Navajo Clans
Navajo Clans
Clan Connect
Kinship, or K’éí, among the Navajo People, is an important part of the culture that has its foundation in the stories of the creation of the Navajo People. Changing Woman, Asdzáá nádleehe, who created the first four men and women, sent them from Huerfano Mesa to make their home in the lands between the Four Sacred Mountains and gave each a staff made from a different material. In their trek across the desert each dug for water with their staff: The one with the staff made of Abalone Shell dug up bitter water, and thus the clan came to be known as Bitter Water Clan (Tódích’íí’níí); the one with the staff made of White Shell dug up salty water, thus the clan came to be known as Salt Water Clan (Tódik’izhí); the one with the staff made of Black Obsidian dug up muddy water, thus the clan came to be known as the Mud Clan (Hashtl’ishnií); and the staff made of Turquoise dug up clear water, thus the clan came to be known as Near Water Clan (Tó’áhaní).
From there, the clans continued to walk and encountered other groups of people. They would call out to each other: “Who are you and where do you come from?” This way of introduction is the beginning of the Navajo People introducing themselves by clan. As those new groups joined with the Navajo People, either through peaceful coexistence or warfare, and married into the Navajo Clans, they were given names that became their Navajo clan names. For example, the Ute Indians, Nóóda’í people, were brought into the Navajo society by marriage and began the Nóóda’í dine’é, or Ute Clan.
All Navajos are known by their four clans – they are born of their mother’s clan, and born for their father’s clan, and then announce their maternal grandmother’s clan and their paternal grandfather’s clan. In this manner, the People establish kinship among the people they meet.
Here’s the proper way of introducing yourself in Diné bizaad, the Navajo language. Simply insert your name in the top line and your four clans as indicated:
Yá’átééh. Shi éí _____[name] yinishyé.
________[Mother’s clan] nishļí;
________[Father’s clan] bá shíshchíín;
________[Maternal Grandfather’s] dashicheii;
________[Paternal Grandfather’s] dashinálí.
The Navajo Clans
Navajo Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Tódich’ii’nii | Bitter Water Clan |
Tódik’ozhi | Salt Water Clan |
Hashtl’ishnii | Mud Clan |
Tó’ahani | Near the Water Clan |
Tó baazhni’azhi | Two Who Came to the Water Clan |
Tótsohnii | Big Water Clan |
Tachii’nií | Red Running into Water People Clan |
Tabaaha | Water’s Edge Clan |
To’aheedliinií | Water Flow Together Clan |
Kinyaa’aanií | Towering House Clan |
Dzil t’aadi | Near the Mountain Clan |
‘Azee’tsoh dine’é | Big Medicine People Clan |
Tazhii dine’e | Turkey People Clan |
Halgai dine’é | People of the Valley Clan |
Shash dine’é | Bear People Clan |
Naadaa’ dine’é | Corn People Clan |
Honaghaahnií | One-Walks-Wround Clan |
Ta’neeszahnií | Tangle (Brambles) Clan |
Hashk’aa hadzohi | Yucca Fruit-Strung-Out-In-A-Line Clan |
Nihoobaanií | Gray Streaked-Ends Clan |
Ts’ah yisk’idnií | Sage Brush Hill Clan |
Dziltl’ahnií | Mountain Cove Clan |
Dzil na’oodilnii | Turning Mountain People Clan |
Tseikeehee | Two Rocks-Sit Clan |
Tsin sikaadnií | Clamp Tree Clan |
Yoo’o dine’é | Bead People Clan |
Biih bitoodnií | Deer Springs Clan |
Biih yaazh dine’é | Little Deer People Clan |
K’aa’ dine’é | Arrow People Clan |
K’aahanaanií | Living Arrow Clan |
Yoo’o dine’é | Bead People of Bitter Water Clan |
Hooghan lani | Many Hogans Clan |
Dzaaneez lani | Many Mules Clan |
Tse deeshgizhnii | Rock Gap Clan |
Lok’aa’dine’e | Reed People Clan |
Bit’ahnii | Within His Cover Clan |
Haltsooi | Meadow People Clan |
Nat’oh dine’é | Tobacco People Clan |
Yé’ii dine’é | Giant People Clan |
Biih dine’é Tachii’nií | Deer People of the Red Running into Water Clan |
Gah dine’é Tachii’nií | Rabbit People of the Red Running into Water Clan |
Naaneesht’ezhi tachii’nií | Charcoal Streaked Division of the Red Running into Water Clan |
Dibé lizhinií | Black Sheep Clan |
Kin litsonií | Yellow House People Clan |
‘Ashiihí | Salt People Clan |
Deeshchii’nií | Red House Clan |
Tl’izi lani | Many Goats Clan |
Tsenabahitnii | Sleep Rock People Clan |
T’iisch’ebaanií | Gray Cottonwood Extending Out Clan |
‘Ats’oos dine’e | Feather People Clan |
Biih tsoh dine’é | Big Deer People Clan |
Jaa’yaaloolií | Sticking Up Ears People Clan |
Naaket l’ahi | Flat Foot People (Pima) Clan |
Naashaashi | Bear Enemies (Tewa) Clan |
Naakai dine’é | The Wandering People, or Mexican Clan |
Nóóda’í dine’é | The Ute Clan |
Keha’atiinií | The Foot Trails People Clan |
Tsi’naajinií | Black Streak Wood People Clan |
Tl’aashchi’í | The Red Bottom People Clan |
Ma’ii deeshgiizhinií | Coyote Pass (Jemez) Clan |
Nóóda’í dine’é Tachii’nií | Ute People Division of the Red Running into Water Clan |
Doliil dine’é | Blue Bird People Clan |
Tl’ogi | Hairy Ones or Weaver (Zia) Clan |
Naasht’ezhi dine’é | Zuni Clan |
Kin lichii’nií | Red House People Clan |
Tsenjikini | Honey Combed Rock People or the cliff Dwellers People Clan |
Naashgali dine’é | The Mescalero Apache Clan |
Naayizi diné’ | Squash People Clan |
Sei bee hoghanií | Sand Hogan People Clan |
To’azolí | Light Water People Clan |
Tsin yee na’alo’ií | Tree Stretcher Clan |