Navajo

__**Human Relationships with the Natural World**__ The Navajo Indians believed that the natural world was sacred. A Navajo's relationship with the land he/she is born in is established at birth, when the umbilical cord is buried near the __Hogan__.The Navajos believed strongly in the interdependence of humans and nature, also known as Hozjo (which is harmony, balance, and peace). The Navajo found that all of the Natural World depends on one another. They believe they are “glued together with respect, and together they work in harmony.” The Navajo people carry a responsibility to maintain and care for the land. It is believed that they are required to stay on and take care of the land. They feel it is an obligation to care for the land through offerings, prayers, and songs regularly.

The natural world was a very important aspect to the Navajo religion. The Navajo Indians were "one" with the Earth. http://www.leetsoftware.com/screenshots/nature3.jpg The Navajos respected nature and depended on it. They also believed that nature depended on them as well. http://www.artsales.com/ARTists/earl_waggoner/images/DALLAS-288.jpg

Navajo believe that God placed them between four sacred mountains: Blanca Peak, Mount Taylor, San Francisco Peaks, Hesperus Peak. According to their history, they have never left the land, they were instructed by their Creator to remain in the sacred homeland. __Hogan__ is the name of the Navajo homestead. The four posts of the Hogan represent the sacred mountains, which contain them. Traditionally, a Hogan is constructed of logs, bark, packed earth, and a dome shaped roof. The sections of the house correspond to the universe. For example, the dirt floor represents Mother Earth and the dome shaped roof symbolizes Father Sky. The Navajo celebrate a girl's transformation into womanhood with the Kinaalda ceremony. When a girl begins puberty, the community holds a four day celebration, which is held in order to provide the girl with strength and good fertility. The mountains symbolize the Navajos place on Earth. They believed that is where God placed them and that they cannot leave their homeland. http://www.astronomynotes.com/nature/shoffner/SouthLake-SierraNevadaMts.jpg
 * __Sacred Times, Practices, and Spaces__**

This is a Navajo hogan. It is the traditional home that the Navajos built for themselves. http://www.historyrhymes.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/navajo-hogan.jpg

__**The Importance of Origins, Gods, and Ancestors**__ Naturally, in any oral religion, ancestry plays large role. However, Navajo tradition is unique in the sense that not only beliefs, but also actions and rituals are repeated and passed down through generations. Navajo receive and practice animalism as it is a practice carried out traditionally in their culture. Another practice which would not be found without their ancestry is weaving. Weaving is one of the most publicly recognized parts of the Navajo culture, as unique patterns and designs are found intriguing to most. Navajo have great respect for their ancestors, and believe strongly in maintaining the traditions and practices which they established. [] [] As previously mentioned, Navajo believe in maintaining strong connection with the natural world. Through this, Navajo culture has passed down stories of holy people and creation. Collectively,these stories are called are called "The Navajo Creation Story." This tells the tale of The Creator utilizing the elements of to create "The Holy People" who then aided The Creator in making the rest of the world including animals, and landscape. The Navajo expressed themselves artistically through weaving, making baskets, and drawing pictures on the ground and Hogan. Some of their more extraordinary artwork were sand pictures. They used different color sand to create works of art. [] []
 * __Artistic Expression and Stories in Oral Religions__**

__**Bibliography**__ Molloy, Micheal. "Oral Religions." //Experiencing the Worlds Religions//. Ed. Ken King. 2nd ed. Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing Company, 2002. 30-47. Print.

"Navajo Indian Tribe History." //Access Genealogy//. Webified Development, 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .

"Navajo Religion A Sacred Way of Life." //Mukuntuweep//. Baca Enterprises, 1998. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. .

Smith, L. Michael. "NAVAJO." //Ausbcomp//. L. Michael Smith, 1998. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. .