Article
Unless stated otherwise, Hillerman's use of "pollen" refers to yellow corn pollen (or tádídíín in Navajo), which is a sweet tasting, yellow-colored powder that is collected from the tassels of mature corn plants. Because corn, or maize, has traditionally been a life-giving staple of indigenous groups throughout the Americas, the pollen, which is necessary for corn's own survival via pollination, has attained a sacred, life-giving status of its own. Often kept in small leather pouches, corn pollen is used in ceremonies as a blessing and offered in prayer.
"Pollen-covered tassels of corn, January 15, 2012" by donkeycart is licensed under CC BY-NC.
Manuscripts
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 23
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 45
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 47
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 48
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 84
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 94
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 118
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 123
A01 The Blessing Way (01-07) p. 180
A05 Listening Woman (02-13) p. 16
A05 Listening Woman (02-13) p. 124
A05 Listening Woman (02-13) p. 127
References
Beck, Peggy V. and A.L. Walters
1977 The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge, Sources of Life. Tsaile: Navajo Community College
Press.
Frisbie, Charlotte J.
1987 Navajo Medicine Bundles or Jish: Acquisition, Transmission, and Disposition in the
Past and Present. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.