People of the Legends
Indigenous People of North America - Navajo
Culture and Customs - Why the Number 4 is Important
The number 4 is very important to the Navajo for many reasons, including:
- People’s lives are organised through the 4 directions - north, south, east, west
- Different activities are carried out in each of the 4 seasons
- The largest 4 clans are honoured within the Navajo community (tell me more about Clans).
The Navajo believe that the Holy People made 4 mountains on the original boundaries of Navajo land:
- Mt Hesperus – in the north in Alaska
- Mt Taylor – in the south in New Mexico.
- Mt Blanca – in the east in Colorado
- San Francisco Peaks – in the west in Utah.
- Black – represented by jet, for the north
- White – represented by white shell, for the east
- Blue – represented by turquoise, for the south
- Yellow – represented by yellow abalone, for the west.
There are 4 values (rules or skills for living) and people must develop each of these equally:
- Life
- Work
- Social and human relationships
- Respect and reverence.
There are 4 stages in a person’s life:
- Childhood
- Adolescence
- Early to mid-adulthood
- Old age.
