9781422278871

N A V A J O N A T I O N

From their earliest days, the Navajo have been great craftspeople, using the gifts of the land to create beautiful pottery, weaving, clothing, instruments, and more.

came north from Mexico. Because of the raids, some historians have de- scribed the Navajo as an aggressive, warring tribe. However, Navajo raids were not usually conducted over property disputes or simply to make trouble. Instead, the Navajo culture recognized that a successful raid was a symbol of bravery and accomplishment. By themiddle of the 1700s, raiding became farmore dangerous as guns spread throughout the Spanish and Pueblo societies. The Navajo shifted their focus to more peaceful pursuits such as herding, crafts, and agricul- ture. The idea of raiding was not dead, though, and sometimes the Navajo would conduct raids to demonstrate their power or establish control.

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