Culture and Customs - Ceremonies and Festivals
Wedding
When people get married, a wedding ceremony is performed
Women's clothing
The woman of the tribe wore clothes consisting of skirts and blouses
Beautyway
The Beautyway is for celebration, strength and protection
How is corn eaten?
Corn is a staple Navajo food and is eaten fresh, ground or dried
The Navajo joined forces with...
The Navajo joined forces with the Pueblo tribe
8 months pregnant lady
When a woman is about 8 months pregnant, a ceremony is performed for protection and a safe birth
Tunics
high, boot-like moccasins which were fastened at the instep with two or three silver buttons
Evilway
The Evilway is for healing
As time passed by, the Navajo raised what animals?
As time passed, the Navajo then started to raise sheep and goats with further supplemented their diet
In the 1780s, the Spanish did what?
In the 1780s, the Spanish sent military expeditions against the Navajo
First Footprint
When a child starts to walk, a First Footprint ceremony is performed
What did the women's make with cloth?
The women spun and wove wool into cloth for ponchos, blankets and cloaks
Yeibichei dances and the Kinaalda
Important Navajo ceremonies include the Yeibichei dances and the Kinaalda for girls who have reached the age of puberty
Food that the Navajo tribe ate
The food that the Navajo tribe ate included deer, small game such as rabbit and fish
The traditional enemies of the Navajo tribe included...
The traditional enemies of the Navajo tribe included the Comanches, Apaches and the Utes
First Laugh
When someone outside the immediately family makes a baby laugh for the first time, a First Laugh ceremony is performed
Yucca fiber, from the Soaptree yucca
Yucca fiber, from the Soaptree yucca, was also used to make sandals, belts and cloth and was also used to produce baskets and mats
Yei Spirit
The Navajo believes that the Yei Spirit mediates between humans and the Great Spirit and are believed to control elements such as the rain, snow, wind and sun and control the night and day
Their crops, meat and fish were supplemented by?
Their crops, meat and fish were supplemented by nuts, berries and fruit such as melon
When did Colonel Kit Carson receive Navajo lands surrender?
Colonel Kit Carson led an expedition into Navajo land and received their surrender on July 20, 1863
12 or 13 years old
When girls and boys are 12 or 13 years old, puberty ceremonies are performed to show they are now adults
Men's clothing
Men's clothing included breechcloths which were made from a long rectangular piece of animal skin or cloth which was worn between the legs and tucked over a belt
Animism
The religion and beliefs of the Navaho tribe was based on Animism that encompassed the spiritual or religious idea that the universe and all natural objects animals, plants, trees, rivers, mountains rocks etc have souls or spirits
Farmers produced what type of food?
As farmers the Navajo tribe produced crops of corn, beans, squash and sunflower seeds
What started in spring in 1864?
Starting in the spring of 1864 and ending in 1866 nearly 9,000 Navajo men, women and children were forced on the "Long Walk" of over 300 miles to the Bosque Redondo Reservation at Fort Sumner in New Mexico