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Navajo culture and "etiquette" with gift giving?
Some background - My husband and I will be spending a week camping and riding on the Navajo reservation down in Monument Valley. While most of the week we will be in remote areas I know that one evening we will be riding to the homestead of the family who's land we are camping on. (They have a few thousand acres so this will be the only time we visit the family's home) From the guide who is arranging this trip I know the matriarch of the home is in her 90's and widowed and her sons help organize this ride and camp but it's a non-native who we deal with.
Ok - so, my question is, my husband ( who is Choctaw/Lakota) does bead work on brain tan and has made some gifts to give to this family. But we don't know details so would it be appropriate to give a gift only to the matriarch or should we try to have enough to give to everyone in the family? (having no idea how many that might be?)
Any thoughts or info on the Navajo culture would be very much appreciated!
thanks!
5 Answers
- ♥Puma♥Lv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
Every Native American culture is different, but not far apart in similarities. I'm (Ojibwa) and the indians in my tribe welcome gifts. When we give gifts we just hand them to the one who is meant to receive it. You must understand that giving gifts and whom you give them to is soley up to you. You shouldn't fluster yourself on this, because it's literally impossible to appease everyone. In my opinion its better to give something of good quality then a bunch of meaningless items, because you have a bulk. Basically what I'm saying is if your planning on giving your husbands bead work as gifts then what he makes before this journey seems fair enough to give. Give one to your guide and and if you do meet the family give the rest to the widow. She will probally be the head of the family and giving to her will be of great respect.
- 6 years ago
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Navajo culture and "etiquette" with gift giving?
Some background - My husband and I will be spending a week camping and riding on the Navajo reservation down in Monument Valley. While most of the week we will be in remote areas I know that one evening we will be riding to the homestead of the family who's land we are camping on. (They have...
Source(s): navajo culture quot etiquette quot gift giving: https://biturl.im/vfOBa - dowhanawiLv 41 decade ago
As different as we all are gifting seems to be similar. I'd gift the matriarch as well. I'm Lakota also, my husband is Mohawk, he'd have me make cornbread to bring for the rest of the family but I don't know how practical that would be. Prehaps some bundels of medice would be appreciated as well if your husband wants to have something for everyone but I suspect that honouring the matriarch will dhow honour to the whole family.
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- 1 decade ago
Puma is correct in everything she said. I am from the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians and my husband is Northern Cheyenne and Sioux. So I think that Puma was correct.
