Navajos did not make yarn rugs. Instead, they made rugs out of sheep wool. They dyed it with dyes made of plants or minerals. Their rugs are expensive and can sell for up to $500. They wove intricate designs on their rugs. It was usually what they saw around them or simple triangular designs. The Navajo are famous for their own silver and turquoise jewelry. They learned to silversmith in the late 1800s ( 1870- 1895). The Navajo believe that Spider Woman taught them to weave, but in reality they learned weaving from the pueblos.

The Navajo have many different beliefs. You will learn about some of them today. The Navajo have many beliefs about hummingbirds. For example, they believed that it symbolizes devotion, eternity, and higher connection. They also believed that hummingbirds were medicine people, healer of the birds. He was sent up to see what is in the blue sky. Steering away from hummingbirds, we’re talking about ceremonies. Acknowledging that the holy people created the world is important in some ceremonies. They believed that by completing the ceremonies they restored balance to the universe. Here are some ceremonies and their purposes.

Enemy Way: To purify the mind of evil spirits.

Blessing Way: To give good thoughts.

Kinaalda: To turn girls into good and helpful women.

Navajo peoples of the southwest gathered, farmed, hunted and cooked to get food. They gathered wild spinach, berries, nuts, herbs and seeds of grass. Even though there land was very dry they learned how to farm it. They grew and harvested corn, beans, squash and melons. The Navajo also made mutton stew, fried bread, rice, dumplings, spicy bean pinto soup and more. They hunted deer, antelope and small game ( rabbits, reptiles other).

The Navajo natural resources included cactus and yucca and materials for abode bricks. Some of these skills they probably learned from the pueblo peoples and the Spanish people. After the Spanish told them and brought sheep, goats, and cattle, the Navajo raised them for there meat and wool.

Spanish people also brought horses which helped the Navajo. Many Navajo's were and still are farmers now. Navajo women probably did the meals where the men did hunting.

The navajo lived in hogans.