A study of Navajo symbolism - Free History Ebooks

NAVAJO SYMBOLS IN SAND PAINTINGS AND RITUAL OBJECTS: NEWCOMB 37the clay paint so that it will stick to theplaques, the cane, and the masks and body.Of the cultivated plants, corn takes precedenceabove all others (fig. 76), and there isno ceremony that does not use some symbolof corn. Corn pollen (tradadeen) is one ofthe sacred elements; corn meal ground by avirgin is a ceremonial food; and two perfectears of corn, bound together, are symbolic ofphysical and spiritual life.The pollen from bulrushes is brownishvellowand is called water pollen (Toh-bithtradadeen)and, according to WashingtonMatthews, this was the first pollen to be usedin Navajo ceremonies. It is still gathered andcarefully stored in every medicine man's bundle,to bless the sand symbols, the kehtahns,and the patient when the water spirit has beenangered and must be propitiated. Water lilypollen is quite rare, but very powerful forthis same purpose. Another water pollengreatly prized by the Navajo medicine man isthe yellow deposit sometimes seen along thewater line of lake or ocean. At one time Klahdesired a supply of this "ocean pollen" (Tohntyelige)so I wrote and explained his desire toMr. North Duane of Santa Barbara. Hewatched the beach for some time before hefound the yellow scum on the sand; then hesent Klah a pint of the yellow powder mixedwith the sand and Klah was greatly pleased.jMr. Duane took some to a botanist who informedhim that the yellow substance wasnot really pollen but minute algae that comefrom deep sea plants when the water had beengreatly disturhed.Sunflower (fig. 77) pollen was used in theVehbechai and in the Hozhoni-Ba'ahd (FemaleBeauty Chant) before corn pollen cameinto general use. It was considered a powerfullife-giving principle evidenced in the tale ofthe Bat Woman, who walked through a fieldof sunflowers with a basket of feathers, andwhen the sunflower pollen touched the feathersthey turned into birds. In an ancient formof the Yehbechai four types of sunflowerswere pictured in the sand paintings along withsketches of immortals who wore black masks.The meat from sunflower seed was groundwith grass seed and deer tallow, molded intosmall flat cakes, then baked between hotstones. These were highly nutritious, andwFig. 76. Corn in Blessing Chant representing the treeof life. Fig. 77. Sunflower.were strung on deer sinew to be carried onlong journeys. This was called "traveler'sbread."Sunflower pollen is still used, but generallyis mixed with pollens of other yellow flowerssuch as the goldenrod. It is given the generalname of "bihadadeen." The seeds are still usedin ceremonial foods and as a cure for stomachdisorders. Mountain pollen is blue in color,and is a combination of the pollen and thecrushed petals of several mountain flowerssuch as the lupine, larkspur, hairbell, andasters. It is used in blessing the fields, theseeds, and the flocks. Tree pollen is also usedin these same rites.To make pollen especially powerful forcertain rites, it is sprinkled over birds or animalsor insects. My daughter had a youngnorthern mockingbird and a medicine manasked permission to sprinkle a couple ofounces of pollen over it. We placed a cleanwhite paper in the cage to catch the pollen,which later was used in a ceremony held fora child with a speech defect. Pollen throughwhich a lizard has walked is used in child