What do you identify as the most important or distinct practices of your culture?

Interview on Navajo Nation Tribe Member

Due to modernity, it is difficult to come a long a person from the Navajo tribe. However, I got an opportunity to have a one-on-one interview with a member from this unique and rare native North American tribe. The person I interviewed from the Navajo tribe was a middle-aged woman. According to her, members of the tribe value community and family highly. In addition to being fiercely territorial, they take great pride in their rich cultural heritage. She further claimed the Navajo people are a deeply spiritual people who see connections between all things. They hold a high regard for the natural world and think everything possesses some sort of soul. The Navajo tribe is a very peaceful people, and they are known for their hospitality. The following is a comprehensive interview with the middle-age woman from the Navajo tribe explaining the core of the Navajo culture.

Summary of Interview Responses

What do you identify as the most important or distinct practices of your culture?

My interviewee begun by acknowledging that The Navajo people have preserved many significant cultural traditions that are unique to themselves. One defining characteristic is the language they use. Only native-born Navajos can fully appreciate the nuances of the Navajo language. She further reiterated that the Navajo language was an incredibly important part of their culture and is used in all aspects of their life, from communicating with family and friends to participating in religious ceremonies. Another important cultural practice of the Navajo Tribe is their traditional food. The Navajo diet is based on corn, beans, and squash, which are all grown by the tribe members. The Navajo people are very proud of their culture and traditions, and work hard to maintain them. The Navajo Tribe also has a rich history of art and crafts. Native American Navajo artists are renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship in ceramics, jewelry, and basketry. Navajo weavers also produce some of the most beautiful and sought-after rugs in the world. The Navajo have a rich artistic tradition, and their people are renowned for their skill. At the time of the interview the lady was married and was living in a city and I was amazed with her vast knowledge of her cultural heritage.

How are gender roles addressed in your culture?

She was hesitant to respond to this question which made me doubt the honesty of her response. In her response, she claimed The Navajo Tribe culture is one that is very accepting of all gender roles. There are no specific roles assigned to either gender, and everyone is free to choose their own path in life. My interviewee affirmed her claims with an anecdote of her early years. She said that when she was a teenager, although her father was present, her mother took the responsibility of caring for the family because her father was the chief of the clan and was mostly occupied with solving the general problems of the clan. Unlike most cultures, men are expected to solely care for the family. She further noted that both genders are respected in the Navajo culture. This could be seen in the way that the tribe members interact with each other, as well as in the way that they dress and conduct themselves. There is a great deal of respect for all members of the tribe, regardless of their gender. This is a culture that is very accepting of all people, and this is something that is reflected in their interactions with each other.

How is social power, authority, or social roles in a hierarchy expressed in your culture?

She asserts that the Navajo Tribe is a Native American group that has a strong sense of social hierarchy. The hierarchy is expressed through the tribe’s social roles and power structure. The tribe’s leaders have a great deal of authority and are respected by the tribe’s members. The tribe’s members also have a great deal of social power and influence within the tribe. The tribe’s hierarchy is also expressed through its social roles. The tribe’s members have specific roles that they must play in order to maintain the tribe’s social order. She further reiterated that the Navajo Tribe’s hierarchy is an important part of its culture. The tribe’s members use it to maintain social order and to express their social power and authority. The tribe’s hierarchy is also a way for the tribe’s members to show respect for one another. While finishing answering this question she testified that a lot has changed in the culture of the Navajo people and it has been over a decade since she was in close association the people from her culture. This gave me the idea to do further research on the Navajo people to determine the changes that may have taken place.

Are honor/pride and dishonor/shame important concepts in your culture?

In my opinion, this was the most challenging question. My interviewee seemed not to understand the question so I had to explain my questions several times. Nonetheless, after the explanations, she gave comprehensive information about relating to honor and pride in the Navajo culture. She began by saying honor and pride are important concepts in the Navajo Tribe culture because they are closely related to a person’s sense of self-worth. A person’s honor is based on their achievements and the respect of others, while pride is based on a sense of accomplishment and self-respect. Dishonor and shame are negative concepts that are associated with a loss of honor and pride. These concepts are important because they help to define a person’s place in society and their worth as an individual. Her explanation were more in-depth because she used several examples to make her explanations clearer. Below are two examples she used in her explanation about pride and honor.

• The Navajo tribe avoid talking about sensitive topics in public or engaging in activities that could be seen as embarrassing. Shame is also often used as a form of punishment.
• A child who misbehaves may be shamed by being made to stand in the corner or by having their name called out in front of others.

From these examples it clear that honor and shame are two important concepts in Navajo culture that help to define what is considered to be good or bad behavior. Navajo people strive to maintain their honor in order to earn respect from others, while avoiding shame as much as possible.

Reflection

Before the interview, I had a lot of misconceptions about the Navajo tribe before interviewing a member of the tribe. I thought they were a very traditional and closed-off community, but I was surprised to learn that they are actually quite modern and open to outsiders. I also learned that the Navajo tribe has a rich culture and history that I was previously unaware.  For instance, I was surprised to learn that there were no specific gender roles. Any gender can engage in any activity except going to war, which is reserved for men alone. Overall, I came away from the interview with a greater understanding and appreciation for the Navajo tribe.

According to Moreau (2014), reaffirms that the cultures with no or less power distance not only have few hierarchical structures but also have limited gender roles. This claim is true when I recall the interview, I had with the Navajo woman. In the Navajo tribe, small power distance between males and females allows any gender to take up any role. This is a clear indication that lack of or less power distance is a recipe for fairness and justice for both genders.

The person I interviewed from the Navajo tribe said that her culture is often perceived as being very secretive and mysterious by others. She said that people often think that Navajo people are very spiritual and that they have a lot of knowledge about the natural world. She said that people also tend to think that Navajo people are very good at art and that they make beautiful things. Overall, I think the person I interviewed felt that her culture is perceived positively by others. People seem to be interested in the Navajo culture and think that it is very special.

References

Moreau, S. (2014). Effective intercultural communication : a Christian perspective. Baker Academic, A Division Of Baker Publishing Group.