Exploring Navajo Culture from an Anthropological Perspective Essay Example

to relocate to new territories such as Utah. The fate of the remaining third is uncertain; however, many found refuge in mountains and canyons. Later in the late 1800s, they were able to settle in Fort Sumter. Though religious, their practices vary from conventional religions.

Navajo mythology is characterized by a diverse array of supernatural beings and powers. Central to this collection of entities are a set of anthropomorphic deities, including the noteworthy Changing Woman or Spider Woman, who is the consort of the Sun God, as well as her twin offspring, the Monster Slayers. Additional forces within Navajo mythology include animal, bird, and reptile spirits as well as a range of natural occurrences such as wind, weather, light, darkness, celestial bodies, and monsters. This rich folklore tradition is renowned for its poetic and expressive qualities.

According to Advameg, Inc. © 2013, the Navajo divide all of creation into two groups: the "Holy People" and the "Earth Surface People". The former are viewed as supernatural and serve as examples to follow, while the latter are simply those who live on the Earth.

The Holy people successfully journeyed through multiple underworlds to reach the current world where they proceeded to create the first human beings along with their kin. They transferred essential knowledge such as practices and rituals that are vital for the survival of those inhabiting the Earth's surface. Afterwards, once their task was fulfilled, they departed to reside in superior realms beyond the Earth.

According to belief, the Navajo people maintain daily communication with the Earth Surface People in order to maintain synchronization. Their religious beliefs consist of four distinct practices, one of which is the Navajo Ritual

where religious practitioners, known as "singers," perform ceremonial rites and are usually male.

In traditional societies, singers are highly respected individuals who act as leaders for their community. Knowledge in this area varies, with some men being less knowledgeable but still able to perform incomplete rituals known as "curers". The Navajo Indians had numerous ceremonies attached to hunting, war, agriculture, and the treatment of illness, with at least sixty major ceremonies documented. Ceremonies involved songs, magic, prayers, and other elements and could last from two hours to nine nights depending on the severity of the issue.

The artistic expression was highly valued in Navajo culture as it reflected the individual's identity or current emotions. The means of expression included poetry, dance, costume, and songs, among other things. Women were particularly known for weaving rugs in bright colors which became a popular form of art. Singers during ceremonies executed dry-paintings, which were considered temporary as they were typically destroyed once the ceremony ended. Navajo belief attributed any form of illness to transgressions against the supernatural and considered medicine as a form of treatment in such instances.

There are various ceremonies and treatments that can be used to address illnesses caused by an individual's transgressions. Along with ceremonies, specialists may collect different herbs, potions, and ointments. Death and the afterlife were often feared by most Navajo, making it a sensitive topic rarely discussed. When someone passed away, they were immediately buried without any ceremony. Close kin would later observe the deceased with small rituals.

The Navajo had a unique belief about the afterlife unlike most religions. Although opinions varied, there was no system of rewards or punishments based on

one's actions in life. Instead, the afterworld was viewed as a place that was not desirable for any individual (Navajo Indians 2013). Wesley Thomas explores Navajo gender systems, relationships, politics, and adaptations in Navajo Cultural Constructions of Gender and Sexuality. Prior to the 1890s, multiple genders were normalized in Navajo culture. However, exposure to Western culture and Christianity led to individuals with non-conforming identities feeling the need to conceal their true selves.

According to Jacobs, Sue-Ellen, Wesley Thomas, and Sabine Lang, the acculturation and assimilation from the past continue to exert present pressure. The Navajo culture acknowledges five gender categories: Woman (Asdzaan), Man (hastiin), Nadleeh, Masculine Female, and Feminine Male. The female gender holds the utmost significance in Navajo origin stories.

The Navajo community acknowledges Nadleeh as the third gender, which is a hermaphrodite characterized by exhibiting traits of the opposite sex. For instance, a man acting like a woman or vice versa. The Navajo distinguish between two roles: feminine male and masculine female, both of which come with unique responsibilities assigned usually to either men or women.

In Navajo culture, there exists a fifth gender known as nadleeh who usually carry out tasks associated with women. Although conventional gender roles are still significant to many Navajos, younger members of the community who identify as gay or lesbian may not conform to these traditions. The Navajo perspective on relationships places emphasis on gender identity rather than sexual orientation. This implies that a womanly-bodied nadleeh acting like a man could engage in a relationship with another woman without being classified as homosexual.

Homosexuality among two men or two male-bodied nadleeh would be acknowledged. The last page of Navajo

Culture research includes a diagram and information regarding different types of kinship in two regions. The top-to-bottom charts were created based on an accurate research study (A note on regional variation in Navajo Kinship Terminology) and are more precise than others available. Anthropologists who study the Navajo culture often remark on its "fuzzy" nature, while those who have not conducted fieldwork with the Navajo complain about the lack of clarity in defining many patterns.

This ambiguity mainly appears in the realm of social structure, particularly in two categories: uncertainty regarding the distribution of food, livestock, inheritance, and similar possessions. There are numerous cases that exemplify this phenomenon (Vol. 72, No.).

According to (Feb. , 1970), pp. 55-65, the Navajo's social system is characterized by their conceptual or symbolic system.

Navajo Culture places a significant emphasis on motherhood, which is viewed as a representation of life, reproduction, and sustenance. The provision of food and nurturing care serves to demonstrate this value. Motherhood is also the foundation for the Subsistence residential unit, which comprises the basic structure of the social system. It should be noted that Navajo Culture has not only existed in the past (1600s-1800s) but remains thriving in specific regions.

The Navajo Reservation, covering areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, has a similar size to West Virginia and houses around 172,000 individuals (Vol. 6, No. 4 (Dec., 1984), pp. 885-904). The reservation possesses considerable quantities of coal and uranium that assume a crucial function in meeting the United States' energy requirements.

Strip mining is now posing a serious threat to the Navajo Pastoralist's homeland, which lies at the edge of the Colorado Plateau. This is just one of

many pressures that the Navajo face to participate in extractive industrial economies. While their traditional livelihoods revolved around livestock raising, dry land and irrigated farming, and wage labor, they are adapting to this changing environment by exploring new areas outside of their cultural norms. Nevertheless, they continue to thrive by staying connected to their cultural heritage and being flexible enough to embrace local customs and practices.

The Navajo culture heavily depends on pastoralism for their subsistence, but they also engage in farming to support themselves. Our research has provided us with a better comprehension of their customs and traditions, including intricate ceremonies for specific needs and concerns, recognition of five gender categories, an extensive kinship system, and adaptability to the evolving environment. However, our knowledge of Navajo culture is merely superficial.

I am eager to delve further and uncover additional details about these fascinating individuals.