Navajo Indians
Director:
unknown
Writer:
unknown
Production Date:
1939
Producer:
Erpi Classroom Films Inc.
Narrator:
James A. Brill
Run Time:
0:10:35
Sponsor:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Establishing shot: Navajo riders on horse back
Named locations:
Major themes covered: portrait of tribal social life and courtship ritual
Native activities shown: Daily life; Rug weaving; Social life; Courtship; Wedding customs. Sheepherding; Preparing food; Harvesting corn; Carding and spinning wool; Rug weaving; Trading for silverwork; Attending social dances; Constructing a hogan; Attending a wedding ceremony; Preparing a feast; Getting married
Individuals Named: Toska, a young Navajo man; Alnaba, a young Navajo woman.
Native language spoken: Navajo is spoken during the corn harvest scenes (00:02:30); Navajo song overdubbed on footage of a social dance (00:06:22); Navajo is spoken during scenes of hogan construction (00:07:13).
Audible?
Noteworthy elements: Navajo Indians is one of the few films in this collection that recognizes that Navajos traditionally self-identify as Diné.
Other notes: Made in collaboration with Clark Wissler, Ph.D., Curator of Anthropology, The American Museum of Natural History.
--Mikel Stone, 2012