Navajo

The Navajo are a tribe of American Indians originating in Canada and migrating to the American southwest, settling in New Mexico and Arizona.

The were hunter-gatherers who learned agriculture from the neighbouring Pueblo Indians. Their crops were mainly corn, beans, squash and melons.

After the arrival of Spanish explorers the Navajo aquired sheep and horses. The sheep provided wool and meat. Maintaining herds of sheep provided a food source without the need to hunt, which allowed a settlement to remain in one place for a longer period. The horses allowed hunting in a larger area and the ability to haul larger loads.

The Navajo developed trade with settlers with goods such as pottery and blankets.

References

• http://inkido.indiana.edu/w310work/romac/navajo.htm