Finding Meaning in the Stars.
The peoples of the Mesa Verde region and their descendants have found meaning and guidance in the stars for thousands of years. Storytelling is a big part of the descendants’ lives still today. The stars, moon, and sun are key elements of those stories, and their movement through the sky determine when certain stories are told throughout the year.
“For Navajo people, we didn’t pay as much attention to the detail and positions of the sun and the moon. Our documentations are of the night sky, the constellations and the stars.”
“If you think of our ancestors a long time ago, sitting on a rock ledge, pointing to the stars, they’re still in the alignment. They’re still in the same movement, the same positions.”
In this episode, Ravis Henry (Navajo/Diné) shares the meaning that the Navajo people find in the night sky, and why certain stories are only told during certain times of year. Octavius Seowtewa (Zuni) and Curtis Quam (Zuni) talk about the types of stories the Zuni reserve for special times of year, and the reason why star watching is entrusted to only certain members of the community.
Looking for more?
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
ZUNI PUEBLO
Today, the Zuni live in western New Mexico, about 150 miles west of Albuquerque. To learn more about the Zuni people, they invite you to come and learn directly from them in Zuni!
Visit the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center in Zuni, New Mexico to find exhibits and programs telling the story of Zuni - past, present, and future. You can find information about celebrations and feast days that are open to the public, as well as current visitation guidelines on their website by clicking the button below.
NAVAJO NATION
Today, the Navajo (or Diné) live in Northeastern Arizona, Northwestern New Mexico, and Southeastern Utah. This area is called the Navajo Nation or Navajoland. The Navajo people have called this region home for thousands of years, prior to contact from settlers.
NOTE: If you plan to visit or travel through the Navajo Nation, please check local travel and health guidelines. Be respectful of areas that are off-limits to non-Navajo people and stay on marked roads and trails.
The Great Seal of the navajo nation
SKY WATCHING AT MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
Check out sun, sky, and star watching opportunities in the 100th International Dark Sky Park! Visit Mesa Verde’s park website for information on where to go and how to properly plan for this out-of-this-world experience.
NOTE: Most trails, the backcountry, and all ancestral sites are closed to the public after sunset. Please reference the park website for areas that are open to the public for stargazing, and please visit with respect.
the milky way over morefield campground, mesa verde np // NPS photo / Jacob w frank
SHARING THE SKIES
For more information about Navajo stars and star stories, check out the book SHARING THE SKIES: NAVAJO ASTRONOMY by Nancy C. Maryboy (Cherokee/Navajo) and David Begay (Navajo).
This beautifully illustrated book offers comparisons between Greek/Roman/Mediterranean astronomy and traditional Navajo astronomy.
LIVING THE SKY: THE COSMOS OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
By Ray A. Williamson
If you’re looking for additional reading on archeoastronomy, check out LIVING THE SKY: THE COSMOS OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN.
Ray Williamson offers a look into the ways that different Indigenous cultures across the United States have observed and tracked the movement of the sun, moon, and stars.
