Navajo - culture and/or religion?

This is a video that has a lot of symbols from the Navajo. It moves kind of slow and there are 4 parts to it, so I won't make you watch the whole thing. But I watched them all and I have taken some symbols from the other videos.

My point here is to see how the Navajo cultural symbols influence the current contemporary sacred ceremonies and who can call their native culture a religion.

To determine if the Navajo can call their culture a religion, I will use Clifford Geertz's definition of a religion:

"A system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic."

So here, take a gander at the video. Afterwards will some time frames I will point out important symbols. There will be some things that Rodger Clayton points out that may seem important but I feel there is more to it than what he points out. (ex: handshake etiquette)






1:51 - He points out the Navajo basket. This is a very important object that is used in almost all of the sacred ceremonies that are performed. I will touch on this a little later when he elaborates on the meanings from the basket.

• 2:09 - Corn Pollen. This is also used in many ceremonies and used in everyday life as well. It kind of reminds me of holy water. Used in all ceremonies but to "bless" everyday duties as well. Mr. Clayton points out that Navajos place it on their tongue, head, and the four directions (east, west, north and south) to make sure that there is an all around protection. He also mentions that it has a sweet taste [it does not, personally, I've had it many times and it's nasty]
  
• 2:50 - Navajo Rug. These rugs are a huge symbol, they capture meanings and are made in times of distress, happiness, confusion etc. There are many designs that are made, each symbolize the significance behind the creation of the rug. Here's an example: I've attached a picture that shows a rug that my parents had when they got married, to symbolize their unity (with the name) and the border around the name shows that they are bound together, don't think of bound as a "life-long sentence" but more of an opportunity.

• 4:47 - Here Mr. Clayton talks about the significance of the Navajo basket. The making of the baskets are quite interesting. It's a round pattern that starts in the center and makes its way out. As the pattern moves out, it symbolizes an increase of knowledge and wisdom. Also, symbolizing the Eagle, which is a sacred animal to the Navajo, the Eagle is shown in the basket's round pattern because an Eagle flies in a spiral pattern, showing a watchful eye. Also, it represents the afterlife. When the spiral pattern ends, when the basket ends, it's like the family members who have moved on. It ends and even though we can't see them anymore they're still there (symbolized in the continuing, endless spiral pattern.)
  I've also attached a close - up picture of the basket:
  

The basket itself has a lot of meaning. The red pattern you see represents a rainbow, which is a good symbol to the Navajo. And the black patterns represent the mountains, which symbolizes all of the hardships that one must overcome through their lives.

There is a gap in the pattern because it shows the beginning and end of a life. The gap is to always point East, which is the sacred symbol in all Navajo ceremonies.

• 6:53 - Four. Mr. Clayton points out the significance of the number 4. There are 4 sacred directions and the 4 sacred mountains that mark the Navajo territory [ 1. Mount Blanca (Tsisnaasjini' - Dawn or White Shell Mountain)Sacred Mountain of the Eastnear Alamosa in San Luis Valley, Colorado 2. Mount Taylor (Tsoodzil - Blue Bead or Turquoise Mountain)Sacred Mountain of the Southnorth of Laguna, New Mexico 3.San Francisco Peaks (Doko'oosliid - Abalone Shell Mountain)Sacred Mountain of the West near Flagstaff, Arizona 4. Mount Hesperus Dibé Nitsaa (Big Mountain Sheep) - Obsidian Mountain Sacred Mountain of the North La Plata Mountains, Colorado ] He says that all ceremonies are represented in 4 rounds as well (using the sweat lodge as an example).
  
• 9:26 - Mother Earth. Mother Earth symbolizes how the Navajo must get a long with nature, the animals and remember that Mother Earth houses all of man so respect is a must.

The first video ends after he mentions Mother Earth but I feel that there are definitely more symbols and so as I mentioned before, I watched all of the videos and since they are all about 9 minutes long, I'll just go over the main symbols that he mentioned and include the links if anyone wants to hear more.

Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boqrdYhLM5U

Video 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoNCRBkcGbE

Video 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeM0l9P9oc4

• Unity with the Earth. I mentioned Mother Earth before but Mr. Clayton says that no one owns Mother Earth. She provides for the Navajo giving food, water, and a place to live. People are just a part of her so ownership is useless.


• Birth rituals. When a child is born a mother takes his or her umbilical cord and gives it back to Mother Earth. It is said that the Navajo believe that burying the umbilical cord and returns it to Mother Earth. Many Navajo believe that placing the UC in a specific place will determine the future for their child. [Personally, my mom placed mine in the back canyons near my grandmother's house because she wanted me to stay in touch with nature and be able to find my way home. (maybe it worked...)]


• Animals. The Navajo believe that animals are their older brothers and sisters who provide guidance for them. For example: the bear. If a bear is sick the Navajo will follow him because the bear will know which plant to eat to cure sickness and that plant will proved medicine for the Navajo.


• Medicine Men. There are elders who follow the traditional Navajo way of life. They live in hogans and use very little modern devices (indoor plumbing, electricity etc) who try to express the Navajo way of life to those who seek it out. Medicine Men could probably be seen as a religious figure like a priest, preacher, rabbi, etc. because they impose traditional ways of life and they perform sacred ceremonies which the Navajo believe will cure them of evil spirits, illnesses and provide protection. The medicine men have a lot of knowledge and can provide some kind of explanation of some sort. They use traditional baskets, rugs, corn pollen and other traditional symbols.




• Hogan. A Navajo hogan in itself symbolizes many of the beliefs the Navajo hold. The material used is from Mother Earth because she allows the Navajo to use her materials. The direction of the door is always facing east, which is the most important direction for the Navajo. There's also the circular shape the hogan has, which holds a lot of meaning for the Navajo.

• Male/Female Equality The Navajo believe that neither the male or the female is more important. They both provide for the Earth. Men are normally seen as the dominate figure but women are the ones who need to be impressed, they possess a lot of the emotional power in a relationship while the man provides her a family and material possessions.


• Prayer is done everyday, when the Navajo wake with the rising sun. They pray to bless the day and to protect their living ones. Also, community prayers are done in Navajo for special events. During ceremonies, get togethers and in times of distress.


• Ceremonies. There are many ceremonies performed to recognize achievements or to help out in a time of need. There are traditional wedding ceremonies performed by a medicine man who unites a man and a woman in a traditional hogan with only very close family members. There's a Kinaalda, which is a sacred ceremony held when a girl becomes a woman. And there's the variety of ceremonies performed by medicine men when Navajo are distressed and want to perform a ceremony to get rid of evil spirits, feelings, etc.


• Personal Presentation. The clothing of the Navajo have been around for a long time, elders tend to wear traditional clothing everyday. Contemporary Navajos wear traditional clothing only at times of celebration. ex: graduations, weddings etc. Along with clothing there's the jewelry that has been around for a long time. Jewelry symbolizes pride and protection. The Navajo think that wearing traditional jewelry shows pride in being a Navajo and that the jewelry will protect against evil spirits.

So, I've point out some very important symbols from the Navajo tribe. I think that Navajo can be called a religion as defined by Geertz because as I've shown there are many symbols that are used in everyday life and on special occasions because the Navajo believe that it is very important to their lives. These symbols establish moods such as joy, fear, appreciation, thankfulness and many others in order to explain beliefs and values. The moods and motivations that are created are uniquely realisitic because they are created while being used in everyday life and under special occasions because the Navajo believe it will truly help them. So, I think that the Navajo way of life can be described as a religion.

I think that the Navajo, the Diné, have changed over time but because there are still elders, medicine men and others who still live thier lives according to the traditional way, they are able to still connect with their roots. The elders, the medicine men are the ones who use the "traditional" way to display their beliefs, their religion.