Navajo Place Names (Download)

An Observer's GuideCompiled and written by Alan Wilson with Gene Dennison, Navajo consultantForeword by N. Scott MomadayIn the traditions of the Navajo people, there are names for notable rocks, trees, creeks, canyons — in general, almost every spot. Alan Wilson, formerly Professor of Navajo Language at the Gallup Branch, University of New Mexico, has compiled this collection illustrating the most widely known names, those most often encountered in everyday Navajo discourse. They have been gathered from Navajo sheepherders, ranchers, hitchhikers, and from other encounters with Navajos around the far reaches of Navajo country, as well as from the extant literature. Navajo place names may be arbitrarily categorized into names with verbs and those without verbs.* 53 minutes of audio, 100-page text* Various types of Navajo place names* Natural phenomena, motion or movement-implied place names* Fixed natural formations or entity place names* Human-made entity place names* Historical place n