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THE  NAVAJOS

DEMOGRAPHICS

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DEMOGRAPHICS

  • Official Name: “Navajo Nation” 

  • Native name is Din`e (da-nay) meaning ‘The People’

  • Includes parts of four states: AZ, CO, NM, UT with largest piece in AZ

  • Larger than 10 of the 50 states of the US

  • Population: 250,000+

  • States with largest Navajo populations: AZ (140,263) and NM (108,306)

  • Navajo language spoken but most Navajos also speak English

  • Size: 27,425 square miles, 16 million acres (about size of West Virginia)

  • 5% sales tax

  • Daylight Savings Time observed

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GOVERNMENT

  • The Navajo Nation has largest land area of any Native American jurisdiction.

  • Capital: Window Rock located near AZ & NM state line.

  • Observe laws of the US, but are self-governing.

  • Governed by the Navajo Tribal Council since 1923.

  • 3 branches of government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) since 1991.

  • The nation is broken into five agencies.

  • Each agency contains chapters (currently there are a total of 110 local chapters), each with its own chapter house.

  • A chapter is the most local form of government.

  • Chapters are semi-self autonomous, being able to decide most matters which concern their own chapter.

  • Each chapter has its own chapter house. 

  • The population varies for each chapter.

  • Local leadership is organized around ‘clans’.

  • Matriarchal: family names follow the woman’s lineage.

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ECONOMY

  • Under the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the US Department of the Interior, Navajos receive US federal funding for housing, social services, education, job training, law enforcement, land management.

  • US federal grants are managed by the Navajo Council, who distributes monies among the people. 

  • Sources of income:

    • Herders of sheep and cattle with 2,600+ grazing permits

    • Crafters of rugs, blankets, jewelry, art

    • Mining of coal and uranium

    • Lumbering

    • Casinos

    • Tourism

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HOUSING

  • The traditional Navajo home is called a "hogan", which is a sacred dwelling for those practicing traditional Navajo religion.

  • Hogans are typically built of wooden poles, tree bark, and mud.

  • The doorway faces east to get morning sun and welcome good blessings.

  • More recently, trailers and modern houses have replaced hogans.

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LIVING CONDITIONS

  • Highest covid infection rate per capita in the US.

  • 300% higher covid-related deaths than US average.

  • 2015 median income $25827, less than half US average.

  • Unemployment rate: 48.5%,  which is 600% higher than US average.

  • 2020 high school dropout rate 31% compared to US average of 19%.

  • Diabetes rate is 5 times higher than US average.

  • 2019 homicide rate is 400% higher than US average.

  • Violent crimes 23% higher than US average.

  • Living conditions qualify the Navajos as a third world nation.

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