Research Paper
Navajo ways of Knowing by Herbert John Benally
Dominique Davenport
College of New Rochelle
Professor Davis

Herbert John Benally lived in Sweetwater, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation. While many members of his family have sought to preserve native traditions by following the path of medicine man, he has attempting to achieve the same goal through teaching and curriculum reform. Currently, he teaches courses in Navajo history, culture, and philosophy. In this essay Benally discusses the intimate connection between spirituality and knowledge in Navajo thinking. He describes four types of knowledge found in traditional Navajo thinking, “That which gives direction to life,” “sustenance,” “the gathering of family,” and “rest, contentment and respect for creation”. He explained why each of these types of sacred knowledge was associated with each part of the day. Benally argues that to achieve a harmonious life, we must focus on these four areas of knowledge and maintain a balance among them. In doing so, we will not only achieve harmony within the family and the human community, but we will also attain harmony between the human and the natural world. On other hand, failure to recognize the importance of each type of knowledge or to maintain a balance between them will produce dire consequences. As Benally says, “When we are not taught in this way, drawing on all four areas of knowledge, we become spiritually, emotionally, socially, and environmentally impoverished.” the purpose of prayer in Navajo life is that it helped one to organize the priorities in his life and to clarify his thinking. His spirituality was recognized as the source of both his strength and his enlightenment. Competition was never foreign to the Navajo in fact, it was the basis of their traditionally games. However, making competition apart of one’s life was frowned upon because it led to pride, which was considered evil. Everyone was expected to come to the aid of their neighbor in time of need. Helping in Navajo society was an opportunity to show the person being helped respect and regard.