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Friday - June 16, 2006 - 12:24:12 PM - Navajo Nation Time
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( Friday - June 16, 2006 - 1:24:18 PM - Your Local Time )
Diné Clans
When a Navajo baby is born, he or she belongs to the clan of the mother. The clan name passes on
through her to her children. When a young man marries, it must be to someone completely outside of his
clan. This way, the blood would be strong and produce healthy offsprings. Even though
people in his clan are not all blood-related, it is considered inappropriate to marry within one's own
clan. This rule is strictly observed. Should it occur, it would be considered as "incest" to the
Navajo people.
An
important Navajo custom is to introduce one's maternal and paternal
clans on both sides of his family when meeting another Navajo or
introducing yourself to the Navajo public for the first time. In the
Navajo way, this is how Navajos know where you came from. Navajo
children are "born to" the mother's clan and take her clan name, and
are "born for" the father's clan. Therefore, Navajos precisely know who
they are through identification by their mother's, father's, maternal
grandfather's and paternal grandfather's clans. For example, Harrison Lapahie Jr.'s
Navajo lineage is "Bit'ahnii Tachii'nii", with the mother's clan listed
first. Bít'ahnii (Folded Arms People) from his mother's (Lillie Todychini) side, born for the Tachii'nii (Red Running into the Water Clan) from his father's (Harrison Lapahie) side. The Todích'íi'nii (Bitter Water Clan) are his maternal grandfather, and the Ta'néézahnii (The Badlands People) are his paternal grandfather's clan from their moms.
In
the Navajo way, two Navajos of the same clan, meeting for the first
time, will refer to each other as "brother" or "sister". Navajos that
are cousins to each other in the American sense, think of each other as
"brother" or "sister" in the Navajo sense. Father's and mother's
cousins in the American way are thought of as aunts and uncles in the
Navajo way. Grandparent's brothers and sisters in the American way are
thought of as grandma's and grandpa's in the Navajo way. Harrison Lapahie Jr.
has many brothers, sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas, and Grandpas, in
the Navajo way, that are his Cousins, his father's and mother's
cousins, and his grandparent's brothers and sisters in the American
way.
When a Navajo is in
strange surroundings, it is not uncommon for his relatives (in the
Navajo way) or his clan members, to have the responsibility for his
housing, food, and welfare, while this individual is in the immediate
area.
A Navajo through his
own clan (his mom's clan) and the clan groups to which his father as
well as his spouse belong, has a great potential for personal contacts.
This complex network of inter-relationships served in the past to fuse
the scattered bands of Navajos and other American Indians together as a
Navajo Tribe.
List of Diné Clan Names
Origin of the Clans
First Man (Altsé Hastiin) and First Woman (Altsé Asdzaa) found a baby girl at Gobernador Knob (Ch'oolii) whom they named Changing Woman (Asdzáá Nádleehé). Changing Woman was then raised at Huerfano Mesa (Dzil Na'oodilii)
to give birth to twins, Naayéé' Neezghání (Monster Slayer) and Tó
Bájísh Chíní (Child Born of Water), who killed the monsters on the
earth. The Sun (Jóhónaa'éí) then wanted her to come and live with him.
He promised to build a beautiful home in the Western Ocean for her. In
order that Changing Woman would not be lonely, some of the people
(animals) decided to go with her to her new home. Changing Woman then
traveled to the Western Ocean to be with her husband, the Sun
(Jóhónaa'éí).
These people (animals)
lived with her in the west for some time, but later they became lonely
as they heard of people like themselves who still lived in their old
homeland (Dinétah). Finally, they decided to return. Changing Woman
though that there should be more people, so she created more of them
(humans) by rubbing the skin from her breast, from her back, and from
under both arms. In this way, she created the first four clans.
Changing Woman rubbed the skin from her breast and formed people who
became the Kinyaa'aanii13 (Towering House Clan). From the skin rubbed from her back, the Honaghaahnii (One-Walk-Around Clan10)
was formed. From the skin under her right arm, the Todich'ii'nii
(Bitter Water Clan) was created, and from the skin under her left arm,
the Hashtl'ishnii (Mud Clan) was made.
As the years pasted,
most of the people of Dinétah started moving around from place to
place, and other American Indian tribal bands were adopted into the
Navajo tribe. The Beiyóodzíne'34 (Paiutes) from Naatsis'áán
(Navajo Mountain) were adopted but were left there because of
differences over religious matters. The people (Diné) then moved down
toward the south, where they left the Chíshí (Chiricahua Apache), and
adopted the Mexicans (Naakaii). Then they went to the east, where the
Naashgalí Dine'é (Mescalero Apaches) decided to stay. The Mescaleros
now live from Albuquerque all the way down to the home of the Naakaii
(Mexicans). From there, the Diné again moved to the vicinity of Dibé Nitsaa
(La Plata Mountains), where the Beehai (Jicarilla Apaches) eventually
settled. The People remained there for seven winters. They were happy,
but there was one problem. The summers were too short. Because there
was not time for the squash and corn to ripen, the main group moved to
Tsé Naajiin (Cabezon Peak).
The names of more than
half of the Navajo Clans suggest that they derived from the places in
which the Clans originated, such as Kinyaa'aanii, a Pueblo ruin in the
Crownpoint area of New Mexico, or Deeschii'nii, a canyon in the Cibecue
area of the Western Apache country. The remainder, something less than
half, claim origin from other American Indians including the Mexicans,
Apaches, Utes, Commanches, and Puebloans (Zuni, Jemez, Zia, Santa Ana,
and Hopi).
Now the Navajo Tribe
has grown to it present system of about 70 or 80 different Navajo
Clans. As of now, no official clans are represented for Anglos
(Bilagana), Blacks (Zhini), or Asians, although Navajos who have one
parent that is non-Navajo are still "born to" or "born for"
Anglo-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, etc.. These clans
are divided into nine major clan groupings, although a few smaller
groupings are also recognized.
Below is a listing of the Clanship System.
Diné Clanship System
Kinyaa'  nii13 - Towering House People |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
Dzi t'aadnii5 |
Near the Mountain Clan |
| Azee'tsoh Dine'é |
Big Medicine People |
| Tzhii Dine'é |
Turkey People |
| Bít'ahnii |
Folded Arms People |
| | |
| Adoped Clans: | |
| Halgai Dine'é |
People of the Valley |
| Naashashí Dine'é14 |
Bear Enemies - Tewa Clan |
| Naad Dine'é |
Corn People |
| Honágháahnii - One-Walk-Around Clan10 |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
| Tó'áhaní |
Near-To-Water Clan20 |
| Ta'néészahnii |
Badlands People16 |
| Hashk'aa hadzohí8 |
Yucca Fruit-Strung-Out-In-A-Line Clan9 |
| | |
| Adopted Clans: | |
| Níhoobáanii |
Gray-Streak-Ends Clan |
| Ts'ah Yísk'ídnii |
Sagebrush Hill Clan |
| Dzi t'ahnii |
Mountain Cove Clan6 |
| Dzi Ná'oodinii |
Turning (Encircled) Mountain People4 |
| Tódích'íi'nii - Bitter Water Clan |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
| Tseíkeehé26 |
Two-Rocks-Sit Clan |
| Tsín Síkaadnii |
Clamp Tree Clan |
B h Bítoo'nii |
Deer Spring Clan |
Tódík' zhí |
Salt Water Clan |
| T'ógí |
Weavers - Zia Clan |
| Yoo'í Dine'é33 |
Bead People |
| | |
| Adopted Clans: | |
| Tóbaazhní'ázhí |
Two-Who-Came-To-Water Clan |
| Naakét'ahí |
Flatfoot People - Pima Clan |
B hyázhí Dine'é |
Little Deer People |
| K'aa' Dine'é11 |
Arrow People |
| Tséghadínídinii |
Crystal Rock |
| Hasht'ishnii - Mud Clan |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
Hooghan  ání |
Many Hogans Clan |
| Tótsóhnii |
Big Water Clan |
| Dzaanééz ání |
Many Mules (Burros) Clan |
| | |
| Adopted Clans: | |
| Lók'aa' Dine'é |
Reed People |
| Bít'ahnii |
Folded Arms People |
| Tsédeeshgizhnii |
Rock Gap Clan |
| Táchii'nii - Red-Running-Into-The-Water Clan |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
| Nát'oh Dine'é |
Tobacco People |
| Yé'ii Dine'é |
Giant People32 |
| Dólii Dine'é |
Blue Bird People |
| Naasht'ézhí Dine'é |
Zuni Clan |
| Bííh Dine'é Táchii'nii |
Deer People of Táchii'nii |
| Gah Dine'é Táchii'nii |
Rabbit People of Táchii'nii7 |
| Náneesht'ézhí Táchii'nii |
Charcoal-Streaked Division of Táchii'nii |
| Nóóda'í Dine'é Táchii'nii |
Ute Division of Táchii'nii |
| | |
| Adopted Clans: | |
| Kinichíi'nii12 |
Red House People - Zia Clan |
| Tábhí - Water's Edge Clan |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
| Haltsooí Dine'é |
Meadow People |
| Tóbaazhní'ázhí |
Two-Who-Came-To-Water Clan |
| Tséníjíkiní - Cliff Dwelling Clan25 |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
| Dibé izhiní |
Black Sheep - San Felipe Clan |
| Ashiinii (extinct) |
Salt People |
| Ma'iideeshgiizhinii |
Coyote Pass People - Jemez Clan |
| | |
| Adopted Clans: | |
| Ashiihi |
Salt Clan |
| Beiyóodzíne' Dine'é34 |
Paiute People |
| Dzi Ná'oodinii |
Turning (Encircled) Mountain People4 |
| Kinlitsonii |
Yellow House People |
| Naayízitsooi Dine'é |
Pumpkin People |
| Ti'izhiizhíní Dine'é |
Black Goat People |
| Tó'aheedliinii21 - Water-Flows-Together Clan |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
| Naakaii Dine'é |
Mexican Clan |
| | |
| Adopted Clans: | |
| Nóóda'i Dine'é |
Ute Clan |
| Keha'atiinii |
Foot-Trails People |
| Tsi'naajínii - Black-Streaked-Wood People28 |
| | |
| Related Clans: | |
| Deeshchii'nii |
Start-Of-The-Red-Streaked People |
| Kinichíi'nii12 |
Red House People - Zia Clan |
| Tl'iziani |
Many Goats Clan |
| Tl'aashchí'í |
Red Cheek People18 |
| Tsenahabinii24 |
Sleep-Rock (Over-Hanging Rock) People |
| | |
| Adopted Clans: | |
| Naashashí Dine'é14 |
Bear Enemies - Tewa Clan |
| T'iisch'ebaanii17 |
Gray-Cottonwood-Extend-Out People |
| Other Adopted Clans |
| | |
| Ats'osi Dine'é1 |
Feather People |
| Bííh Dine'é |
Deer People |
| Biihtsoh Dine'é |
Big Deer People |
| Bit'aanii2 (extinct) |
Talks-In-Blanket Clan3 |
| Chíshí |
Chiricahua Apache |
| Dizéehi |
Mohave Clan |
| Dizéehi |
Mohave Clan |
| 'Iich'ah Dine'é (extinct) |
Moth People |
| Jaa'yaalóolii Dine'é |
Sticking-Up-Ears People |
| Ma'iitó |
Coyote Spring People |
| Naaani Dine'é |
Many Commanche Warriors Clan |
| Naashashí Dine'é14 |
Bear Enemies - Tewa Clan |
| Naashgalí Dine'é |
Mescalero Apache Clan |
| Naayízí Dine'é |
Squash People |
| To'azoli22 |
Light-Water People |
| Sei Bse Hooghnaii15 |
Sand Hogan People |
| Téeatiin |
Trail-To-Garden People |
| Tsetaa'aanii |
Rock-Extends-Into-Water People |
| Tseyanatohnii (extinct) |
Horizontal-Water-Under-Cliffs People |
| Tsezhindii'aai |
Slanted-Lava-Spire People27 |
| Tsin Yee Na'alo'ii Dine'é30 |
Tree Stretcher People31 |
Footnotes
1. Also Adóotsos Dine'é, Adóotsosnii. Another meaning Narrow Gorge People.
2. Also Bit'shnii.
3. Also With-In-His Cover Clan, Under-His-Cover Clan, Leaf Clan, His Leaves Clan.
4. Also Mountain-Around-Which-Traveling-Was-Done People.
5. Also Dzi t'tade, Dzi t'aadí - Foothill Clan.
6. Also Mountain Recess People.
7. Also Rabbit Redwater People.
8. Also Hashk'aa hadzoho.
9. Also Yucca Fruit Clan.
10. Also One-Who-Walks-Around-One Clan, He-Walks-Around-One Clan.
11. Also K'aahanaanii - Living Arrow People.
12. Also Kiichíi'nii.
13. Also Kiyaa'nii, Kiiyaa'nii.
14. Also Shash Dine'é, meaning Bear - Tewa Clan.
15. Also Sei Bsehooghnaii.
16. Also Rough Land Formation People, Tangle People.
17. Also K'aich'ebaanii - Line-Of-Willows-Extend-Out-Gray People. Also K'ai Dine'é - Willow People.
18. Also Red Bottoms People.
19. Also Hairy Ones.
20. Also Near-The-Water Clan.
21. Also Tó'adheedliinii, or Tó'adheedlinii.
22. Also To'aszoli.
23. Also Alkaline Water Clan.
24. Also Tsenahadinii19.
25. Also Honey-Combed Rock Clan, House-Of-Dark-Cliffs Clan, Rebuilding-A-Rock-House Clan.
26. Also Tsékéhé, Tsíkeehí.
27. Also Trap Dike People
28. Also Black-Streak-Of-Forest People.
29. Also Clumped Tree People.
30. Also Tsin Yideel'soodii, Tsin Yideecoi.
31. Also Carries-Things-With-Wooden-Sticks People.
32. Also Yei-bi-chei People, Monster People.
33. Also Yoo'ó Dine'é.
34. Also Bayóodzíne' Dine'é, Beiyóodzín.
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| URL: |
http://www.lapahie.com/Dine_Clans.cfm |
| Creator(s): |
Harrison Lapahie Jr. |
| Dated Created: |
08/27/2001 |
| Version: |
2.1 |
| Updated: |
11/16/2005 |
| Curator(s): |
Harrison Lapahie Jr.
|
| Questions/Comments: |
Harrison Lapahie Jr.
|
Dine_Clans.cfm:
Copyright © 2001 - Harrison Lapahie Jr. - All Rights Reserved.