Navajo Symbols Quiz and Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Which of the following might one be likely to see on a headstone when visiting a Native American Church (NAC) cemetery?

A cross

Peyote drum

Eagle feathers

All of the above (correct)

A Diné woman undergoes a ceremony that lasts all night that is MOST LIKELY a(n) ________.

Blessingway

What is a person seeking healing in a Navajo ceremony typically called?

The one-sung-over

In Oregon v. Smith, why did the Supreme Court rule that Smith's religious freedom had not been violated?

Peyote is illegal for everyone in the state of Oregon, regardless of their religion. Signup and view all the answers

Navajo ceremonies are typically performed in a domestic and religious structure known as a __. A medicine person known as a _ will sing for someone in need of a healing or blessing.

Hogan, Hataalii Signup and view all the answers

What tradition MOST often uses peyote?

the Native American Church Signup and view all the answers

According to Michael McNally, how might it harm the Diné to put reclaimed snow on the San Francisco Peaks?

Defiling the mountain disorients the Diné from their sacred space, disrupting prayer and daily life. Signup and view all the answers

Because the term _ originated with Spanish settler-colonialists, members of the Navajo Nation are increasingly referring to themselves in public as _.

Navajo, Diné Signup and view all the answers

According to the Diné creation myth, where did First Man and First Woman come from?

They emerged from the lower worlds into the Earth Surface World. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors makes scholarship on Diné religion especially difficult? (Select all that apply)

Many Diné beliefs and practices are not revealed to outsiders Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributed to the Diné adopting Peyotism? (Select all that apply)

Peyote rituals promote social solidarity and a sense of access to the divine Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors have helped Pentecostal missionaries gain Navajo converts? (Select all that apply)

Pentecostal churches have Navajo pastors who speak both English and Navajo. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following were arguments that spraying treated sewer water onto the San Francisco Peaks places a burden on Diné religion? (Select all that apply)

Diné will no longer be able to conduct their religious ceremonies, which require gathering resources from the mountain that have never been touched by human hands. Signup and view all the answers

In Navajo Nation v. U.S. Forest Service, why did Larry Foster describe Diné medicine bundles as 'our bible'?

Historically, Native Americans have only been able to gain religious rights by comparing their religion to Christianity. Signup and view all the answers

Why does this textbook discuss only the religion of the Diné instead of all Native American religions?

Native American religions are too distinct to collapse into a single chapter. Signup and view all the answers

A Diné medicine man travels for years to gather soil from each of the four sacred mountains. For what purpose is he MOST LIKELY gathering this soil?

To create a medicine bundle Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements BEST characterizes the approach of the Franciscan missionaries who arrived in the Southwest in the seventeenth century?

They employed a strategy of confrontation and exclusion, demanding that converts turn back on their native cultures, languages, and kinship group. Signup and view all the answers

The San Francisco Peaks are a holy place to the Diné. Therefore, they visit the peaks as often as possible?

False Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements BEST describes the adoption of Peyotism by the Diné?

Diné leaders initially rejected peyotism, but gradually came to accept it. Signup and view all the answers

What event does this painting by Hopi artists depict?

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 Signup and view all the answers

Arrange these events in chronological order, placing the event that happened first at the top:

<ol> <li>The 1st Franciscans arrive in Navajoland in a failed effort to convert the Apaches de Navajo. = First</li> <li>The Pueblo Revolt drives the Spanish out of Modern-day New Mexico = Second</li> <li>The Long Walk, a forced march, driven thousands of Diné to incarceration at Bosque Redondo outside Fort Sumner in New Mexico = Third</li> <li>The Navajo Treaty ends their captivity at Mosque Redondo and allows the Diné to return from exile to a newly formed Navajo reservation in their homeland. = Fourth</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a consequence of Oregon v. Smith?

Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) Signup and view all the answers

The Ninth Circuit Court was given ample information about the religious significance of the San Francisco Peaks to the Diné. Why did it claim the Snowbowl project would not be a 'substantial burden' on the Diné's religious freedom?

The Ninth Circuit ruled that religious exercise is burdened only when the government coerces individuals into acting contrary to their religious beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following BEST describes traditional Diné mourning practices?

Precautions must be taken to ritually protect the living from the dead. Signup and view all the answers

Diné healing practices often involve a _ who determines what is troubling the patient. The patient may then be sent to a who performs a ceremony over them.

Diagnostician, Singer Signup and view all the answers

In his dissent, what was Judge Fletcher's critique of the argument that spraying treated sewer water onto a sacred mountain was merely a subjective experience?

All religions are based on subjective feelings. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Headstones in Native American Cemeteries

Common symbols on headstones include a cross, peyote drum, and eagle feathers.

Blessingway Ceremony

A Diné woman's all-night ceremony focused on the story of Changing Woman aims to prevent illness and misfortune.

Healing Terminology

Individuals seeking healing during Navajo ceremonies are referred to as "the one-sung-over."

Oregon v. Smith Case

The Supreme Court ruled that the illegal status of peyote in Oregon applied to all citizens, irrespective of religious beliefs.

Ceremonial Structures

Navajo ceremonies take place in a structure called a Hogan, with a medicine person known as a Hataalii performing blessings and healing.

Peyote Usage

Peyote is predominantly utilized within the Native American Church for its spiritual benefits.

Cultural Impact of San Francisco Peaks

Reclaimed snow on sacred mountains can disorient the Diné, disrupting cultural connection and practices.

Self-identification of the Navajo

Increasingly, members of the Navajo Nation prefer the term Diné, meaning "The People," over the historically imposed term Navajo.

Diné Creation Myth

According to their myth, First Man and First Woman emerged from the lower worlds into the Earth Surface World.

Challenges in Diné Religious Scholarship

Insider beliefs are often not disclosed to outsiders.
Risk of misrepresentation by non-Diné scholars, who may perpetuate stereotypes.
Diné religion integrates with broader cultural practices, complicating clear distinctions.

Adoption of Peyotism Factors

Peyote rituals foster community and divine connection.
Viewed as an ancient, local practice rather than a modern import.
Associated with healing qualities and supportive of various religious identities.
Encourages positive lifestyle choices.

Pentecostal Influence on Diné

Emphasis on healing aligns with traditional practices.
Shared beliefs about the Holy Spirit resonate with Diné concepts.
Local pastors facilitate easier communication by speaking both languages.

Environmental Concerns Regarding San Francisco Peaks

Spraying treated sewer water threatens Diné religious practices reliant on untouched materials from the mountain, causing psychological harm.

Diné Medicine Bundles

Native Americans often liken their medicine bundles to a bible, tying religious rights to comparisons with Christianity.

Focus on Diné Religion

Diverse Native American religions are too varied to cover comprehensively in one chapter.

Purpose of Gathering Soil

A Diné medicine man collects soil from the four sacred mountains to create a medicine bundle.

Franciscan Missionary Approach

Seventeenth-century Franciscans utilized confrontation and exclusion, pushing converts away from native cultures.

Access to Holy Places

While the San Francisco Peaks are considered sacred, regular visitation is not customary for the Diné.

Diné Acceptance of Peyotism

Initial resistance among Diné leaders to peyotism transitioned gradually to acceptance.

Historical Events

The timeline of historical events includes the arrival of Franciscans, the Pueblo Revolt, the Long Walk, and the signing of the Navajo Treaty.

Consequences of Oregon v. Smith

Resulted in the enactment of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

Religious Freedom Rulings

The Ninth Circuit found the Snowbowl project not a "substantial burden" on Diné religious freedom, interpreting that only government coercion constitutes a burden.

Traditional Mourning Practices

Diné mourning customs emphasize safeguarding the living from the dead through specified rituals.

Healing Roles in Diné Culture

Healing involves a diagnostician to identify issues, followed by a singer who conducts the healing ceremony.

Judicial Critique on Subjective Feelings

Judge Fletcher argued that all religions have subjective experiences at their core, challenging the Ninth Circuit's dismissal based on "damaged feelings."

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Description

Test your knowledge of Navajo cultural symbols and significant ceremonies with this chapter quiz. From headstone markers to important rituals, this quiz explores key aspects of Diné spirituality. Challenge yourself on the meanings and contexts of these important cultural elements.

InQuisitive: Chapter 10 - Navajo Symbols