The Navajoof the Southwest Desert

Table of ContentsThe Southwest Desert ……………………………………………… Page 2The Food of the Navajo ……………………………………………. Page 3The Homes of the Navajo ………………………………………… Page 4The Clothes of the Navajo ……………………………..………... Page 5Changes for the Navajo ……………………………………………. Page 6

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The Southwest Desert In the Southwest Desert cliffs of rock stretch over dry rocky land. These cliffs are very tall and called mesas. The sand is a beautiful mix of red and brown with small shrubs. There are many beautiful surroundings such as the San Francisco Mountains and Monument Valley. In the Southwest desert there is a Native American tribe called the Navajo.

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Monument ValleyIn the Southwest Desert cliffs of rock stretch over dry rocky land.

The Food of the Navajo The Navajo learned how to grow bean , squash ,melon and corn from the Pueblo Indians. The men of the Navajo grow corn all different colors and the women grind it into meal and turn the meal into cakes ,dumplings and bread. When the Spanish came they brought sheep and horses ,the Navajo stole the many sheep from the Spanish and used them for meat and wool.

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The men of the Navajo grow corn all different colors and the women grind it into meal and turn the meal into cakes ,dumplings and bread.

The Homes of the Navajo Navajo homes are called hogans , Hogan's are made of four wooden support poles, bark and mud. Their doorways open to the east to welcome the morning sun as a blessing . Hogan's are also called earth houses . The roof of a Hogan is called the sky to represent the sky and the floor is called mother earth .Sometimes a Hogan is called the universe. Mud keeps the Hogan cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

4A Navajo Hogan

The Clothes of the Navajo When the Navajo moved to Arizona , Utah and New Mexico their clothes became similar to the Pueblo Indians .From the sheep they stole from the Spanish they wove blankets, clothes and rugs. Women wore two blankets sewed together at the shoulders and a colorful belt. Men wore loincloths and colorful belts. The Navajo are known for their beautiful turquoise jewelry . They would smash pennies with hammers and put the jewel on the smashed penny.

5A Navajo girl weavingTraditional Navajo Clothes

Changes for the Navajo The Navajo tribe one of the largest in North America call them self's Dine. The Navajo did not like the Spanish settlers and fought with them constantly. The Navajo came together with the Pueblo and Apache to fight the Spaniards. Christopher (kit) Carson, a United States General, forced the Navajo to walk three hundred miles, possibly more, to Fort Sumner to imprison them. This was called the Long Walk. The Navajo were home sick at Fort Sumner.

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GlossaryLoincloth: A loincloth is a one-piece male garment, sometimes kept in place by a belt, which covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks.

Meal: Grain that has been ground.

Settlers: A colony or group of people who have left one placeto make a new home in another place.

Tribe: A group of people who share the same ancestors, customs, and laws.

Universe: The earth, the planets, the stars, and all things that exist in space.

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