Navajo's Religion

  

The Navajo religion is unique in the aspect of their different beliefs. They believe in different gods and other supernatural powers, but what seems to be truly important is the belief of deities. The two that are idolized are the Changing Woman or Spider Woman, the Sun god along with her twin sons-the Monster Slayers. The Navajo people believe in nature such as animals and weather to work in their favor. Ceremonies are performed by masked dancers who try to awake the important deity the Yei. Navajo stories and mythology plays a huge part in their religious belief. Depending on how the supernatural is summoned is how they determine if the god’s help will be harmful or beneficial.

The story of the beginning of time is between the Holy People (supernatural) and Earth Surface People.  The supernaturals had to defeat many challenges through the underworld in order to reach the present world. When they achieved this they created the first man and first woman. The man and woman are the ancestors of all human on earth with this the first humans were taught the ways of survival from the supernaturals.

                

The person who is highly respected in the Navajo community is the “singer”. This person is the one who relates the religious stories and perform the ceremonies. These priests are educated in the sense they are trained for many years under the lead of a priest before them. Training is extensive and intense because there is a particular priest who is called the “curers”. The “curers” have the ability diagnose and cure the illness the person has. They prescribe a ceremonial treatment to help the person overcome the illness. One of the rituals they perform is sand painting; this is a delicate ritual that the “curer” performs.

               

  Death is a small part of their religion. The Navajo people are afraid of death to the point where they do not speak of it. No public ritual or ceremony is performed when one is deceased. The deceased are buried immediately. The Navajo people do not believe in an afterlife, so there is no concept of a reward or punishment for the actions of a person in their life. 

Reference(s)

Navajo Religion (no date) Meta-Religion. Available at:

 http://www.meta-religion.com/World_Religions/Ancient_religions/North_america/navajo_religion.htm#.VRNVI_nF-6A (Accessed: 24 March 2015).

 Religion and expressive culture - Navajo, Countries and Their Cutures. Available at:

 http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Navajo-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html (Accessed: 20 March 2015).

Family Structure and Marriage

The Navajo tribe, like many tribes, places a lot of importance on family structure. It is said that the tribe follows a strong matriarchal family structure, such as when a baby is born that child automatically belongs to the clan of their mother and not the father. When a man does go to marry someone, he must choose a spouse that is not in the same clan as him. Even if a man is not related to someone in his clan it is still against the rules to marry that person as it is said that everyone in the same clan is basically family. An interesting family tradition that is unique to the Navajo tribe is that the Navajo people need to introduce his/ her maternal and paternal clan to the clan that he/ she want to marry. The typical family structure is a wife; husband and their children, however there can be different structures other than this, such as an extended family structure. It is said that the third generations in the Navajo family structure includes the parents of the wife (which are considered additional members of their own family). In the Navajo culture, extended family members are expected to contribute to the family responsibilities due to the fact that a larger family means more responsibilities. Another difference in the traditional family structure is when a husband has two wives; this is called a compound family. In these families is most common that two sisters will share a husband. Another unusual circumstance in the Navajo tribe is giving up a child for adoption. If a mother cannot care/ provide for her child, usually another family member will step up and raise the child. In the rare circumstances that a family member does not step up, the tribe has legal authority of the child and will determine which family the child will go to. Lastly, the Navajo tribe uses different terms for family members, such as the mother's mother being called "ma'sani'" or "old mother" while the father's parents are called the "nallys.” Also, the siblings and cousins of their mother and father will be called as their aunts or uncles. The siblings and cousins of their grandparents will also be called as their grandpas and grandmas as well. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWehjvbcIzM (video of the daily routine of a Navajo Indian)

Now that we’ve discussed the family structure, we should talk about a traditional Navajo wedding. This is a very special ceremony that the tribe members hold high importance to. The ceremony starts with the groom sitting at the back of a semicircular fire with his relatives sitting north of the center, the bride’s family sits south of the center with visitors filling up the open areas. The bride will enter carrying a bucket of sugar and a cup with her close relatives following behind her while carrying some type of food item. Then from a pail of water, the bride dips the cup and pours the water on his hands. The groom then takes the cup and proceeds to do the same thing to the bride. Then a bucket of ceremonial gruel and canned tomatoes is set before the couple while an old man conducting the ceremony sprinkles yellow pollen in the air. The bride will then wash the groom’s hands and he will wash hers then they both take a mouthful of the gruel then a mouthful of the tomatoes. They then each all the gruel in the basket and a feast of all the food begins with all the family members. 

References

"FAQ's About Life on the Navajo Nation & Among the Navajo People."Navajo Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://www.navajocentral.org/faq02a.htm>. Accessed March 20, 2015.

"Navajo Family Structure." Navajo Code Talkers. N.p., 18 Apr. 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://navajocodetalkers.org/navajo-family-structure/>. Accessed March 20, 2015.

"Navajo Weddings." Twin Rocks Trading Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://www.twinrocks.com/legends/128-navajo-weddings.html>. Accessed March 20, 2015.

Subsistence

TIMELINE:

1868-1960

• depended on a combination of farming, animal husbandry, sale of products.
• cultivation of maize was the most basic and essential.
• raise sheep and goats, which in turn provided meat, milk, wool, and hides.
• additional income came from sale or exchange of rugs, piñon nuts.

 Early 1900s

• A few Navajo members were employed by bureau of indian affairs and off-reservation towns and ranches.

1980’s

• 75% of wage work contribute to Navajo income. Traditional farming and livestock economics still being maintained.
• Tourism, mineral production, and lumbering are the main sources of cash income on the Navajo Reservation.

As shown through the timeline, the Navajos mainly farmed and traded among other villages throughout the years. Additional income came from crafts they made and traded. This includes pottery making and weaving. Women weaved rugs, baskets and other woven goods to trade in the market. Among these traded goods also included silver and turquoise jewelry. The woven baskets and bright colored sashes that were made also played a major role in their ceremonies.

In regards to the division of labor in the Navajo economy, there was a set line to distinguish tasks between men and women. Males took care of horses and farmed, while females were in charge of household tasks and weaving. In recent years, both gender collaborate in activities such as shearing, lambing, and wage work.

Reference:

Economy - Navajo. http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Navajo-Economy.html#ixzz3Rw7n4u00. Accessed March 15, 2015. 

Population and Gender

As of 2010, the total population of the Navajo Nation aggregated to a total of 173,667 people, which implied a decrease of almost 4% over the past decade. New Mexico tribal lands saw the largest decrease in population with 5.7%, followed by Utah with 5.0%. Arizona, which has the largest tribal population of the three states, saw a slighter decrease of 2.7 percent. However, it needs to be mentioned that this decrease may not accurately describe the actual population change among the Navajo Nation, as the numbers are based on the official census and therefore do not include members of the tribe that live outside of the tribal boundaries. The population change between 2000 and 2010 is further illustrated by Figure 1.

Figure 1: Population change Navajo Nation

In terms of gender, the Navajo Nation exhibits a strong balance between males an females, with females being slightly more represented (50.9%). The greatest difference can be observed in the Arizona tribe, where females comprise 51% of the tribe population. These counts do not include individuals who identify as transgender or genderless.

In addition to that, the Navajo Nation stands out for their liberal perception of gender and sexuality. Whereas these topics are the source of conflict and discrimination among many other cultures due to religious beliefs, this does not apply to the Navajo as it is their understanding that every individual should be accepted for who they are. Instead of defining a person based on their sexuality or gender perception, the Navajo rather look at the person itself and its role among the tribe members.

Ever since, multiple genders have been considered as part of the norm by the Navajo. Even though this worldview experienced strong pressure towards extreme changes due to the exposure to Western culture and Christianity, its fundaments have still been preserved in their culture. Today, the Navajo‘s acknowledge five types of gender, distinguishing it from many other races or cultures in this world. The different categories are being reflected within the Navajo language, as people are believed to undergo various stages of their life cycle or being “two-spirited“.

The following outlines the five gender roles of the Navajo Nation:

1. Woman

A woman is referred to as “ASDZAAN“ by the Navajo language and is the primary gender being recognized. Traditionally, the female gender plays an important role in the tribe‘s history. Women were given higher importance among any other gender in Navajo, as the women usually became the head of the family and were responsible for decision making.

2. Man

The Navajo call men “Hastiin“ and the gender ranks after women in the Navajo culture. While the male gender usually exhibits absolute supremacy in most society‘s, the Navajo men are considered second to women when it comes to their importance in the society.

3. Nadleeh

Nadleeh is a Navajo term which describes what is commonly known as a Hermaphrodite by most Western cultures. This third gender category recognizes individuals who predominantly demonstrate the characteristics of the opposite gender. Having this third type of gender therefore does not only account for a more gender diversity, but also prohibits stereotyping among the members of the society.

4. Masculine Feminine

This fourth gender has its own category based on its distinct role in the Navajo society. Masculine females have a historical importance in ceremonies undertaken by the tribe and are therefore viewed as its own entity.

5. Feminine Male

This fifth gender role, also called female-bodied Nadleeh, is also said to have its own historic importance and is therefore given its own category. However, the specific societal role of such individuals has not been entirely passed on.

References:

"Demographic Analysis of the Navajo Nation". Arizona Rural Policy Institute. 2010. http://azcia.gov/Documents/Links/DemoProfiles/Navajo%20Nation.pdf. Web. accessed March 24, 2015.

"Navajo Gender Roles". http://navajocodetalkers.org/navajo-gender-roles/. Web.accessed March 18, 2015

Navajo Name(s)

Residing in the regions of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, the Navajo Indian Tribe also refers to themselves as "Dineh". This term they use to refer to their tribe is translated to "the people". The area that they reside in was heavily fought for, since the Spanish and other Indian tribes insisted on taking over their land.

The Navajo Ways of Life - Research Papers - Katy0215, The Navajo Ways of Life. http://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/The-Navajo-Ways-Of-Life/91030 . Accessed March 18 2015.

Navajo Nation and Kinship

Kinship is defined as a culture's system of recognized family roles and relationships that define the obligations, rights, and boundaries of interaction among the members of a self-recognizing group. Kinship and family ties may be defined through genetic relationships, adoption, or other ritualized behavior such as marriage and household economies. Kinship systems range in size from a single, nuclear-family to tribal or intertribal relationships.

The book Kinship as a Cultural System by Gary Witherspoon goes into great detail about the Navajo Nation and how they structure their kinship. The Navajo nation has many “rules” when it comes to kinship. They have a strong relationship between mother and child, husband and wife, father and child and also sibling to sibling relationships. The Navajo Nation has structured its kinship by symbols of their reproductive culture. All of these categories are linked together by one person; the mother.

The father-child relationship involves a strong and weak bond depending on the particular family and how you want to view it. The Navajo Indians define a father as either a helpful friend, good instructor, disciplinarian, or an unreliable friend, or unsure ally. Another kinship structure is between two siblings. The Navajo believe they have a strong connection because they have a uterine bond that was formed in their mother’s womb. The bond between mother and child and sibling to sibling are considered the strongest bond because they are connected through the womb.

The Navajo have many different names for members of the family. The mother is often called Shima, you will often hear a family called the Shima clan. Which means the mother’s clan. Clans are often called Mother’s clan because they believe that the mother starts/ creates life, which everything streams from her. There are some perspectives that view the father as the main creator because technically he impregnates the woman and without him there would be no children. In cases like this you would hear the clan be called Shizhe’s clan. A “Dine” is a whole family, generations and all. When different dines introduce themselves they will refer to their clan name. Clanship determines how you can and cannot marry. The Navajo should marry into one’s own clan and or with someone whose father’s clan is the same as yours. Clanship and ancestry history is very important to the Navajo Indians.

References:

Witherspoon, Gary

1975

Navajo Kinship and Marriage. Google Books. University of Chicago Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=4RdIpAakDNwC, accessed March 24, 2015.

Carey, Harold

N.d.

K’é – Diné (Navajo) Kinship System. http://navajopeople.org/blog/ke-dine-navajo-kinship-system/, accessed March 24, 2015.