MASARYK UNIVERSITY OF BRNO FACULTY OF EDUCATION Bachelor thesis Brno 2007 Jan Martinec MASARYK UNIVERSITY OF BRNO FACULTY OF EDUCATION Department of English language and Literature Navajo culture today: Surviving, disappearing or adapting? Bachelor thesis Brno 2007 Written by: Jan Martinec Supervised by: Aaron Marc Collier, B.A. 2 Bibliography MARTINEC, Jan. Navajo culture today: Surviving, disappearing or adapting? ; Bachelor thesis. Brno: Masaryk University, Faculty of Education, Department of English Language and Literature, 2007. 50 pages, 5 pages of attachments. The supervisor of Bachelor thesis is Aaron Marc Collier, B.A. Annotation The Diploma thesis “Navajo culture today: Surviving, disappearing or adapting?” deals with differences in the lifestyle and culture of the Native American tribe of Navajo, comparing the current situation with the past. The introduction offers basic information on account of Navajo society as far as demographics and social structure is concerned. A brief history overview of the Navajo Nation is included, as well. In the theoretical part, areas of culture, education, government, society, economy, lifestyle and social problems are addressed respectively. These particular categories are always approached from the past, as well as today point of view. That enables consequent comparison of each category in the practical part of thesis. Used sources include both printed materials and internet websites of various government agencies, private companies or even personal. In the conclusion, there are formulated results of the study, based on the data stated in the previous text. Culture and lifestyle of the Navajo tribe is approached with respect as it certainly deserves. Key words Culture, Lifestyle, Navajo, Diné, Four Corners, Indian, Native, Southwest 3 Declaration I hereby proclaim that I wrote this thesis myself and that all the outside sources of information have been cited. I agree with the placing of this thesis in the Masaryk University Brno in the library of the Department of English Language and Literature and with the access for studying purposes. In Brno, 20 July, 2007 Jan Martinec 4 Acknowledgments I would like to thank my supervisor, Aaron Marc Collier, B.A., for his support, patience and help. The thesis would have been unlikely to arise without his guidance and encouragement. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 7 1.1. The topic ................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2. Choice of sources ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.3. Procedure .................................................................................................................................. 7 1.4. Native American culture ........................................................................................................... 8 1.5. Basic information on Navajo people ........................................................................................ 9 1.6. Brief history overview ............................................................................................................ 10 2. THEORETICAL PART ............................................................................................................... 12 2.1. Culture .................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.1. Past ............................................................................................................................ 12 2.1.2. Today ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.2. Education ................................................................................................................................ 20 2.2.1. Past ............................................................................................................................ 20 2.2.2. Today ......................................................................................................................... 21 2.3. Government and Society ........................................................................................................ 24 2.3.1. Past ............................................................................................................................ 24 2.3.2. Today ......................................................................................................................... 24 2.4. Economy ................................................................................................................................. 26 2.4.1. Past ............................................................................................................................ 26 2.4.2. Today ......................................................................................................................... 27 2.5. Lifestyle and Social Problems ................................................................................................ 30 2.5.1. Past ............................................................................................................................ 30 2.5.2. Today ......................................................................................................................... 30 3. PRACTICAL PART ..................................................................................................................... 33 3.1. Culture ................................................................................................................................... 33 3.2. Education ............................................................................................................................... 34 3.3. Government and society ........................................................................................................ 35 3.4. Economy ................................................................................................................................ 36 3.5. Lifestyle and Social Problems ................................................................................................ 36 4. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 38 5. LIST OF WORKS CITED ........................................................................................................... 39 6. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS ......................................................................................................... 45 7. ATTACHMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 46 6 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. The topic Perhaps every man has strong memories from his childhood years and emotions connected with them. For many of us, playing Indians and cowboys is one of the best remembered. Well, I was always one of the Indians and somehow, this sense of identity has changed in the course of years and developed into a deep interest in the culture, history and lifestyle of the Native Americans. Therefore, when considering the topic for my Bachelor thesis on the field of Cultural Studies, this was naturally the first idea that immediately came to my mind. A nation’s culture and lifestyle is an intriguing topic for research, even more so when the nation in question is an ancient tribe with thrilling history and colourful palette of cultural background, including art, crafts, music, dancing and much more. Adding the quickly changing living conditions and surrounding environment of Navajo people, the motivation for choosing this particular topic is clear. 1.2. Choice of sources It proved to be very difficult to find books, magazine articles and/or other printed sources of information on this topic. Especially information regarding the latest development in the American Indian and particularly Navajo matters, their society and lifestyle was almost impossible to obtain otherwise than from the Internet. Nonetheless, a number of valuable Internet sites were collected that were qualified, mostly official webs of various government agencies as well as non-profit organizations, but most importantly – they were up-to-date. Some of these sites perhaps may not fulfil the demands of credibility or professionalism as far as education is concerned, but it can be argued that a sincere opinion of a Navajo Native be just as valuable and qualified as any academic opinion of a non-Native educator or official, for who else would be more suitable to speak on behalf of Navajo culture, than Navajos themselves? 1.3. Procedure Firstly, some basic facts will be presented about Navajo history, lifestyle and culture. A brief history overview is also included simply because it is an integral part of any nation’s culture (provided we understand nation’s culture in the wider sense, i.e. not 7 just arts and crafts, but also lifestyle and the development of the nation’s self- awareness). Secondly, the theoretical part will compare the current state of affairs with the past. As for the past, it is very difficult to choose one particular period in the history due to lack of detailed information. Mostly, an attempt will be made to highlight certain points and areas, which underwent