The land that the Navajo loves so much is not all dry and desolate. It is a land of beautiful mesas, plateaus, and mountains. It is a land of enchantment.

The Navajo has learned how to survive through the land’s changes throughout the year. In summer it is hot and not very moist; in autumn it is wet and brings much flooding; in the winter it is cold, and often temperatures fall quickly below zero; in spring it is slow in its bringing to life the many plants that have slept through the winter.

But the land is the Navajo. Trusting in his survival, the Navajo knows that because the land was given to him by God, he will survive its many hardships. He knows that he lives within the boundary of the sacred mountains, and that is all that is necessary. When rain is absent, he knows that it will rain, for it is not right that God let the people suffer. They are his people.

Arid though it may be, the Navajo continues to live year by year by the few sheep he possesses. He continues to feed his family with the few ears of corn that survive the summer heat. He continues to raise his family to be strong people—ready to meet the challenges of the world; for they know they have been through the most difficult times of their lives.

The land they live on makes it possible to them to be away from the world of jets and technical progress. The land is their mother, and she is raising them slowly, making sure they are strong, preparing them for days to come when they, too, will burst into a mighty nation from her innermost regions.

In her quiet canyons flow the streams that give life. In her majestic mountains lie beautiful lakes. In her colorful mesas stir legends untold. In her valleys walk The People—quiet, reserved, yet powerful.

Many people see only desert, filled with sand and weeds, but the Navajo sees only beauty and a way of life that makes him want to live another day so that he can once again see the sun rise, see his children plan, see his sheep feed in the hills, and see his home that makes him a part of the land.

I have traveled away from Navajo land many times, and I have seen beautiful mountains and green valleys; but I do not want to live in any other place than the land of the Navajo.

In this series of short stories, Louis takes us from the Hogan—a traditional Navajo dwelling—to the importance of family and elders; the role of the woman, wife and mother; responsibilities; survival; the clan system; the land; the medicine man and more. Be sure to read all the stories and to “Discover Navajo”.