Book Store

 

WOMEN IN NAVAJO SOCIETY
Item#: B003
price: $20.00

INTRODUCTION:

THIS BOOK NOT ONLY DESCRIBES THE ROLE of Navajo women in a changing Navajo society, it also reflects personal experiences and feelings of the author. As I have travelled about the Reservation and have given talks in many communities, at numerous conferences, parent meetings, child-woman conferences and so forth, Navajo women have come to me and commented that they hoped I would say something in the book that would help them with their problems and give them advice and guidance and strength. This particular need was best expressed by a young Navajo mother from Wide Ruins who said:

I don't know who I am. I don't know much about my culture, and yet my kids want to learn. But I don't have the information nor the answers. What took place in the past? What is Navajo culture? What made us so strong in the past? My parents never taught me. I guess they thought they were helping me by just teaching me the White Man's way. I don't want to make the same mistake that my parents made and not teach my children about their own Navajo culture.

Who am I; and what can I teach my kids? 1

Consequently, this book attempts to discuss these kinds of matters for the benefit of Navajo women and others who have requested such information and assistance. We have a proud and beautiful culture, and we as Navajo women are the carriers of that culture.

My thinking, based on my observations and experiences, is that someone needs to write knowledgeably about Navajo women and Navajo life. What is it that must be retained? What is it that makes us Navajos?

Navajo young people are looking for something, but they are not finding it. They can learn all there is to learn about the dominant society and its ways and values, but they still will be empty inside - still not know who they are.

It is for the young people that I write this book about the heart of Navajo life, which is Navajo women. I hope that I can be of a little help in providing some knowledge about a great and proud people - my people, the Navajos. So many Navajos, even those who are educated, feel that they need something more - that something still is lacking. Too often we ignore the needs of our young people, even though our future, as well as theirs, rests on their shoulders and minds.

Life is more than just a job, even a good-paying and meaningful job. Life involves knowing who you are and that you are a person who feels good about yourself. To know who you are and to feel good about yourself you must know and be proud of your culture and heritage.

Navajo women are basic to the understanding of Navajo life and culture. We women are the heart and center of our society. If there is no teaching of Navajo life to our children there will be no future for the Navajo people. We, the Navajo women, must know the role and traditions of Navajo culture so that we can carry and pass it on.

Countless generations ago, when things were out of hand, Changing Woman came and taught the Navajos the right ways. We now need to bring her teachings to our children.

Many old Navajo men and women who believe that their culture is gone or is dying endured times of even greater difficulty than those of today. In days when one's very life was in jeopardy - when capture, starvation and death were common occurrences - our ancestors survived and grew in strength.

We must look backward at our strength, which is in our traditions, so that we can look forward with confidence - not fear.

Ruth Roessel
Round Rock, Arizona
November, 1980

1. Conversation with young Navajo woman at Wide Ruins (Arizona) Foster Child Conference, October, 1979.

Additional Product Views: