Today’s Navajo Word of the Day is the word for “Indian Ruins.” The word is, “Kits’iilí,” which literally means, “shattered homes.” This video was filmed at Mesa Verde National Park. The Navajo name for this area is called “Gad Deelzhah,” which means “Jagged Junipers.” Ruins such as these are typically called “kits’iilí.”

The ruins are made by the ancient peoples currently known as the Cliff Dwellers. They were formerly known as the Anasazi. Anasazi is a Navajo word, which means “Enemy’s Ancestor.” It comes from the words “anaa’í” for enemy and “bizází” for their ancestors. Since the Pueblo and Hopi tribes of today are considered to be the descendants of the Anasazi, they thought it was inappropriate for their ancestos to be named by Navajos so Cliff Dwellers is the current PC name.

I used this video to introduce other new terms as well, such as “haaz’éí” for ladder, “tsé daashjéé’ ” for corn-grinding stones or a metate, and “jeelid” for the sticky smoke soot that formed on the rock ceiling of the ruins from historic campfires.

I hope these terms help you if you decide to visit ancient ruins in the southwest such as these. Enjoy!

Source: Terry Teller (daybreakwarrior)
http://www.youtube.com/user/daybreakwarrior/featured