Being on the reservation can be difficult but it can have its perks. It can be a super quiet, earthy environment, some say it’s creepy and boring. Everyone has their own opinion about the reservation. My grandfather Melvin Whitehorse has been living in the reservation for over 60 years, he says the reservation was his playground “ people say the reservation is a little too quiet and it’s sometimes unsettling but the truth is that we ignore the stuff that happens at night ” he laughs. Not many people know our culture or who we are, some assume we Navajos disappeared after World War ll, “That’s not true we are still here”. When it comes to religion there is a unique way we can express our beliefs,” everything on earth we believed is considered a spirit like grandfather fire, grandmother water etc.” As I was walking with him he grabs sage and bitter herb from the ground “ everything around us is medicine, treats or for ceremonies everything from beadwork to the drums are all homemade. “We pray to the many gods above us and pray for good luck” There is said to believe 16 individual gods each is unique in their own ways there is no one god above the other that’s the ruler of all gods. Being on the reservation you can see big canyons and mountains the truth is that these are some of the giants that were killed long ago, “ the tale of the Twin Warriors is a folktale but many believe is a true story is extraordinary how you can see the arms or a figure of a mountain that looks like a human”. Every so often we have celebrations called Powwows we have these not just only in the reservation but in the cities, these are very known these can be for a charity even or just a fun get together with many people around the reservation, “ there is many natives dancing to elderly and to little ones we hold competitions to see whos the best one of them all”. Some will throw money to give thanks to the dancer. They go down the line to tiny tots to the golden age * toddlers to elderly* there is many categories and styles the two main ones are traditional to competitive some even have little twist to dances that can be impressive some mix of Hip-hop or ballet etc. “we all have fun during this time it’s nice seeing extraordinary dancers with clothes they sew and beaded” Being on the reservation can be fun and relaxing there’s many events and ceremonies you can attend, and being on the reservation can be relaxing.
