Made in 1939, this film about the Navajo Native Americans presents an overview of the tribe and the land in which it resides.
At mark 0:26, is the Navajo Indians in the southwest desert region in the United States. Taska with the indian youth are seen riding. At mark 1:18, they are seen Annaba is seen with their flocks and sheep. At mark 1:20, their house is seen. Within this house, Annaba and her mother are preparing evening meals while her father is seen repairing his horse saddle. At mark 1:47, Annabel is seen cooking. At mark 2:04, Taska is seen harvesting corn from the farmland. At mark 2:23, these corns is said to be one of their main source of food. At mark 2:37, the corns are removed from their shaft. To the Navajos, Indian corns are the most important thing for them in life. At mark 2:50, Annabel and her sister is seen preparing wool for clothing as her sister is combing out the wools of the sheep and goat and then gathering them into rolls. The spinning is done by Annabel and it is seen at mark 3:25. The stages involved in the spinning are also seen here. Annaba seems delighted as she spins. T mark 3:48, she weaves rugs and blankets. They are used for themselves or sold at the market. At mark 4:00, she dreams as she weaves the rugs. At mark 4:28, is Taska arriving at the silversmith of the Navajos. He is seen making a beautiful necklace for Annaba. With a symbol of fertility. At mark 5:10, he pays with a blanket which is carefully inspected by the craftsman. At mark 5:28 is the infant brother who is been unstrapped from his cradle.
At mark 5:37 is the tribal dance. Most of the older women are seen watching. Annaba is waiting for Taska arrival and she seem happy as he joins the gathering. Among the Navajos, it’s the ladies who pick their partner during the dancing as seen at mark 6:20. The dancing is seen at mark 6:35. At mark 7:08, they construct the Hogan of Annaba and Taska. At mark 7:27, the other tribesmen are seen gathering on horsebacks and wagons. They come bearing gifts for the marriage between Annaba and Taska. At mark 7:57, women are preparing food for the wedding feast, bread. Now it is time for the ceremony. At mark 8:07, the ceremony begins with men sitting on one side and the women on the other. At mark 8:36, they both washes their hands. Annaba’s father performs the ceremony. Taska is to eat from the south, the east, and north and west as seen at mark 7:08. Annaba is to follow him as he eats as seen at mark 9:20. After this, they eat from the center and they become married. The hungry guests then begin partaking jovially of the wedding feast at mark 9:49. Rose beefs and breads are passed to the back by the guests. This feast goes on through the night. After the feasting in the cool dawn as seen at mark 10:10, the guests depart.
The Navajos (British English: Navajo, Navajo: Diné or Naabeehó) are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States. After the Cherokee, they are the second largest federally recognized tribe in the United States with 300,460 enrolled tribal members as of 2015. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body that manages the Navajo reservation in the Four Corners area, including over 27,000 square miles of land in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. The Navajo language is spoken throughout the region with most Navajos speaking English as well.
Today the states with the largest Navajo populations are Arizona (140,263) and New Mexico (108,306). Over three-quarters of the Navajo population reside in these two states.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
