Browse by Title: D
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Diné'etse-tleIn the context of Hillerman's 1980 novel People of Darkness, this Navajo word means "moles," or, more literally, "people of darkness." However, there is no indication... |
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DineeMore often spelled "Diné," Dinee can be translated from the Navajo language as "the People." Diné is also how the Navajo refer to themselves. The Diné are the largest... |
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DinétahThe traditional Navajo (Diné) homeland, located in the canyon country of the San Juan River, and marked by the mountains located at each of the four sacred directions... |
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Dinnehotso, AZA small community on the Navajo Reservation, located on Highway 160 in the northeastern corner of Arizona. In Navajo, the name Dennihotso means "A Yellow Meadow... |
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dispatcherAn individual who dispatches, or facilitates, the exchange of information, typically via radio transmission. Dispatchers usually work at a central hub of an... |
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ditchTo skip, avoid, leave, or refuse to participate in an event or activity. One can ditch school or one's acquaintances by leaving them behind or by never showing up to... |
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Diving HeronThe great blue heron is a large water bird native to North America. It can be found in saltwater as well as freshwater habitats, and is quite common in the Southwest,... |
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doctoral candidateAn academic status also known as "all but dissertation," or ABD. The doctoral candidate has completed all coursework, comprehensive examinations, and oral defenses... |
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dodge weedMore commonly known as snakeweed in English, it is also known as “big dodge weed” in Navajo (Ch’il diilyesiitoh). This grass is a woody perennial plant that grows in... |
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dodgemA two-person strategy game invented by Colin Vout. Two or more cars per player are placed on a 3 x 3 or larger gridded board. Each player takes turns moving one car... |
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doeskinA doe is a female deer or goat. Prized for its soft comfort and warmth, doeskin is the rendered hide of the adult female deer worn for dress, stockings or moccasins.... |
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dog skinIn this context, dog skin refers to a Navajo Wolf, a witch that dresses in the skin of a wolf. The Navajo Wolf can also read others' minds, control minds, bring forth... |
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dogmaAn often strict, conservative set of rules, beliefs, or even cultural practices that are intended to be disseminated and accepted as truth. In many cases, a sense of... |
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doperAn anachronisitic reference to an individual who uses mind-altering substances recreationally. "Dope" itself is slang for... |
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dragonflyBecause of their beauty and mobility, dragonflies have earned a special place in various cultures around the world. Although European cultures have tended to... |
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dressRemoving the blood and internal organs of an animal in order to best preserve its meat until it can be further processed. |
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drillA tool used for making holes in hard materials. A drill has a narrow, protruding, spirally-groove end, or bit, which revolves while penetrating through solid... |
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droughtA prolonged period of atypical dry weather conditions with little or no rain that finds fuel moistures, water tables, aquifers, and surface waterways low to dry.... |
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drunkThe temporary state of a person's physical and mental functions being impaired by the over-consumption of alcoholic beverages. ... |
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dry campA dry camp is a camp where there is not a nearby source of water, often in remote areas. Dry camping requires that campers carry their own potable water and that they... |
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dung beetleDung beetles feed almost exclusively on manure and navigate using the stars of the Milky Way. Some dung beetles burrow or tunnel and some simply live in dung. The... |
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Dung CarrierIn the Hopi tradition, Dung Carrier, or Kwiranonoa, is one of many runner kachinas (Wawarus) that challenge men to races. If the men are caught, Dung Carrier smears his... |
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dust devilA sinuous, vertical column of air that twists from the ground into the atmosphere, a dust devil is a small version of a tornado. Developing during hot, dry conditions... |
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dynamiteA nitroglycerin-based explosive material often used for construction, mining, and demolition. Dynamite was patented in 1867 by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, and... |
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Dzilidushzhinih Peaks, ArizonaPart of the large Black Mesa mountainous area of the Navajo Indian Reservation in northeastern Arizona, the Dzilidushzhinih Peaks appear to be the same as Little Black... |