Seasons of a Navajo (1984), part 1 of 6
Backfrom Raymond A. Bucko's review:
"Seasons of the Navajo" follows a year in the life of Dorothy and Chauncey Neboia, an elderly Navajo couple and their extended family who live on the vast Navajo Reservation. Their story, produced as a film in 1984, introduces information about Navajo kinship, descent systems, gender and age roles, ecology, philosophy, religion, domestic space, child life, and economics. Visually rich, the documentary shows the widely varied ecological zones of the Navajo territory. It also presents social interaction among clan members and within a variety of environments and seasonal changes. Extended narratives in the Navajo language and performances of Navajo music and rituals bring a vivid aural dimension.
"Seasons of the Navajo" is a good example of the functionalist approach used by anthropology in the mid-twentieth century. It offers insight into how Navajo society holds itself together while keeping history and change mostly at bay. It mentions that sheep were introduced in the 1600s. It also mentions that non-Navajo peoples surround the Navajo. However, there is no discussion of the Hopi who are surrounded by the Navajo or their other indigenous neighbors. The film also fails to touch on the Navajos' long history of interaction with first Europeans and then Americans.
The key moment in the film comes when Chauncey speaks of young people who do not always wake up at dawn as Navajo tradition dictates. The film acknowledges that most Navajo live in urban areas where they can earn a living. They return to the reservation only during certain seasons. There is no discussion of the consequences of this reality. Nor is there discussion of the influence of Western-style education on children who do return seasonally to the reservation to assist their grandparents with planting, craft manufacturing and animal husbandry.
Bucko, Raymond A.
2006 Review of Seasons of a Navajo. Anthropology Review Database. June 22. Electronic document, accessed April 9, 2008.
Produced and photographed by John Borden ; produced by Peace River Films.
Chauncey Neboyia's page:
Channel: Education
Uploaded: April 9, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Author: miscellus
Length: 00:10:49
Rating: 5.00
Views: 3998
Tags: Navajo Dine Heritage Arizona Canyon-de-Chelly Native-American hogan sheep Religion mythology Documentary
Video Comments:
renthal971 (November 12, 2008 at 9:21 pm)
I love this documentry, I use to watch it in class every year in school.
doriannlee (October 6, 2008 at 7:21 pm)
LOL!! memories of playing house in the sheep corral. LOL!!must've smelled. But then the best part, taking a sweat bath--imagine!!bathing outdoors. That was the life!!!
doriannlee (October 6, 2008 at 7:18 pm)
Gotta show this to my grandchildren, so what if they call it the dinosaur age!LOL Brings back memories, this is how I grew up. I remember when I was about 3 yrs old, running after the wagon-my grandma & grandpa going to the store. Carding wool, man I thought that was torture LOL now I know that was just the foundation of my upbringing. Thank you
jenabezzie (August 12, 2008 at 6:56 pm)
I don't care how old this documentry is, I love it so much! every scene and every sound. It really is a blessing to see Navajo Country or should I say Dine! It really helps me to connect with my culture. thx jcm
KaiWatcher24 (April 24, 2008 at 7:10 pm)
Love live the Navajo!!!!! Diné
ChsDez73 (April 15, 2008 at 2:37 am)
not really that are still natives that still live like that today.
yourenviousenemy (April 15, 2008 at 12:54 am)
these must be the last real indians
ChsDez73 (April 14, 2008 at 5:12 am)
i miss this documtary brings back memories thanks for posting this
littlebear1963 (April 12, 2008 at 11:59 am)
Thank you for posting.