History

The Navajo Indians refer to themselves as Dine. They are the largest tribe of Indians in the North American region. They originally hail from the area that is now northwestern Canada and Alaska, but they traveled southward and ended up in many of the southwestern United States over 1,000 years ago. In their travels they met up with Pueblo Indian farmers who taught them much about living in this new land. From the Pueblo Indians, the Navajo learned how to plant beans, corn, melons and squash. They also learned a great deal about weaving and art, and developed their own traditions accordingly.

History

The homes that the Navajo Indians built were known as Hogans. These structures were constructed with wooden poles, mud and tree bark. The doorways were always created to face the east so that the sun may be welcomed in every morning. These traditional homes were simple in nature, but sturdy and able to withstand the elements.

History

The Navajo acquired sheep and horses from Spanish settlers in the 1600s, which taught them a great deal about implementing animals into their every day lives. The Navajo Indians began to use sheep for their wool so that clothes, rugs and blankets could be fashioned. They also used the sheep for food, and made use out of as much of the animal as they could. They made use of the horses as a means of transportation, as horses allowed them to travel over much longer distances. Horses also made excellent items for trade, giving the Navajos something of value to trade in the towns. By including animals in their every day life, the Navajo were better able to thrive in the southwestern states, adapting to their new environment by adopting practices learned from other cultures including the Pueblo Indians and the Spanish settlers.

Significance

Today the Navajo reservation is the largest Indian reservation in the United States. There are more than 16 million acres worth of Navajo land, most of which lays in the Arizona region. There are more than 140,000 people living in the Navajo reservation. Many Navajo Indians still weave using natural wool, using natural vegetable dyes and other natural elements to create the colors in their clothing and rugs. Today, many Navajo still live as their ancestors did in the past, while others have adapted to modern technologies in order to function in today's society.

Function

The Navajo Nation collectively refers to itself as Dine, which means "The People" in the traditional Navajo language. Most Navajo Indians speak English fluently; however the traditional Navajo Indian language is still largely taught and spoken throughout the reservation. The Navajo Nation has its own independent governmental body which manages the entire Navajo Indian reservation without requiring assistance from outside governmental forces.