Agricultural History
From: Elias, Scott. "Navajo (Diné)." Land Use History of North America:Colorado Plateau. 2002. 4 May 2009 http://cpluhna.nau.edu/People/navajo.htm
·Originally a farming, hunting and gathering society ·Spanish explorers in 1600’s gave sheep to the Navajo ·By 1800’s had become dependant on livestock for their economy oDue to herding success Navajo population tripled ·Navajo still farmed, hunted and gathered but not as important ·Herding caused Navajo settlement patterns to change oNow had separate summer and winter camps based on where supplies could be found for the livestock ·Navajo began to raid Spanish-American herds but stopped when American invaded Navajo land and took them to Fort Sumner(see Events & Leaders > The Long Walk) ·After being away for four years(The Long Walk) the Navajo’s fields were ruined and their livestock was dead ·Navajo rebuilt quickly and doubled population (to 18,000) between 1868-1892 ·By 1930’s soil on Navajo land was very eroded based on overuse of land by livestock oLed to Livestock Reduction(see Events & Leaders>Livestock Reduction) ·Livestock and agriculture still important parts of the Navajo culture but not main part of economy
Sheep in the Navajo culture
From: Iverson, Peter. The Navajos. New York City: Chelsea House Publishers, 1990. (Pgs 30-31)
·By late 1700’s Navajo lifestyle based around sheep herding ·Sheep grazed together but were owned individually oMarked by ear tags oAlmost all women and men owned at least a few sheep ·Parents gave lambs to children oCaused children to learn about being part of their community as well as responsibility ·Sheep sheared every spring by whole community ·Used wool for weaving into blankets ·Sheep also used as source of meat oGiven to immediate family as well as shared with other tribe members oHaving extra meat to share showed skill in taking care of their sheep ·Mutton and lamb eaten at religious ceremonies
Agriculture and the Economy
Agricultural History
From: Elias, Scott. "Navajo (Diné)." Land Use History of North America:Colorado Plateau. 2002. 4 May 2009 http://cpluhna.nau.edu/People/navajo.htm
· Originally a farming, hunting and gathering society
· Spanish explorers in 1600’s gave sheep to the Navajo
· By 1800’s had become dependant on livestock for their economy
o Due to herding success Navajo population tripled
· Navajo still farmed, hunted and gathered but not as important
· Herding caused Navajo settlement patterns to change
o Now had separate summer and winter camps based on where supplies could be found for the livestock
· Navajo began to raid Spanish-American herds but stopped when American invaded Navajo land and took them to Fort Sumner(see Events & Leaders > The Long Walk)
· After being away for four years(The Long Walk) the Navajo’s fields were ruined and their livestock was dead
· Navajo rebuilt quickly and doubled population (to 18,000) between 1868-1892
· By 1930’s soil on Navajo land was very eroded based on overuse of land by livestock
o Led to Livestock Reduction(see Events & Leaders>Livestock Reduction)
· Livestock and agriculture still important parts of the Navajo culture but not main part of economy
Sheep in the Navajo culture
From: Iverson, Peter. The Navajos. New York City: Chelsea House Publishers, 1990. (Pgs 30-31)
· By late 1700’s Navajo lifestyle based around sheep herding
· Sheep grazed together but were owned individually
o Marked by ear tags
o Almost all women and men owned at least a few sheep
· Parents gave lambs to children
o Caused children to learn about being part of their community as well as responsibility
· Sheep sheared every spring by whole community
· Used wool for weaving into blankets
· Sheep also used as source of meat
o Given to immediate family as well as shared with other tribe members
o Having extra meat to share showed skill in taking care of their sheep
· Mutton and lamb eaten at religious ceremonies
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