Navajo NeighborsNavajo NeighborsPueblo IndiansPueblo Indians

DinétahDinétah

Navajos living in Dinétah soon learned they were not aloneNavajos living in Dinétah soon learned they were not alone Pueblo villages occupied the surrounding landsPueblo villages occupied the surrounding lands Pueblo village culture was different from the Navajo culturePueblo village culture was different from the Navajo culture

Different TribesDifferent Tribes

Pueblo Indians belonged to many different tribesPueblo Indians belonged to many different tribes Spoke different languagesSpoke different languages Had been living in the south western part of the United States for Had been living in the south western part of the United States for

centuriescenturies

Adobe VillagesAdobe Villages

Most pueblos lived in adobe villagesMost pueblos lived in adobe villages Scattered along the Rio Grande in New MexicoScattered along the Rio Grande in New Mexico By 1400, there were over one hundred Pueblo villages in the Rio By 1400, there were over one hundred Pueblo villages in the Rio

Grande valleyGrande valley

FarmersFarmers Pueblo Indians were not hunting or gathering peoplePueblo Indians were not hunting or gathering people Lived in the villages all year and raised most of the food they Lived in the villages all year and raised most of the food they

neededneeded Pueblos planted large fields of corn, beans, squash, and cotton Pueblos planted large fields of corn, beans, squash, and cotton

along the banks of the Rio Grandealong the banks of the Rio Grande They used the cotton they raised to weave colorful clothingThey used the cotton they raised to weave colorful clothing

FriendsFriends Later, many Navajo bands made friends with Pueblo villages and Later, many Navajo bands made friends with Pueblo villages and

they began trading with each otherthey began trading with each other Navajos traded animal meat and hides, stone axes, flint knives and Navajos traded animal meat and hides, stone axes, flint knives and

arrow heads to the Pueblos for cotton cloth, corn, beans, squash, arrow heads to the Pueblos for cotton cloth, corn, beans, squash, and Pueblo potteryand Pueblo pottery

Some Navajo bands decided to move near to Pueblo villages so Some Navajo bands decided to move near to Pueblo villages so they would not have to travel so far to tradethey would not have to travel so far to trade

Navajos and Pueblos learned many things from each otherNavajos and Pueblos learned many things from each other

Not All FriendsNot All Friends

But not all Navajos and Pueblos were friendsBut not all Navajos and Pueblos were friends Some Navajo bands and Pueblo villages became enemies and Some Navajo bands and Pueblo villages became enemies and

carried out raids on each othercarried out raids on each other When a Navajo band wanted to raid a Pueblo village, the war leader When a Navajo band wanted to raid a Pueblo village, the war leader

and his men carefully planned their attackand his men carefully planned their attack Usually the warriors had to walk many days to reach the enemy Usually the warriors had to walk many days to reach the enemy

villagevillage

HidHid Once they came near the village, the Navajo men hid themselves Once they came near the village, the Navajo men hid themselves

and carefully watched the Pueblo peopleand carefully watched the Pueblo people They noticed when the villages went to get water, when they went to They noticed when the villages went to get water, when they went to

work in the cornfields, and when groups of Pueblo men left to go work in the cornfields, and when groups of Pueblo men left to go hunting hunting

At the right time, the Navajo raiding party moved as close to the At the right time, the Navajo raiding party moved as close to the village as they could without being seenvillage as they could without being seen

Would attack the Pueblo Indians that remained in the villageWould attack the Pueblo Indians that remained in the village

TacticsTactics

Their tactic was to surprise and frighten the Pueblo peopleTheir tactic was to surprise and frighten the Pueblo people While the confused villagers ran for cover and gathered their While the confused villagers ran for cover and gathered their

weapons, the Navajo raiders made their escapeweapons, the Navajo raiders made their escape They had to escape quickly because the Pueblo warriors would be They had to escape quickly because the Pueblo warriors would be

after themafter them

New ClansNew Clans In those days, Navajos probably took very few Pueblo prisoners In those days, Navajos probably took very few Pueblo prisoners When they did, many of the prisoners became slaves and had to When they did, many of the prisoners became slaves and had to

work for Navajo families.work for Navajo families. Often they became part of the familyOften they became part of the family Navajo men sometimes took captured women for their wivesNavajo men sometimes took captured women for their wives When their Pueblo wives had children, they belonged to their When their Pueblo wives had children, they belonged to their

mother's clan as well as their Navajo father's clan mother's clan as well as their Navajo father's clan Because of this fact, Pueblo women started new Navajo clansBecause of this fact, Pueblo women started new Navajo clans

PrisonersPrisoners After a while, the Pueblo prisoners changed the culture of the After a while, the Pueblo prisoners changed the culture of the

Navajo bands.  Navajo bands.  Some scientists think that Navajos were already farming by this timeSome scientists think that Navajos were already farming by this time Other scientists believe that Navajo people learned how to farm Other scientists believe that Navajo people learned how to farm

from their Pueblo prisoners.  from their Pueblo prisoners.  They learned how to plant, care for, harvest, store and grind the They learned how to plant, care for, harvest, store and grind the

corn and they discovered different ways to cook corn, beans, and corn and they discovered different ways to cook corn, beans, and squash. squash.

FarmsFarms

In a few years, many farms grew below the canyon walls of In a few years, many farms grew below the canyon walls of Dinétah.  Dinétah. 

For the first time, Navajo families depended on crops of corn, For the first time, Navajo families depended on crops of corn, squash and beans from their farms.  squash and beans from their farms. 

They did not have to depend as much on gathering plants from the They did not have to depend as much on gathering plants from the land, so they did not have to travel so oftenland, so they did not have to travel so often

Stronger HogansStronger Hogans

There was more time to spend around the home, so Navajo families There was more time to spend around the home, so Navajo families built stronger hogans.  built stronger hogans. 

They were able to make and own more things.  They were able to make and own more things.  When they did travel, they knew their homes and farms would be When they did travel, they knew their homes and farms would be

waiting for them when they returned. waiting for them when they returned.