Navajo Culture
Navajo Culture
By: Jenn Colpitts. Rebecca Keirstead, Vanna Dufour , Vanessa Gaudet
The Navajo society is a culture rich in tradition. They value the close knit relationship with their family and have a great appreciation for the land. They fought to preserve their way of life, resulting in high values in; kinship, lifestyle, religious beliefs, and their rites of passage.
Navajo Geography
Diné or Navajo Nation borders Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. There are four mountains that act as landmarks are Tsisnaasjini' (Mount Blanca), Tsoodzil (Mount Taylor), Doko'oosliid (San Francisco Peaks), Dibé Nitsaa (Mount Hesperus). Navajo Nation is the largest Native American Reservation in the United States, occupying 17 million acres.
Kinship System
The kinship system of the Navajo people is one filled with respect and co-operation which resides throughout their lives. Each member of the family plays an important role, allowing them to join together in harmony. The nuclear family is a unit which consists of a man, a woman, and their children which is smallest residence group in the Navajo society. The members all take part of daily tasks and live in the same Hogan. Navajo families are generally attached to their extended family which is in most cases from the bride’s side. The extended family typically consists of three generations and at least two nuclear families. The nuclear families each live in their own Hogan within shouting distance from each other and together, all contribute to the work at hand. This group is based on co-residence and cooperation. The relationships in Navajo society are very strong. Their system is organized in roles and expected role behavior which is shared by their whole society. Every role open to man is also open to women leaving little possibility for economic domination of one partner over the other. The husbands and wives play the main roles in this society. They lack romance but have a relationship filled with cooperation
By: Jenn Colpitts. Rebecca Keirstead, Vanna Dufour , Vanessa Gaudet
The Navajo society is a culture rich in tradition. They value the close knit relationship with their family and have a great appreciation for the land. They fought to preserve their way of life, resulting in high values in; kinship, lifestyle, religious beliefs, and their rites of passage.
Navajo Geography
Diné or Navajo Nation borders Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. There are four mountains that act as landmarks are Tsisnaasjini' (Mount Blanca), Tsoodzil (Mount Taylor), Doko'oosliid (San Francisco Peaks), Dibé Nitsaa (Mount Hesperus). Navajo Nation is the largest Native American Reservation in the United States, occupying 17 million acres.
Kinship System
The kinship system of the Navajo people is one filled with respect and co-operation which resides throughout their lives. Each member of the family plays an important role, allowing them to join together in harmony. The nuclear family is a unit which consists of a man, a woman, and their children which is smallest residence group in the Navajo society. The members all take part of daily tasks and live in the same Hogan. Navajo families are generally attached to their extended family which is in most cases from the bride’s side. The extended family typically consists of three generations and at least two nuclear families. The nuclear families each live in their own Hogan within shouting distance from each other and together, all contribute to the work at hand. This group is based on co-residence and cooperation. The relationships in Navajo society are very strong. Their system is organized in roles and expected role behavior which is shared by their whole society. Every role open to man is also open to women leaving little possibility for economic domination of one partner over the other. The husbands and wives play the main roles in this society. They lack romance but have a relationship filled with cooperation
Cited: University of California Press, 1970. pg. 66-99. Navajo.(2007). Retrieved May 25, 2008, from World Culture Encyclopedia: http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Navajo-Marriage-and-Family.htm Reichard, Gladys A. Social Life of the Navajo Indians. New York, N.Y.: AMS Press Inc, 1969. 135 - 139. Roessel, Ruth. (1981). Women in Navajo Society. Rough Rock, AZ: Navajo Resource Center. (pgs. 71-75). Trib Choudhary. 2002 – 2003 COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGYof THE NAVAJO NATION. 26 May 2008. < http://www.navajobusiness.com/pdf/CEDS/CEDS%202002-03.pdf> Young, W Images Sited May 26, 2008 http://www.anthro4n6.net/navajo/rugtypes3.gif> May 26, 2008 http://www.everyculture.com/multi/images/gema_02_img0172.jpg May 26, 2008 < http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Navajo-Nation-Map-PHS.jpg>May 26, 2008 <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/97/Dinetah_rock_art.jpg/150px-Dinetah_rock_art.jpg>