The Navajo Indians

ANT 101
Professor
May 7, 2012

The Navajo Indians
The Navajo Indians, or Diné, which means “The People”, are semi-nomadic pastoralists even in today’s time. Hundreds of years ago, they were hunters, farmers and culturists. After conflicts with the Spaniards they would eventually find their profession in pastoralism. In time this would turn out to be the best circumstance that could have happened to them. This is not a lifestyle the people fell into; this is how the people choose to live. Before the Spanish came into the new world, the people were fierce warriors and hunters. They would also cultivate crops and forage when needed. Corn is what the Navajo are most known for growing, however they have also been known to grow vegetables such as squash. The hunters would bring in game such as deer, mountain goats or smaller game like rabbits. There is not much in the way of historical data up about the Navajo up until Christopher Columbus came into America. Unbeknownst to the Native Americans, this was the beginning of their new way of life. They would eventually find life in pastoralism instead of their former ways of living. It wasn’t up until the early Spanish period, when the Navajo would start the new chapter of their lives. They were making numerous trips to the New Mexican Indian and white settlements to steal livestock. History also shows that Diné would enter the explorer’s settlements and steal their food and even woman. This would eventually lead them into what is now known as “The Long Walk”. In 1864, the Navajo were forced to leave their homestead at gunpoint and walk by foot more than 300 miles to Fort Sumner. After many deaths, casualties and losing everything including their livestock from the brutal movement, Diné would eventually settle down into the reservation as they were directed by the United States government in order to avoid any more conflict. It wasn’t until about 4 years later when the Navajo would take the long walk back home and upon their return they would also receive livestock from the U.S. Government so that they could rebuild what they had so viciously lost. Even though the Navajo Indians were great warriors and hunters in the past, they are also fantastic pastoralists. Most people would think that living in dry lands such as Arizona would be very difficult to raise livestock. “Before long, burgeoning flocks spurred families to spread out across the regions and promoted the adoption of an ancient pastoral pattern known as transhumance, the seasonal migrations from one ecological zone to another that made herding in this arid land possible.” (Weisiger, 2004) The transhumance that the people practiced was crucial to their life of pastoralism. Without moving their communities around in a seasonal cycle, they would not have the resources necessary to properly take care of their livestock. “Essential to the nomadic pastoral system is a "core" area where grazing and water are available year–round, especially during the dry season. The core areatypically is in the higher country, where rainfall is more reliable.” (Nowak, Laird, 2010) The Navajo have up to three homes. This is not because they are wealthy, this is simply out of necessity so that they can provide lands for their livestock to graze according to the season that they are living in. They can have a home for autumn, winter and also have a home for summer then spring. It is important to the Navajo for their sheep to have their provisions. Not only because they love and take care of them so well, the sheep also reward the Navajo in return. Their livestock bring a valuable yield of wool. There is quite a process to obtain this material but it is well worth it to the Navajo in the end. First the wool must be shorn or in other words shaved off of the sheep. Then they take the wool to have it carded, spun, washed and finally weaved. After all of this, they can even dye the wool to whatever color they desire. They obtain the dye from plants that they gather mostly in the summertime. The woman of the Navajo are very good weavers. They would have a very hard time running out of material because of the herds of sheep that they care for in their community are sheared at least once a year, mostly in the spring time so they do not overheat. Another process that the sheep are put through is when they are dipped in medicinal water which medicates them and also cools them off from the hot sun. They are than vaccinated so that they can continue to stay healthy. It is also important for their herds to stay healthy because the Navajo also butcher one of their sheep every few weeks for consumption. The mutton is considered a special meal where all of the family gathers together to enjoy. The mutton consumed is a real delicacy for these pastoralists because they do not consider their sheep as just animals. Each sheep has its own owner in the community. Even though they have independent owners, the family takes care of all of the sheep as a whole. The primary source of food for the Navajo is what most societies live on, which is bread. Interestingly enough, the Navajo can make various different types of bread from the corn that they grow. Corn plays a big role in the life of a Navajo. Of course they consume the corn as it is but in so many other ways as well. They grind down the corn kernels into a fine meal which they can then use for the flour to make bread, or in very special cases even cake. Cake is made when they celebrate the ceremony called Kinaalda which is when a girl reaches womanhood. Even though the people are primarily pastoralists, they depend on corn as a major life source. From the kernels all the way to the pollen on the husks, there is a use every ingredient. “Pollen on the corn tassels is not only a clue to the ripeness of the corn, but is evidence that the earth is continuing her productive cycle. The pollen is used in many ceremonies as a symbol of fertility, harmony and beauty.” Films Media Group. (1984). This is just one of the many religious beliefs of the Navajo. The Navajo are well known for their sacred beliefs. They hold the mother earth in great respect for it is where they receive their life. They pray to mother earth for their provisions, family and well-being. However in contrast, there is also a belief in Navajo mythology that the holy people, originally gathered in a sweathouse to sing the universe into existence. Everything that pertains to this earths dimension was conjured up from their songs. All of their success is based on their belief in Mother Earth. It is the earth that blesses them with everything that they need, which is why they take such great care of their land. Their faith in mother earth has obviously benefitted them in the long run.
It goes to show that when you take care of what you have, you are then blessed with more. “The Navajo reservation, which covers 16 million acres (6.5 million hectares), is the nation's biggest reservation. It includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The growth of industry on the reservation promises to make the Navajo one of the wealthiest tribes in America.” World Book Advanced (2012). The life that these pastoralists have seems to have such a promising future. Not only do they take great care of their belongings, they are very successful at it too. The Navajo have become so successful and with very little thanks to anyone outside of the community. The economic organization of the Navajo is an independent one. They live solely on their own and depend on no one outside of their society. Everything that they do, benefits them and their community. They have never needed any government bailouts with the exception of receiving livestock in the 1800’s after they were tormented throughout the “long walk” which is something that should have never happened in the first place. The Navajo have found a system that works so well that they are able to pass on the land to their children when it comes time. This matrilineal tradition surely aids them in keeping their economy organization an entrepreneurial one. There is a lot to be learned and admired about the Navajo Indians. Their life is one that is very conservative. Nevertheless, the life of these pastoralists is also very enjoyable as evidence to their multiple generations of successful living through their matrilineal tradition. They live their life exactly how they want to live it. Their “waste not, want not” way of life tends to go a very long way and this has shown itself time and time again. The life that the people live is far from an easy life in terms of labor. However it seems that they have the life that is the most enjoyable which is a lot more than most people can say. Despite everything that has happened to these humble and peaceful people, they continue to live a successful and harmonious life of a pastoralist. While at the same time, they set the standard for what a good life really is.

References:
Weisiger, M. (2004). The Origins of Navajo Pastoralism (para.2)
Nowak, B., & Laird, P. (2010) Tribes II: Pastoral Societies (ch.5.2).
Cultural anthropology. San Diego, Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Films Media Group. (1984). Seasons of a Navajo (ch.10) Seasons of a Navajo [H.264
World Book Advanced. (2012). Navajo Indians (para.1).