Navajo Indians By: McKenzie

Where They Live They lived in the desert. The main place they lived was Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. 500 years later they moved to northern New Mexico and Arizona. They decided to make their New Mexico.

Homes Navajo families lived in homes called hogans. The door faced east to greet the morning sun. All the Navajo homes had only 1 door. 4 or 6 posts held up the roof.

Family Life The Navajo children were born to the mothers’ clan. Men respected women as possessors of wealth. Women made most of the important decisions. This rule is still observed today.

Clothing Men and women usually made their own clothes. Women wore a dress called a biil. Men wore a shawl. Men also wore pants made of deerskin.

Food Tortillas and mutten and was usually breakfast. The main meals were usually vegetables and potato stew. They were served with tortillas. The women gathered herbs and spices.

Society The Navajo raided Spanish settlements for cattle, horses, and sheep. The Pueblo taught the Navajo how to weave cotton. The Navajo didn’t know how to farm. The Pueblo taught them how to grow corn, beans, melon, and squash.

Crafts The Navajo made a lot of bracelets. Men learned to make jewelry in the 1850s The Navajo made most of their jewelry out of turquoise. The Pueblo the women how to weave blankets.