People To People – Native American People

Introduction

Hello. My name is Ariel West. I went on the 14 day Southwest Adventure, to Arizona and Utah.  My topic is on Native American peoples and their cultures. The tribe I will be talking about is the Navajo tribe. I hope you learn something and I hope you enjoy my report!

 Lifestyles

Most of the Navajo people were sheep owners. Sheep owners lived in hogans. They had a summer and winter Hogan. It was easier to follow the grazing sheep. In the late 1930’s they started living in log and stone houses. Also they have something called a four story house. That was built about 800 years ago and still use it in the Navajo Canyon. The women handle the sheep and goats. They are responsible for the sheering. They also card, spin, and dye the wool, which is turned into yarn. That way they can weave blankets and rugs.

 Art, Pottery, Baskets, and Jewelry

The Navajo tribe is famous for their art, pottery, baskets, and jewelry. They use their art to show their ideas, beliefs, dreams, and visions. The pottery is used in everyday life including cooking, storage, bathing, and religious ceremonies. They paint and carve designs to tell stories. If they live in a warm climate, they wear flowers. If they live in a cold climate, they wear sheep’s wool. The women wear earrings before they get married. They do this to show they aren’t married. Turquoise was and still is the most popular stone. They collect good luck charms called fetishes. They are also known for their silverwork. They learned from the Mexicans. They are most skilled in making baskets with colors and patterns.  

 Where They Live & What They Eat

Mostly they live in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. I am sure that they live in other places too. What do they eat? . They mostly eat corn, beans, squash, wild plants, deer, rabbits, wild berries, wild turkeys, and livestock They don’t waste any part of the livestock or vegetation. They also eat a lot of the same foods we do.

They hunted mammoths until they became extinct. Now they hunt buffalo, also known as bison. Historically, they are hunters and gathers from mainly Asia. They also come from western Canada, northwestern New Mexico, northeastern Arizona, and other far away places.

What Their Dwellings Where Like

The first house that they built was called a Hogan. It had six to eight sides and could hold only four to five people. It was  traditional and special ceremonies. The next newest house was built in the 1900’s. That is called a Hexagonal Hogans. The regular Hogan islike an octagon and the Hexagonal Hogan is like a hexagon.

 Children

When children are born they take their mother’s last name. The mother and father can never be in the same clan or house. They learn English as a second language.  The girls learn how to do housework at a very young age. So when they grow up, they will have to work around the house. Some of the work includes dusting, making the beds, cleaning rooms, and making dinner.

The boys help their fathers in the garden and with the livestock. Even though they also learn at a very young age, they have to be at least 14 years old to work with the livestock. They don’t always work. They had fun also. Some of the games and toys include, lacrosse, the moccasin game, the hand game, double ball, the awl game, snow snake, web weaving, sling stick, little sticks, spinning top, marbles, and other fun games. Some of those games we play also.  I would have to say lacrosse is the most popular.

Plants They Use

The Native Americans use everything around them, especially plants. Here are some of them. The Broadleaf Yucca is used as fruit, rope, soap, and shampoo. The Mormon Tea is used as medicine for stomach trouble, kidney affliction, diseases, and coughs. The Utah Juniper is used as diaper pads. The Cliffrose is used as arrows and padding for a babies cradleboard. The Pinyon Pine is used as arrowheads and knives. The Roundleaf Buffaloberry is used as medicine. The Cliff Fendlerbush is used as arrow shafts, digging sticks, knitting needles, and a cure for swallowing ants. The Big Sagebrush is used as a cure for stomach aches, headaches, and colds. They call this The Pygmy Conifer Forest. This is kind of like a Indian store. But they don’t pay for anything. 

 Different Facts

Here are some more interesting facts. With over 150,000 people and 16 million acres, the Navajo tribe is the largest tribe in the United States. They are also called the Dine. That means Navajo in their language. They speak many different languages.  Navajo children believe in Santa Claus. The government helps the Navajo people build new homes. Here is the best part, the Navajo people where very good code talkers. They were especially helpful in World War I.

 Summary & What I Thought

I am sure you are wondering what I thought of the trip. It was fun and exciting. I had never seen the Grand Canyon before so that’s what really amazed me. Also I had never hiked 14 miles before so that was very cool too. I was a little afraid of heights before I left but after climbing up Angels Landings, I’m not afraid anymore. I was kind of upset that we didn’t get to stay on the Navajo Reservation. Also when we went to Capital Reef and Jacob Lake, I found some really cool rocks that when you wet them you can see layers. It was a very good experience. People have asked me if I would go again and I say, “Yes I would love to go again”!!!

Thank you for reading my report and I hope you enjoyed it!!!

This is a picture of the Grand Canyon I took. Isn’t it pretty?!!