VLog: Navajo Clans & the Navajo Clan System (Adééhániih)

I am tackling a difficult subject to talk about, probably the hardest topic I've chosen to discuss... the Navajo Clan System (Ádóone'é Jilí̜nígíí). It is complex to the point that the only way to completely grasp the conceptsand it's implications is to be born into it! lol This video goes into the "basics" of Navajo clans, describing the importance of Navajo clans in the present day: it's implications on identifying yourself & establishing Clan-relatives, how it identifies your ancestry, how it can "hint" at where you're originally from, how it determines who you can & can't marry, & how having Clan-relatives can help you in times of need. The main role that Navajo Clans have in this day and age is in introducing one's self in public, and showing respect. The info here differs based on who is telling the info. Concepts are different on different parts of the reservantion and what I share here is not set in stone!! :-D This video attempts to explain how the "basic format" of the Navajo clan is set up and what the components of the Clan Introduction actually mean. For example, here is the basic format for my own personal Clan Introduction in Navajo: Yá'át'ééh, shik'éí dóó shidine'é, átaháásiiłóó... Hello, my relatives and my people, everyone... Shí éí Terry Teller yinishyé. My name is Terry Teller. Tó Aheedlíinii nishłí̜. I am from the "Water Flows Together" Clan. Ma'ii Deeshgiizhnii bá shíshchíín. I'm born for the "Coyote Pass People" Clan. Tsé Nahabiłnii dashicheii áádóó... My maternal grandfathers are from the "Sleeping Rock" Clan. Hónágháahnii dashinálí. My paternal grandfathers are from the "One Who Walks Around" Clan. Díí at'áo T'áá Diné nishłí̜. This is what defines me as a Navajo. This is the "basic" set up of how one gives their Navajo Clan Introduction. Watch the video to see how these are "broken down" and described in the video. Another format for introducing one's self by clan is given by my cousin in the video: Yá'át'ééh, shí éí Deon Leonard yinishyé. Hello, my name is Deon Leonard. Áádóó adóone'é nishłínígíí éí... And my clans are... Tó Aheedlíinii nishłí̜. I am from the "Water Flows Together" Clan. Ma'ii Deeshgiizhnii bá shíshchíín. I'm born for the "Coyote Pass People" Clan. Tó Dích'í̜i̜'nii éí dashicheii. My maternal grandfathers are from the "Bitter Water" Clan. Áshi̜i̜hii éí dashinálí. My paternal grandfathers are from the "Salt" Clan. Using his clan introduction and by changing the scenario, I show how clans can show how you're related to someone. It's more complex than I demonstrate here... but you can only go so far in a 15-minute video, lol! Lastly, I explain the history of the Navajo clans, how after First Man (Áłtsé Hastiin) and (Áłtsé Asdzáá) were created, Changing Woman (Asdzáá Nádleehí) rubbed off parts of her skin to make the first four Clans: 1. Kiiya'áanii ("Towering House" Clan) 2. Hashtł'ishnii ("Mud" Clan) 3. Hónágháahnii ("One Who Walks Around" Clan) 4. Tó Dích'í̜i̜'nii ("Bitter Water" Clan) Lastly, I conclude telling the story behind 3 of the 4 stories of my personal clans came from. This video explains how the origin of the "Ma'ii Deeshgiizhnii" (Coyote Pass People) originates from the Pueblo of Jemez and the "Hónágháahnii" (One Who Walks Around People) originate from the White Mountain Apache Tribe (Dziłghá̜'í). I hope you enjoy the video! :-)