DINE’ CUSTOMS AND CULTURE

 

 

The links below are provided for those who would like to learn more about the Dine’ (Navajo) people, their customs, language, and land.

 

Navajo Nation official website (history section):

http://www.navajo.org/history.htm

 

Maps:

http://www.lapahie.com/Navajo_Map_Sh.cfm

http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/southcorner/maps/navmap.jpg

 

Frequently asked questions:

http://www.lapahie.com/FAQ.cfm

A summary for visitors:  The Navajo Nation (reservation land) is a separate government entity on a level of authority comparable to the US Federal government.  Within the reservation territory (which covers an area larger than the 10 smallest states in the US and which includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah) the Navajo Tribal Code supersedes local, state and most federal laws.  The Navajo Tribal Code follows a similar pattern to state and local laws in your home state, and common sense will easily keep visitors from running afoul of the law.  But visitors should remember that they are visitors and should treat the land and people with the same respect that you would expect of visitors who come to your neighborhood. Possession and especially distribution of alcohol and drugs are prohibited everywhere on the reservation.  Firearms are prohibited.  Fishing, hiking, and camping are permitted with a license which is available from the Tribal offices in Window Rock.  Guided back country tours, horseback excursions, river rafting and such are available from operators licensed by the tribe and located near most of the major tourist attractions. The Navajo people mostly welcome and enjoy talking with visitors from other places, so long as they behave in a civilized and respectful manner.  Photography of individual people or their dwellings is considered disrespectful unless permission has been obtained in advance.

 

Navajo Culture Overview:

http://waltonfeed.com/peoples/navajo/culture.html

http://www.navajocentral.org/faq02a.htm

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA97/dinetah/hogan.html

http://navajo-arts.com/clans-navajo.html

http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/pym.html

 

Dine’ Bizaad  (the Navajo language):

http://www.u.arizona.edu/%7Ekchief/Language.html

http://waltonfeed.com/peoples/navajo/language.html

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/navajo.htm

http://ling.kgw.tu-berlin.de/Navajo/

http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/southcorner/nav_alpha.html

 

Dine’ creation stories, ceremonies, and old literature:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/nav/omni/

http://www.hanksville.org/voyage/navajo/ceremonials.php3

http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/southcorner/nav_beginning.html

http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/southcorner/nav_song.html

 

Contemporary Navajo Authors On The Internet:

http://www.rustywire.com/

http://saaniidotcom.blogspot.com/

http://www.geocities.com/chimeravision/

http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/southcorner/nav_toc.html

 

Salina Bookshelf Navajo Books:

http://www.salinabookshelf.com/store/