The language of the Holy People 🌎
A few weeks ago, I was walking past McNally Jackson Books in SoHo. There was a quote in the shop window that caught my heart like a lasso.
“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.” — Toni Morrison
Time and time and again, I have seen the sacred doors that language opens. Arabic taught me this. My love for Arab people, poetry, architecture, food, and music stems from their incomprehensibly beautiful language. You cannot understand their land without it.
Interviewing Tyrone Whitehorse was a potent reminder that language is the gateway to the soul of a people. Below, you’ll see that in full glory.
Tell more more about the Diné language itself. What might people be surprised to learn about it? (continued)
In the history of the Diné, we were created by the Holy People. First Man and First Woman were given this land as a place of refuge and prosperity for the Diné if they live in accordance to their teachings. First Man and First Woman gave us the Diné language and asked us to preserve it.
We have been instructed to pray to the east as that is the direction the Creator is from, and where he will return. (Kristi here: Mormonfolk, does this not sound familiar?!) We are to pray in Navajo—the Holy People will hear and answer our prayers if spoken in their tongue. The language is a part of the people, and is considered a gift from the Holy People which we are to treasure and keep.
Traditionally, there are no curse words in Navajo. As the Navajo language is not to be used to inflict harm on others—since it is the language of the Holy People—there are no words in the language intended to harm others.
Since Navajo philosophy is not the same as "religion" there is no word for "religion" in the Navajo language. Religion is not a construct or idea that is separate from one's life—religion is a part of everyday life for Navajo people. It is not something that one discovers or becomes part of, it is inherently already part of you since you are the offspring of the Holy People. Religion is an expression of one's faith, to put it in modern terms, that occurs throughout each day. Prayers are to be offered with the rising and setting of the sun, ceremonies are to be held throughout the day from the blessing of one's food, to the performance of various tasks throughout one's daily activities.
Language is what holds the "religious" life of a Diné in close relationship with the Holy People. As such, there are certain words, phrases, even names that are not used by men or women in the Navajo language. Medicine men know these phrases and words and administer them in sacred ceremonies and advise the people they are given to that they are not to be used unless instructed to. Some, which are gender-specific, are not to be used at all by the opposite gender. Sacred names are also given which are not to be known or used by anyone but to whom the name is given.
Sadly, many of these teachings are being lost among the Navajo.
Thanks for reading Gemini Mind! Elsewhere, you can find me as @yokizzi 💫