, Mexicans and increasingly by the mid-nineteenth century, Americans as these practices were contrary to their male dominated religiously monolithic societal values. The long standing history

Navajo also called Dine, it means “the people.” They come from northwestern New Mexico, and they originates from southwest, as a “land of the people.” At first, the word Navajo from Spanish, then entered to English. Based on cultivated fields, this word also from Tewa Indian. We can understand that their ancestors in the southwest before they arrived. As a language, they belong to the Nadene and Athapaskan. In addition, most Athapaskans live in a vast inland region of northwestern Canada and Alaska. Their historic association between the Navajo and the Apache. Also, they both entered the southwest from the north and Apachean, as a distinct language small group. Until A.D. 1725, Navajo appear as a distinct tribes. As a foreign elements, Indian,

The Navajos were a peaceful tribe usually raising sheep and goats.  They were nomadic people because of the land in the southwest.  Most of the families, though being nomads, had at least one adobe to call “home.”