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Library
of Navajo String Games
| The games and tricks presented here are
arranged according to the opening employed. Within each category,
games with similar movements are grouped together. For ease of presentation
the games are listed with their English name. The Navajo name, when
known, is given in the Notes that follow the method. A drawing
of the finished pattern extended on the hands is provided for each
game. A video shows how to make each figure--you will need to have
Quicktime Player installed on your computer to watch these videos.
Our report concludes with an essay on the cultural significance
of Navajo string games. |
Download
Quicktime Player |
| Alphabetical
Index of Games |
| Dowload
PDF with all games |
Photographs have been omitted entirely since many traditionalists feel
that they capture the “soul” of the object or person being photographed,
and viewing them at inappropriate times can violate seasonal taboos. Cultural
notes gleaned from Mike Mitchell’s recent booklet (1999)
are included whenever relevant. This excellent booklet, written mainly
in Navajo, lacks methods but includes illustrations of twenty-nine string
game designs, each clearly labeled with its Navajo name. During our visits
it proved to be a great source of inspiration and an invaluable reference
document.
The numbers in parentheses after each string figure title are location
codes that indicate where each figure was observed during our three visits
to the reservation. Navajo figures not seen by us but described in the
literature are also included in this article for sake of completeness.
1. Gouldings Lodge, Monument Valley, Utah
2. Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Arizona
3. Many Farms Elementary School, Many Farms, Arizona
4. Monument Valley High School, Monument Valley, Utah
5. Navajo Nation Museum, Window Rock, Arizona
6. Rough Rock Cultural Center, Rough Rock, Arizona
7. Seba Dalkai School, Navajo Reservation, Arizona
The terms and abbreviations used in this article are explained and illustrated
in the Terms and Abbreviations section
of the Resources area.
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