Archives for March 2013

Navajo Winter Storytelling Poster

March 12, 2013 by

Recounting the Journeys of the Navajo Hero Twins

 

Navajo Winter Storytelling Poster

Poster © 2013 Heritage Language Resource Center. All rights reserved

 

The story of the Hero Twins, from birth through manhood, provides a lifelong pattern for the Diné to follow.

Everyone was involved in their raising, their training, and eventually struggles and victories: Sun bear her and other deities, changing woman in the Diné, the animals and the birds, even the earth itself.

The Giants and their followers had made it impossible for the Diné to establish a homeland, but changing woman gave birth to the twins and raise them for their special purpose.

They conquer the giants and provided a safe place for the Diné to call home. Within the protecting boundaries of the four sacred mountains, the Diné established their homeland.

There they can live and follow the teachings of their forefathers. Many of their ceremonies, chants, prayers, songs, and celebrations of the Diné are reenactments of the events of the story of the he will twins.-year-old twins.

When respected and followed, they will keep the Diné in harmony and balance in their own homeland.

Charles Yanito artist and illustrator

 Illustrated  artwork by Charles Yanito.

Charles Yanito was born in Bluff, Utah to the Ti’ash chii and the Toh dich’iinih clans. He attended the Institute of American Indian Arts and holds a degree from the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University. He has exhibited his works in numerous galleries and regional art festivals. His illustrations can be seen in many San Juan School Heritage Language Resource Center publications. Currently, Charles resides in Bear, Delaware with his family.

From the book:  The Legend of the Navajo Hero Twins

The posters are Available in 2 sizes:
17” x 22” – $7.00 each or $25.00 for the 4 poster set
11” x 14” – $3.00 each or $10.00 for the 4 poster set

To Purchase:
Heritage Language Resource Center
Navajo and Ute Language Resources
28 West 20 North
Blanding, Utah 8451
435 -678 -1230
Website: media.sjsd.org

Filed Under: Navajo Creation Story Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Navajo Divorce Bread – Video

March 9, 2013 by

Navajo Custom of Not Eating Bread Ends

This is a short video blog about the old Navajo concept of eating the “Divorce Bread” or the bread ends of a loaf of bread. Navajos say that if you eat the bread ends, “Haa’didoolyéél, your spouse will get stolen from you.” Essentially, the concept is:

Éí ííníyáa’go naa’didoolyéél.
(If you eat it, your woman or man will get stolen)

I also share the concept that you never get more than what you need. If a person has a piece of bread & reaches for another, they say, “Dichin hwiilhééh! Hunger will kill one!” It’s also the same concept if you get more than what you need of anything, or, “Té’é’í hwiilhééh! Poverty will kill!” Essentially, the meaning is simple, overindulgence is not good.

Where the concept of divorce bread comes from, I don’t know. I tried to ask several people but they don’t know. The purpose of this video is just to mention that & share that little history of older Navajo belief. If you know why, post it! If you don’t want to, that’s fine too! Enjoy! 🙂

Courtesy of Daybreak Warrior
His YouTube Channel

Navajo People Website Links:
Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

Filed Under: Navajo Language Tagged With: ,

Navajo Hero Twins Poster

March 8, 2013 by

Naayéé’neizghání (Slayer of Monsters) and

Tóbájíshchíní (Born for Water) are the Navajo Hero Twins.

Navajo Hero Twins Poster

Navajo Hero Twins Poster © 2013 Heritage Language Resource Center. All rights reserved

They stand tall, ready to defend their People, the Diné, from all enemies.

Given the gift of the Eagle Feather to surmount their challenges and weapons of the Sun Bearer, these young boys became strong defenders and leaders of their People.

 

Charles Yanito artist and illustrator

 Illustrated  artwork by Charles Yanito.

From the book:  The Legend of the Navajo Hero Twins

The posters are Available in 2 sizes:
17” x 22” – $7.00 each or $25.00 for the 4 poster set
11” x 14” – $3.00 each or $10.00 for the 4 poster set

To Purchase:
Heritage Language Resource Center
Navajo and Ute Language Resources
28 West 20 North
Blanding, Utah 8451
435 -678 -1230
Website: media.sjsd.org

Filed Under: Navajo Creation Story Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Navajo Horse Race Story

March 8, 2013 by

A Navajo Horse Race Story

A Navajo Horse Race Story - Betting

THE BETTING

The men go for horses that have walked away to find grass to eat. The women put blankets and food in the wagons.

My uncle tells ‘my father to wait awhile because my uncle says he knows a man who has a horse that can win a race

All the men stand around. They talk together about this horse.

My father gets the things out of the wagon that my mother has put in it. He is going to bet them on this horse that my uncle says can win a race.

The Trader comes. He does not like the horse my uncle knows. He puts up a hundred dollars against the horse.

With another man my father bets his bowguard against a concho belt on that horse my uncle knows.

The men choose o flat place to run the race.

They say, “We will run to that place and back.” They mount their horses. They line them up. One man stands by the pool of things that are being bet against the hundred dollars.

They say, “We will run to that place and back.” They mount their horses. They line them up. One man stands by the pool of things that are being bet against the hundred do1 lars.

THE RACE

A Navajo Horse Race Story - The Race
The starter takes his hat off.

He lifts it up. He lifts it up.

He holds it there. He drops it.

They are off.

They are running together. No horse is in front. No horse is is behind. They are together.

Together. Running, running.

The black one that the Trader likes stretches out, running, running, gets in front, running, running. Sand flies. People shout.

The People shout. Now comes the horse my uncle knows. There he is, there he is, in front, in front, away in front. He has won the race. The horse my uncle knows has won the race.

Source : “Little Herder in the Winter” by Ann Clark 1940
Illustrated by:
Hoke Denetsosie
Linguistics by:
John P. Harrington
Robert W. Young

Navajo People Website Links:
Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

Filed Under: Navajo Culture Tagged With: , ,

The Navajo Hero Twins Receive Their Weapons

March 7, 2013 by

The Twins Receive Their Weapons – Poster

The Navajo Hero Twins Receive Their WeaponsPoster © 2013 Heritage Language Resource Center. All rights reserved

After the Sun Bearer acknowledges the Twins as his sons, he arms them with his mighty weapons that will enable the Twins to defend themselves and slay the enemy monsters of the Diné.

The following from the book:  The Legend of the Navajo Hero Twins

“Sun Bearer opens the last door. The room was dark and gloomy infield with smoke. Occasional sheet lightning flash to illuminate huge weapons that hung around the walls

Sun Bearer or stepped into the room, and went to each of the four walls of the dwelling and took down his mighty weapons: lightning, sheet lightning, deadly sunbeam, and fatal rainbow.
He presented the weapons to the boys as they stood before him.

Then, each received a powerful Bow and  Arrows. Next  Sun Bearer took Shields, armor and helmet made from Flint, and he presented them to the boys. Finally, he gave each of them stone knives, and broad blades.”

Available in 2 sizes:
17” x 22” – $7.00 each or $25.00 set
11” x 14” – $3.00 each or $10.00 set

From the book:  The Legend of the Navajo Hero Twins

Ordering Information

San Juan School District
Heritage Language Resource Center
28 West 200 North
Phone: 435-678-1230
FAX: 435-678-1283
Store Hours: 9:00 – 4:30
Monday through Thursday
Email: rstoneman@sjsd.org

Online order at this Website: media.sjsd.org

Click here for New Fall 2013  Catalog

We accept purchase orders, credit cards, and checks.
We bill only for items shipped and actual cost of shipping.
Personal orders ship after payment is received.
Please estimate 10% of purchase total for shipping cost.

Other Books and Posters

The Legend of the Navajo Hero Twins Book Review
Changing Woman Protects Her Sons
The Holy Beings Teach the Navajo Twins Poster
Navajo Winter Storytelling Poster
The Navajo Hero Twins Receive Their Weapons – Poster
Tsidil – Navajo Stick Game
Book Review of  ”The Legend of the Horse”
Legend of the Horse Poster
K’é – Diné (Navajo) Kinship System

Filed Under: Navajo Creation Story Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Legend of the Navajo Hero Twins

March 6, 2013 by

Book Review of 

The Legend of the Navajo Hero Twins

by Don Mose, Jr.
Illustrated by Charles Yanito

gend of the Navajo Hero Twins cover

Naayéé’neizghání (Slayer of Monsters) and Tóbájíshchíní (Born for Water) are the Navajo Hero Twins.

Lavishly illustrated with the world-class artwork of Charles Yanito. (37  illustrations)

Experience the Journey!

Read about the epic journey of the Navajo Hero Twins, the traditional narrative that parallels the journey of life and defines the foundation of Navajo culture.The book covers:

Raising the Twins
Spider Woman Prepares the Twins
Journey to the Father on the Holy Trail
Sun Bearer Challenges the Twins
The Sweat Lodge
The Weapons
The Sacred Mountains
Holy Beings Teach the Twins
The Twins Kill the Monsters

… and many other topics.

Don Mose Jr
 Don Mose, Jr., traditional storytellerDon Mose, Jr. is a member of the Diné Nation, originally from the small reservation community of pinon, Arizona. Storylling has always been an important part of Don,s life. As a boy, Don listened to his Grandfather and his Aunt as they related the timeless history and narratives of the Diné. Don has commjtted his life’s work to sharing these traditional stories with the younger generations. ln his quest to keep the flames of Diné culture alive, Don has been inspired by the traditional people of the far north, the Athabascan relatives he met on his journeys to Siberia and the Yukon. lt is Don’s desire that these stories be used to help students.
Charles Yanito artist and illustrator
 Charles Yanito artist and illustratorCharles Yanito was born in Bluff, Utah to the Tl’ash chii and the Toh dich’iinih clans. He attended the lnstitute of American lndian Arts and holds degrees from the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University. He has exhibited his works in numerous galleries and regional art festivals. His illushations can be seen in many San Juan Schools Heritage Language Resource Centor publlcaflons, Currenfly, Charles resides in Bear, Delaware with his famlly.

Navajo Old Age Illustration by Charles Yanit

The twins were on their way, together again. As they reached the foot of the mountain, they saw
an old woman. She walked slowly towards them, leaning on her cane. Everything her was old, her wrinkled face, her thin arms, her bent back. She looked so tired, and she even spoke slowly, with a quaver in her voice. “So, you are the warrior boys. Whst brings you to Dibe Nitsaa?”

Navajo Old Age Illustration by Charles Yanit 

Book measures 8.5 “ x 11”

Spiral Bound for easy reading 

Initial introductory printing — soft cover — $35.00 

To Purchase:
Heritage Language Resource Center
Navajo and Ute Language Resources
28 West 20 North
Blanding, Utah 8451
435 -678 -1230
Website: media.sjsd.org

Posters from the book

The posters are Available in 2 sizes:
17” x 22” – $7.00 each or $25.00 for the 4 poster set
11” x 14” – $3.00 each or $10.00 for the 4 poster set

The Holy Beings Teach the Navajo Twins Poster

The Holy Beings Teach the Navajo Twins Poster

The Navajo Hero Twins Receive Their Weapons

Navajo Winter Storytelling Poster
Recounting the Journeys of the Navajo Hero Twins

Navajo People Website Links:
Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

Filed Under: Navajo Creation Story Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Sing – Navajo Language Lesson

March 4, 2013 by

The Sing - Navajo Language Lesson

 

THE SING

There is a new hogan built just for the Sing.

There are some shelters built just for the Sing, and at one side is the Cook Shade where all kinds of foods are cooking.

 

The Sing

There is a new hogan built just for the Sing.

There are some shelters built just for the Sing, and at one side is the Cook Shade where all kinds of foods are cooking.

It will be’a long time before the night sky bends down and the stars hang low and the supper fires of the camping people of the night.
Our wagon comes within the circles of supper, comes within the circle of fire 1ight, and I see all the People who have come to the Sing.

There are many People here. There are many horses here. There are many wagons here. There is one truck. It makes me happy to see all of the People walking around.

It makes me happy to see all the colors that there are in the skirts of the women, in the shirts of the men, and in the blankets, that all the People wear.

I can see the horses, all the horses. I can see a race horse that belongs to a man my uncle knows.

After the Sing is over, the men will race their horses.

My father will bet which horse will win.

And then perhaps he will win a a better concho belt than, the one he has in pawn to the Trader.

There is a new hogan built just for the Sing. There are some shelters built just for the Sing, and at one side is the Cook Shade where all kinds of foods are cooking.

The smell of food makes me happy,.

I think it is good to be happy when food is near.

 

 

Source : “Little Herder in the Winter” by Ann Clark 1940
Illustrated by:
Hoke Denetsosie
Linguistics by:
John P. Harrington
Robert W. Young

More Navajo Language Lessons

Navajo People Website Links:
Navajo Culture – Navajo History – Navajo Art – Navajo Clothing Navajo Pictures – Navajo Rugs – Navajo Language– Navajo Jewelry – Navajo Code Talker – Navajo Pottery – Navajo Legends – Hogan’s – Sand Painting – Navajo Food – Navajo News – Navajo Nation

Filed Under: Navajo Language Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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