Navaho religion explains the universe as ordered, beautiful and harmonious. It emphasizes rituals to restore harmony and balance. Each ritual is inspired by myths illustrating the origins of the people through different worlds or existences, the mountains, the sun and the moon.

The Navaho today have four reservations; the largest one surrounds the Hopi Pueblo reservation in Arizona. The other three are in New Mexico. About 190,000 Navaho live in the U.S., with 146,000 on reservations on the high Colorado plateau. Most precipitation falls in the winter and summer. Unpredictable and intense summer thunderstorms often wash out dirt roads and trigger flash floods, damaging ground cover and crops. The rest of the year, temperatures are high and humidity low.

Originally hunters and gatherers, the Navaho developed an agricultural economy through contact with their Pueblo neihbors and the Spanish. While they depend on agriculture and livestock, they supplement their income through commerce in native crafts. In addition, contracts for resources such as timber, oil, coal, uranium and gas provide the Navaho nation with income, and many men work on the railroads.

Until the 1850s, the Navaho were independent of colonial, political and missionary controls. They maintained an informal, decentralized political, social and economic system centered on local land-use groups organized around clan, domestic and geneaological affiliations. Since the 1930s, conflicts over U.S.-directed change--involving acculturation, relocation, livestock reductions and land disputes--have raged between the Navaho and Washington.

Thank you for sharing this interesting material with us.

Sue

Thank you Teo for the interesting information. I like the kindness in the old man's face.

Vicky

Thank you for sharing the picture in the Navaho calendar. I agree with Vicky, this is a very kind face.Thank you for the story; I like Native American Indians and their traditions and beliefs.

Gisele

Dear Teo,
This is another very beautiful post.
Thank you for sharing the information and the serene picture.
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Walk on a rainbow trail,
walk on a trail of song,
and all about you will be beauty.
There is a way out of every dark mist
over a rainbow trail.

~Navaho Song

Thank you all for the nice replies! Thanks for the canyon, grand canyon? dear Inda! Love n light, Teo

Hi Teo,
Yes, this is the Grand Canyon.

May we live in peace hereafter Hozo-go nay-yeltay to
~Navaho
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Another image from the Grand Canyon