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Although there are many versions of the Navajo origin story, in general the primary components and occurrences are present in most versions. According to the Diné...

This word could not be translated with any reliability. It's closest counterpart is the word "do'ninne," meaning rope. It could mean that dragonfly is crying out to be...

Thoreau, pronounced "through" in English, is a small community located just north of Interstate 40, about 30 miles east of Gallup, New Mexico. The Navajo name for the...

A throwing stick is a weapon for killing rabbits and other small mammals such as prairie dogs. It can be thrown long distances or used as a club to kill or stun prey...

In meteorology, thunder is the by-product of the movement of lightning through the atmosphere. As lightning snaps through the air, it instantaneously superheats the...

Also known as an anvil cloud, a thunderhead is the towering head of a cumulus cloud that is moving in the direction of high winds aloft. A thunderhead usually signals...

A small Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, located about 60 miles north of Gallup in Newcomb, New Mexico.

A small community in New Mexico located east of the Chuska Mountains and 60 miles north of Gallup. Its Navajo name "Tó Háálí" means “water flows up,” which references...

A plant from the nightshade family. The leaves are cured by drying or fermenting and then smoked or chewed. Tobacco is a plant species indigenous to the Americas and,...

In traditional societies, a clan comprises an interrelated social group whose connections derive from parentage and kinship affiliations. Clan configurations develop...

A butte, or stand-alone mesa, located in Apache County in northeastern Arizona, which shares the same name with a nearby canyon. In Navajo, toh-chin-lini means “water...

More commonly spelled Tonopah, the Tonepah missile proving range is found in southcentral Nevada, where it is also utilized by the Department of Energy for various...

Usually refers to hair tufted or tied into a ball or bun at the top of the head. Can also refer to feathers, ribbons, or other forms of head dress at the crown of the...

A round-shaped flatbread made of finely-ground wheat or corn. Traditionally, the corn was ground on a metate after being boiled with lime. Patted into thin disks, the...

A totem is a natural object, often in the shape of an animal, which symbolizes someone’s familial or spiritual connection to a group, extended family, or clan. This...

Tovar Mesa is located at the southern edge of the Hopi Indian Reservation, within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation Reservation in northeastern Arizona. It is part of...

A truck with special equipment on the back of it designed to move or haul away vehicles.

Substances that are poisonous, or harmful, to living organisms. Some of these substances can be produced by living cells or organisms and cause disease when introduced...

Traces or evidence of movement left in the outdoors, typically on the ground, whether by animal, human, or machine. In the context of Hillerman's novels, a track can...

A light-weight sports shoe designed specifically for running. Track shoes have thin, flexible soles, and often feature tiny spikes that improve gripping and traction...

A group of individuals affiliated with an institution, often a school, that competes in athletic events that involve running, jumping, and throwing. In addition to...

A tracker is an individual who is skilled in following prints and traces left on the ground by animals or a humans. In many Native American and other indigenous...

In some versions of the Navajo origin story, Tracking Bear is a monster that was killed by Monster Slayer, one of the great hero twins. When Tracking Bear died, his...

A trading post is an establishment where goods can be traded. It is also a social center where news and gossip are exchanged. Trading posts have been associated with...

Tragedies are dramatic works which focus on suffering and end unhappily. A common feature of tragedies is that the main character contributes in some way to his own...