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Navajo Healing Ceremonies
Item#: B018
Rough Rock Community School
price: $15.00

Introduction & Background:

The Navajo Enemy Way Ceremony is one of the most frequently held ceremonies on the Navajo Reservation today (2002). This Ceremony can only be offered during the late Spring up through early Fall at the time when the thunders are not asleep.

This three-night Ceremony is most frequently held over the weekend. However, the Ceremony starts on the preceding Monday when a decision is made as to where they will take the Ceremonial Stick. Then the following day (Tuesday), they will go to the person that the people putting on the Ceremony selected to receive the Ceremonial Stick to see if they are willing to accept the Ceremonial Stick and that part of the Ceremony. The Ceremony itself usually begins Friday evening and ends early Monday morning.

The Enemy Way Ceremony (Ndáá') is also known as the War Dance and most inappropriately called the Squaw Dance. It is a Ceremony that relates to war, alien people and their contact with Navajos. It is a Ceremony that has several branches. The Ceremony deals with protecting oneself from those that are not members of the Navajo Tribe and are therefore designated as potential enemies. The Ceremony is frequently held for returning Veterans after World War 11, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and so forth. Not only is the Ceremony held for those who have been to war but also for those that have been affected by ghosts and contact with non-Navajos. It is a Ceremony that was held for the first time following Naayéé' Neezgháni (Monster Slayer) and To Bájishini (Child Born for Water) after they had killed the monsters and made the earth safe for human habitation. The Twins were sick, depressed, sad and otherwise in poor health. The Holy People decided that they should have an Enemy Way Ceremony and that was the first such Ceremony held. The Enemies may consist of Utes, Mexicans, Whites and others.

The Enemy Way Ceremony is a very expensive Ceremony and even though it lasts only three nights is one of the most expensive Navajo healing ceremonies. The Enemy Way Ceremony is very powerful and there are many things that can attack and hurt you.


Ruth Roessel
Director of Navajo Studies Center
Rough Rock Community School

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