Navajo

Establishing shot:
Named locations:
Major themes covered: explores Navajo society and culture under challenge by modern America—second of two-part series focuses on a Navajo tribal leaders headquartered in Window Rock, Arizona
Native activities shown:  
Individuals? Named?  Grave Singer
Native language spoken:
Audible?  
Noteworthy elements:  
Other notes: second part of Navajo films; see the Turner Classic Movies website's page for this film at http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/84614/Navajo/

Establishing shot:
Named locations: Blue Mountain, Spider Rock
Major themes covered: part 1 of feature film in two parts
Native activities shown:  
Individuals? Named?  
Native language spoken:
Audible?  
Noteworthy elements:  
Other notes: 1st of 2 part story; see the Turner Classic Movies website's page for this film at http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/84614/Navajo/
 

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

Establishing shot: Navajo riders on horseback silhouetted by sunrise
Named locations:Gallup, New Mexico; Window Rock, Arizona; St. Michael Mission; Ganado Mission; Hubble’s Trading Post, Ganado, AZ.

Major themes covered: An intimate look at Navajo daily life and culture, presented to appeal to an Anglo audience in order to promote tourism.

Establishing shot:  These outtakes open with an extreme wide shot of Monument Valley; the camera pans left over the landscape (00:00:05)

Named locations:
Major themes covered: sandpainting, ranching, rug weaving, shots of Monument Valley landscape; Recording of a sweat ceremony.

Establishing shot: These outtakes open with a close up of a man performing a sing and keeping time with a rattle (00:00:06)

Establishing shot: people camping in a grove; tents, pickup truck, campfire,
Named locations: Rehoboth, Zuni, Two Wells, Gallup, Bethlehem Chapel, Tohatchi, Naschitti, Toadlena, Sanostee, Redrock, Beclabitoh, Beclabitoh, Teec Nos Pas, Farmingto
Major themes covered: scenes from religious films about Navajos and other tribe Christians in New Mexico and Utah
Native activities shown:  weaving,
Individuals? Named?
Native language spoken:

Establishing shot: Navajo woman sitting at a large loom, her back to the camera, working on a blanket. On screen left a figure can be seen sitting against a tree.
Named locations: Continental Divide, "America's Backbone" Elevation 8300 feet, 11 miles from Navajo Lodge [sign]; Petrified Forest [sign];  Forest Lodge Hotel [sign]; Painted Desert [sign]; Black Petrified Forest [sign]; Trail to [Walnut Canyon] Cliff Dwellings [sign].
Major themes covered: A tourist vacation in Navajo country.

Named locations: Southeastern Utah; Four Corners region; Paradox Basin; White Mesa, Utah; San Juan Bridge on the Navajo Reservation; Window Rock, Arizona; Window Rock Tribal and Administrative Headquarters for the Navajo Reservation (sign); United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs Navajo Agency (sign); Window Rock School District #8 (sign); Aneth, Utah Community School (sign); Aneth Trading Post; San Juan Basin; Chimney Rock, New Mexico.

Disclaimer: The narrator claims that the Navajo came from the Gobi Desert and look like Mongols. Fictionalized names and melodic references engage stereotypes of the day. The narration for this film is very racist: generally condescending in tone and full of misinformation about Navajo culture. All of this is told in in light and joking manner; even the narrator is presented as a humorous caricature of a “Wild West” settler rather than a real person.