home

__**Human Relationships with the Natural World**__ The Navajo Indians believed that the natural world was sacred. A Navajo's relationship with the land he/she is born in is established at birth, when the umbilical cord is buried near the __Hogan__.The Navajos believed strongly in the interdependence of humans and nature, also known as Hozjo (which is harmony, balance, and peace). The Navajo found that all of the Natural World depends on one another. They believe they are “glued together with respect, and together they work in harmony.”

The natural world was a very important aspect to the Navajo religion. The Navajo Indians were "one" with the Earth. http://www.leetsoftware.com/screenshots/nature3.jpg The Navajos respected nature and depended on it. They also believed that nature depended on them as well. http://www.artsales.com/ARTists/earl_waggoner/images/DALLAS-288.jpg

Navajo believe that God placed them between four sacred mountains: Blanca Peak, Mount Taylor, San Francisco Peaks, Hesperus Peak. According to their history, they have never left the land, they were instructed by their Creator to remain in the sacred homeland. __Hogan__ is the name of the Navajo homestead. The four posts of the Hogan represent the sacred mountains, which contain them. Traditionally, a Hogan is constructed of logs, bark, packed earth, and a dome shaped roof. The sections of the house correspond to the universe. For example, the dirt floor represents Mother Earth and the dome shaped roof symbolizes Father Sky. The mountains symbolize the Navajos place on Earth. They believed that is where God placed them and that they cannot leave their homeland. http://www.astronomynotes.com/nature/shoffner/SouthLake-SierraNevadaMts.jpg
 * __Sacred Times, Practices, and Spaces__**

This is a Navajo hogan. It is the traditional home that the Navajos built for themselves. http://www.historyrhymes.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/navajo-hogan.jpg

__**The Importance of Origins, Gods, and Ancestors**__

As previously mentioned, Navajo believe in maintaining strong connection with the natural world. Through this, Navajo culture has passed down stories of holy people and creation. Collectively, these stories are called are called "The Navajo Creation Story." This tells the tale of The Creator utilizing the elements of to create "The Holy People" who then aided The Creator in making the rest of the world including animals, and landscape. __**Bibliography**__ "Navajo Religion A Sacred Way of Life." //Mukuntuweep//. Baca Enterprises, 1998. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. .
 * __Artistic Expression and Stories in Oral Religions__**

Smith, L. Michael. "NAVAJO." //Ausbcomp//. L. Michael Smith, 1998. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. .