Mia Cordero

Professor Arini

English 101

September 30, 2019

A Long Overdue Discussion About the Navajo Culture.

The Navajo people refer to themselves as the Diné

people. The Navajo people have strong feelings about what they

believe in. They are dedicated to their culture in the way that

they turn to their cultures teachings for guidance. The people of

the Navajo Nation are scattered all throughout the United States.

However, they primarily reside in three different states, “Utah,

Arizona, and New Mexico” (History). Like any other ethnic group, they have a long and hard

past. A history filled with genocide, disease, and poverty.

It is important for others to begin enlightening themselves about the Navajo culture.

Many people are unaware of the many hardships the Navajo people have endured throughout

history. Sadly because their hardships are not talked about in our history books. Most of the

time the history of Native Americans are in some cases overlooked by our textbooks, our

teachers, and our country. Speaking from experience, In high school many of my peers and

myself included noticed how the history textbook would very briefly go over Native American

history, but never gave much detail as to who these people are or the severity of what they've

been through. It did not mention major events or people like; the Navajo Long Walk, the Trail of

Tears, the Navajo Code Talkers, or even the Indigenous Peoples that were on American soil

long before Christopher Columbous discovered it.

To provide some background information, the Navajo Long Walk occurred between 1864

and 1866. This was known as the forced removal of approximately 9,000 Navajo people from
their homelands in eastern Arizona in western New Mexico; due to increased conflicts and raids

between white Americans and Navajos. The Diné people had no other choice but to leave

behind their ancestral homelands, families, livestock to embark on an unknown journey that

spanned over 300 miles. This treacherous journey became known as “The Long Walk” because

it took them 18 days to reach their destination known as Bosque Redondo, a prison camp to the

Navajos but officials called it a reservation. The Long Walk claimed over 200 lives; mainly due

to the harsh winter weather conditions, but even more lives were claimed at the actual

encampment because of poor living conditions,

malnutrition, and illness.

Despite the many obstacles endured during

the Long Walk the Native Americans refused the

concepts that White Americans were forcing upon

them by using the beliefs and traditions of their

people. For example, At the time of conflict and at the

time of the raids White Americans were trying to

convert the Native Americans to Christianity. However the Native Americans were able to resist

and persevered by saying prayers for their people and meet secretly to perform sacred

ceremonies. Of course the ceremonies were not nearly as familiar or proper given their

situation.

The Diné people believe in many different things. Their beliefs are mostly focused on

“Mother Earth” and the animals that inhabit it. The earth and its elements such as fire, water, air,

and stone are not to be played with; they are to be respected because they are the things that

give life and nurture our bodies. Common beliefs in the Diné culture were taught to my sisters

and I at a very young age by our Mom, Aunts, and Grandma. During the winter, my sisters and I

were not allowed to make snowmen, or have snowball fights. Instead we bless ourselves at the

first sight of snow and took “snow baths” where we rub snow on our faces and arms. Snow
baths are a tradition done to babies as well. Giving a baby a snow bath is said to make the baby

stronger and give blessing to the baby throughout the winter. You should pray for warmth and

health for the baby during the cold winter days.

A picture of my nephews first snow bath

Another example of what the Diné people shouldnt do would include whistling. Whistling

at night is said to call bad spirits out. Whistling during the day calls strong winds. We were also

told be still and stay quiet during a thunderstorm because

its a sign of disrespect if you're not, almost like you're

ungrateful for the rain that is reviving the plants and the

soil surrounding them.

Animals have their own meaning and origin

stories as well. Snakes and owls are used as

messengers for evil spirits and bad people. The Diné

people avoid looking at pictures, and videos of snakes

and owls it isn't just limited to looking at them in person.

However, in the Diné culture when you hear an owl hooting or a snake rattling/hissing it is taken

as a warning sign, and the person should get a prayer done for them by a medicine man. The

Youtube link below is a short interview with a man of Navajo decent and he talks about what

medicine man do when their called: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwTt6wIQnVk

What many people are unaware of are difficulties that comes with being Diné. The Diné

people are faced with many challenges in their day-to-day lives. Many people from the Native

American population suffer from alcohol and substance abuse. Abusing these substances

cause rifts between families and often leads to single parent dynamics and the increase of

homelessness as well as substance abuse related crimes.

Another difficulty the Diné face includes the poverty stricken communities all over the

reservation. The reason being the lack of employment opportunities. Some may consider the
reservation to be a third world living environment due to its lack of resources and restricted

access to everyday essentials, including safe drinking water, and fresh produce. In my family’s

hometown there is only one small “grocery” store which is located 30 miles away from their

home. The next closest store is about an hour and a half drive away.

On the reservation many homes do not have electricity and still use kerosene lamps as a

source of light. Without electricity it makes it difficult to survive during harsh winters. The only

option is to chop/haul wood to heat the home, cook meals, and warm up water. In many homes

there is also a lack of running water. Hauling

gallons of safe drinking water is the only way to

bathe and cook. The homes you see on the

reservation are considered to be poor living

conditions compared to what we are used to here

in Flagstaff. On the reservation you will mainly see

rundown mobile homes that appear to be bare on

the outside with chipped paint and broken panel skirting.

Citations:

Denetdale, Jennifer. Reclaiming Diné History: the Legacies of Navajo Chief Manuelito

and Juanita. Access and Diversity, Crane Library, University of British Columbia, 2014.

History, http://www.navajo-nsn.gov/history.htm.
Iverson, Peter, and Monty Roessel. Diné A History of the Navajos. Univ. of New Mexico

Press.