Navajo Tradition, Mormon Life follows the story of Jim Dandy and his family, members of the Navajo Native American tribe, as they adjust to living within the world of their ancestors and the new world of the white Americans. Jim Dandy, through telling his story, is able to show the similarities between the faith of Mormons and Navajo, the value of American education to the Navajo, and the what Mormons learned from the Natives. These recollections are a powerful insight into the life of a Navajo, their relationship with Mormons, and how both cultures have been able to exchange ideas that have enriched both sides. Navajo Tradition, Mormon Life is broken up into three sections, each with a specific focus. The first section is a study of the similarities between the Navajo and Mormon spiritual beliefs, and also a general background on the Navajo and …show more content…
It is noted in Navajo Tradition, Mormon Life that the origins of the universe in both cultures share common elements. Both cultures believe in one all-powerful creator of the universe, who was assisted by other exceptional beings and gods in organizing the worlds (McPherson, 32-33). Both cultures also have a large emphasis on faith, prayer, and making offerings to their deities (McPherson, 33- 37). These similarities are something that creates a certain amount of respect between the two groups, Clyde Klickhohn is quoted as saying “...Mormons tended to show more respect for and interest in Indian customs; more than other whites...” (Mcpherson, 5). It is with these common themes that a Navajo, like Jim, could adapt and convert to Mormonism while maintaining their traditional Navajo beliefs. Jim's brother Charlie said “ I feel like I have my religion and follow in their (ancestors) footsteps” (McPherson,
The Difficulties of Mormons and Gentiles Living Together The Mormons and the gentiles found it difficult to get along it was both the Mormons and gentiles fault. When large amounts of Mormons moved to a new settlement e.g. Illinois, the gentiles felt that they were going to take over and rule their area. The gentiles attacked the Mormons to show them who is boss. The Mormons didn't fight back but made a police unit, the Danites this protected the Mormons and tried to keep peace. The gentile's thought that this was an army and attacked the Mormons forcing them to go.
The Navajo Nation consists of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The Navajoland is larger than 10 of the 50 states in America. Navajo Nation is the name of a sovereign Native American established by the Dine (1). To be en-enrolled member of the Navajo Tribe, the person requesting to be enrolled has to have a blood-quantum of one-fourth degree Indian blood. When you have one-fourth blood quantum, you get a Certificate of Indian Blood (C.I.B). In comparison some tribes require only one-thirty-second blood quantum for the Certificate of Indian Blood. The Navajo Nation Tribal Council voted down a proposal to reduce the blood quantum to one-eighth. With this proposal the Navajo Nation would have doubled the number of individuals qualified to be enrolled Navajo tribal members. Navajos define the territorial boundaries that the nation controls and define the membership by boundaries of the population that comprises the nation. The Navajos are unique in their own way; we have so many traditions, beliefs, values and teachings among out people.
The story Navajo Lessons conveys the theme that “It is important to learn and appreciate your heritage.” This story is about a girl, Celine, and her brother that visit her grandmother on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. Celine arrives at a place in the middle of nowhere at her grandmother’s house and is not excited because she had better plans for the summer. Her family is encouraging her to deal with it and make something good out of it. Over time, Celine learns that this trip was worth it because she realized that it is important to learn and appreciate your heritage. Celine learned this in many ways, one of them being that she wanted to learn and listen to the stories that her grandmother was telling.
The Pueblo culture contended many fragments to their culture that varied from the Spaniards Culture. The Native Americans were nature reliant they received all their necessities from the earth. They not only used the land but also thanked the earth. They included over three hundred spirit or gods that the pueblos prayed to for various different reasons, they called them Kachinas. Some of the spirits were Sun god, the rain god, star gods, the wind god and many other divinities. The Natives adore the Kachinas with praise for good crops, good health, family, homes, protection and various other things every day. Customs for the pueblos included rituals to heal problems such as disease in people who are sick, women who are not infertile and many other issues in the tribe. They contained Kivas; kivas were an underground compartment custom for secretive ceremonial practices. The purposes for Kivas were for the Pueblos to get closer to the spirit world. They thought that everything living came from the inferior part of the land. Pu...
A handsome boy kneels down for prayer beside a tree in his father’s orchard. It is a nice sunny spring day with the warm rays of the radiant sun gently kissing the boy’s face. “God, give me a sign,” he pleads to his heavenly father. He is only 14, yet religion fascinates him. Confused by what Christian faith to believe in, he was not sure whether he wanted to become a Baptist like his parents, or a Methodist, which church’s teachings appealed more to him. A slight cool breeze passes through his chestnut colored hair. In a moment he finds himself paralyzed, unable to move, at the mercy of some evil force. A shadowy mist surrounds him. The boy is afraid and does the only thing he could think of: he prayed, “God save me!” Immediately a pillar of light descends over his head like a crown of gold. A strange calmness overcomes the boy, and the shadows around him recede. To the boy, who questioned God’s existence, this was a sure sign that his heavenly father was still there. That boy was Joseph Smith, who had just experienced the first of a series of visions that he would receive throughout his faithful life. Soon after his first vision, he received another in which he the angel Moroni visited him, who presented him with a map. Smith traveled to a nearby hill where he found several golden tablets, etched with mysterious characters of ancient languages long forgotten. Smith was ordered by the angel to translate the plates into what is now known as the Book of Mormon (from which the Mormons gained their name), the cornerstone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or simply abbreviated as the LDS Church. (Millet 6-8).
Wheelwright, M. (1942). Navajo Creation Myth. Navajo Religion Series, Vol. 1. Santa Fe: Museum of Navajo Ceremonial Art.
John Farella. The Main Stalk: A synthesis of Navajo Philosophy. Navajo Religion. (Tuschon: University of Arizona Press, 1984)
The Navajo Indians used to live in northwestern Canada and Alaska. 1,000 years ago the Navajo Indians traveled south, because there was more qualities they had seeked there. When the Navajo Indians traveled south there was a lot of oil in the 1940’s. Today the Navajo Indians are located in the Four Corners.
Duane Champagne in Social Change and Cultural Continuity Among Native Nations explains that there has never been one definitive world view that comprises any one Native American culture, as there is no such thing as one “Native community” (2007:10). However, there are certain commonalities in the ways of seeing and experiencing the world that many Native communities and their religions seem to share.
“It has often been said that the North American Indians ‘dance out’ their religions” (Vecsey 51). There were two very important dances for the Sioux tribe, the Sun Dance and the Ghost Dance. Both dances show the nature of Native American spirituality. The Ghost Dance and the Sun Dance were two very different dances, however both promote a sense of community.
The church is a hierarchy that is lead by the priesthood. In order to receive the priesthood, one must be male. In The Proclamation, it says about men “By divine design fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families” (lds.org). The word preside means to have authority over something, in this case the family. Since the church is a similitude of the family, almost all the leaders are men. The only general leadership positions held by women are in the individual youth and children organization, and Relief Society, the leading women’s organization in the church. When The Proclamation talks about mothers its say “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children” (lds.org).To many, this is a negative claim and sits as a point of opposition from feminist groups. Till this day, the gender roles of men and women continue to be debated in the Mormons church, and society.
Like many Americans I initially grouped all Native Americans into one melting pot. During the Haskell Indian Nations cultural day, on June 21,st 2010, the speakers talked about how different tribes are not the same; they have different beliefs...
Many cultures view children differently and give them various positions within the family. In the Native American community, they view children as sacred. To ensure this concept, many individuals are involved in cultivating a Native American child. In the early Native American’s childhood, there are important rites and rituals that vary depending on the tribe. The views on children, rituals, and community involved in raising children all rely on a central theme of relationships. Throughout the course of early and middle childhood, relationships are important to the upbringing of Native American children.
Throughout my comparative studies class, American Indians in Film, I have learned a great amount about American Indians and their culture. Since writing my first response paper, I have learned even more information and interesting facts that are displayed through the American Indian culture. In this response paper I will talk about who tells American Indian stories, oral traditions that are most expressed in the American Indian culture and community, issues that are viewed in American Indian literature/film, and film itself.
Like I said before self-concept is largely developed through experience. I was raised as a Latter Day Saint or a Mormon, I credit most of my values, morals, and attitude to Mormonism. Mormons definitely believe in normal Christian values however the Mormon Church dives deeper or at least my family did as we were the only black family (and continue to be the black family in our church). My family was always active in the church, I developed service as well as a willingness to help others during this time. My brother was young men president, my grandfather on high council, my grandmother on a home visit coordinator, and I a young women’s president as well as...