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Navaho Indian
Clans
The tribe is divided into a number of
clans, 51 clan names having been recorded, but the number of existing
clans may be somewhat more or less. Two of these are said to be extinct,
and others nearly so. The clans are grouped in phratries. Some
authorities give 8 of these, others 11, with 3 independent clans; but
the phratries does not seem to be a well-defined group among the Navaho.
Descent is in the female line; a man belongs to the clan of his mother,
and when he marries must take a woman of some other clan. The social
position of the women is high and their influence great. They often
possess much property in their own right, which marriage does not
alienate from them.
The clans, so far as known, are as
follows:
| Aatsosni, Narrow gorge |
Theshtshini, Red streak |
| Ashihi, Salt; |
Thildzhehi; Thkhaneza, Among the scattered (hills) |
| Bithani, Folded arms |
Thkhapaha, Among the waters |
| Dsihlnaothihlni, Encircled mountain |
Thkatshini, Among the Red (waters or banks) |
| Dsihlthani, Brow of the mountain |
Thobazhnaazh, Two come for water |
| Dsihltlani, Base of the mountain |
Thochalsithaya, Water under the sitting frog |
| Kai, Willows |
Thoditshini, Bitter water |
| Kanani, Living arrows |
Thokhani, Beside the water |
| Khaltso, Yellow bodies |
Thodhokongzhi, Saline water |
| Khashhlizhni, Mud |
Thotsoni, Great water |
| Khaskankhatso, Much yucca |
Thoyetlini, Junction of the rivers |
| Khoghanhlani, Many huts |
Tlastshini, Red flat |
| Khonagani, Place of walking |
Tlizihlani, Many goats |
| Kinaani, High standing house |
Tsayiskithni, Sagebrush hill |
| Kinhlitshi, Red house (of stone) |
Tsezhinkini, House of the black cliffs |
| Klogi, Name of an old pueblo |
Tsenahapihlni, Overhanging rocks |
| Loka, Reeds (phragmites) |
Tsetheshkizhni, Rocky pass |
| Maitheshkizh, Coyote pass (Jemez) |
Tsethkhani, Among the rocks |
| Maitho, Coyote spring |
Tsetlani, Bend in a canyon |
| Naai, Monocline |
Tseyanathoni, horizontal water under cliffs |
| Nakai, White stranger (Mexican) |
Tseyikeite, Rocks standing near one another |
| Nakhopani, Brown streak, horizontal on the ground |
Tsezhinthiai, Trap dyke |
| Nanashthezhin, Black
horizontal stripe aliens (Zuñi) |
Tsinazhini, Black horizontal forest |
| Notha, Ute |
Tsinsakathni, Lone tree |
| Pinbitho, Deer spring |
Yoo, Beads |
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
Free
Genealogy |
Indian
Genealogy
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Index of Tribes or Nations
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