Navajo dogs.... Indigenous southwest pets

Navajo pet Schnoodle named "Rollie"
Photo credit: Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2019

I always remember that there used to be a cat in our urban home neighborhood that had earrings.  This cat had two shiny earrings on the tips of his ears.  I loved to catch a quick glimpse of this neighborhood cat, as a kid I thought it was the most beautiful sight.

We all for the most part have had experiences with pets in our lives. Whether we had been a pet owner or knew someone who had a beloved pet.  Most of the time these animals are beloved and treasured and treated like a human in the home.  Material items such as toys and pet clothing are purchased for them.  They usually have a bed to sleep upon and travel with their owners.

And then I always remember the pets my great grandparents and uncle and aunts had on the Navajo reservation home.  These dogs and cats (there were goats, sheep, horses, cattle, ducks, chickens too) were unlike the before mentioned animals.  These dogs and cats were not considered to be "pets" - instead they were thought of as needed comrades.  Haha! That sounds funny, but it was true. Dog and cats were needed to help maintain the 'balance' of life on the reservation home.  They each had their duties to fulfill as they lived there at the home of cheii and masani.  The dogs for example, had the important job of talking care of the family sheep herd.  From what my memory tells me, these dogs my cheii owned were so very smart! And so aware of the land around them, they were keen animals, and they were intelligent beings as they understood the Navajo language.  My cheii and masani only talked in the sacred Navajo language, so that is the only expression those sheep dog were commonly used to hearing, but I know they also comprehended English too.

The Navajo refer to cats as "gidi" or "mosi." The first expression describes a young cat, a kitten. The other latter word refers to an older, wiser cat.  But, in the Navajo home the cat's reason for being is to make sure the mice and other rodents are maintained.  The cat was never allowed in the house of my great grandmother, I don't think she liked cats, but she needed them around so the rez-mice would not enter the home or area of the home.

The memories I hold of life at the reservation home / ranch of my great grandparents brings that balance, or 'hozho' back into my life as an adult.  I treasure those memories, they truly make me smile.

Today, the modern Dine' pet owner looks a dogs and cats as their "friends" or pet companions.  We treat our dogs and cats as family members, our "babies" if you will.  I today's Navajo world, pets are a part of our daily lives.  I share this image with you of our family's beloved dog "Rollie." He's a Navajo dog, but doesn't speak fluent Dine', he only knows some words.  But I often share my jewelry with him.  I think he looks so beautyful in the coral and turquoise necklace I made.  He looks like a prince, so handsome! I feel like its more that blessing him with the goods, as a way of protection for him ( and the cats!).

I hope we all make our pets feel special and loved - and that we appreciate too what they do to make our lives better in the 21st century as Indigenous people.

Bless each other.

VJY