Navajo Research

These resources should assist your in your Navajo research. Most of the links feature content found on AccessGenealogy, however some of these are offsite resources of which AccessGenealogy has no relationship other then we value that content for the quality of the information. If you know of a website which we haven’t featured, then please feel free to submit them through the comments at the bottom of the page.

Navaho Indians ( pron. Na'-va-ho, from Tewa Navahú, the name referring to a large area of cultivated lands; applied to a former Tewa pueblo, and, by extension, to the Navaho, known to the Spaniards of the 17th century as Apaches de Navajo, who intruded on the Tewa domain or who lived in the vicinity, to distinguish them front other “Apache” bands.—Hewett in Am. Anthrop., viii,193,1906. Fray Alonso Benavides, in his Memorial of 1630, gives the earliest translation of the tribal name, in the form Nauajó, ‘sementeras grandes'—'great seed-sowings', or ‘great fields'.  Read more about the Navaho History.

Navajo Biographies

• Manuelito, Navajo War Chief

Bureau of Indian Affairs

• A Guide to Tracing your Indian Ancestry (PDF)
• Tribal Leaders Directory
• Recognized Indian Entities, 10/2010 Update (PDF)

Navajo Cemeteries

• Native American (Indian) Cemeteries,

Navajo Census

• Free US Indian Census Rolls 1885-1940
  All of the 1885-1940 Indian census rolls with their images can be accessed for free from AccessGenealogy. For the most part, these rolls dated after 1900 were done in alphabetical order and were typewritten – this should help make finding your ancestor much easier. The earlier ones though were often done in handwriting and the film quality can be very poor at times. Beginning in 1930, the rolls also showed the degree of Indian blood, marital status, ward status, place of residence, and sometimes other information.
• Indians in the 11th (1890) Census of the United States
• Indian Census Records
• Navajo Census Records 1884-1940, (hosted at Diné (The “People”) Family History of Harrison Lapahie Jr.)

Navajo Clans

• Navajo Diné Clans (hosted at Diné (The “People”) Family History of Harrison Lapahie Jr.)

Federally Recognized Tribes

• Navajo Nation– Official Website of the Nation
  P.O. Box 9000
  Willow Rock, AZ 86515
  • Navajo History
  • Navajo Visitors Guide
  • Culture

Genealogy Help Pages

• Proving Your Indian Ancestry
• Indian Genealogy
• DNA- Testing for your Native American Ancestry
• How to Write a Genealogical Query

Navajo History

• Navajo Tribe
• Navaho Indians
• Navajo Nation History (hosted at Wikipedia)
• Indian Reservation History
• The Navajo Early History

Navajo Home Page Links

• Genealogy of Harrison Lapahie Jr

Navajo Land Records

• Arizona Land Patents – Navajo Tribe
• New Mexico Land Patents – Navajo Tribe
• Arizona Reservations

Navajo Language

• Sign Language Among North American Indians
• Navajo Language (hosted at Native Languages)
  • Navajo Vocabulary, words in Navajo

Navajo Legends

• Indian Mythology

Navajo Military

• Navajo Code Talkers (hosted at Diné (The “People”) Family History of Harrison Lapahie Jr.)
• Indian Wars, Conflicts and Disturbances 1614-1893
• Indians Who Served in the War (WWII)
• Navajo Attacks, Surrender and Reservations (hosted at Arizona Genealogy)
• Native American Medal of Honor Recipients (hosted at US Army Center of Military History)

Other Tribes

The list of tribes and organizations below are not federally recognized. Many of them are state recognized organizations only or working towards federal recognition. We do not have the resources to check the validity of each and every organization and expect that you should before attempting to join or send a monetary contribution. We will provide a listing for any Native American organization or tribe.  If you would like your organization listed please submit the information here.

Navajo Schools

• Indian Schools, Seminaries and Asylums
• Arizona Indian Agencies and Schools

Navajo Treaties

• Indian Treaties, Acts and Agreements
• Signers of Native American Treaties, Indian, Military and Guests
• Indian Affairs, Laws and Treaties, Vol. 2
• As the United States expanded westward from the original thirteen colonies, settlers often confronted the existing owners of the land. As a result the federal government often negotiated treaties with these Native Americans. This collection of official treaties was compiled by the United States and originally printed in 1904. (Subscribers Only) Try Ancestry.com's Census Images for FREE!!!

Navajo Suggested Reading

Navajo-English Dictionary
In response to a recent surge of interest in Native American history, culture and lore, Hippocrene brings you a concise and straightforward dictionary of the Navajo tongue. The dictionary is designed to aid Navajos learning English as well as English speakers interested in acquiring knowledge of Navajo.

Diné: A History of the Navajos
This comprehensive narrative traces the history of the Navajos from their origins to the beginning of the twenty-first century. Based on extensive archival research, traditional accounts, interviews, historic and contemporary photographs, and firsthand observation, it provides a detailed, up-to-date portrait of the Diné past and present that will be essential for scholars, students, and interested general readers, both Navajo and non-Navajo.

Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII
Although more than 400 Navajos served in the military during World War II as top-secret code talkers, even those fighting shoulder to shoulder with them were not told of their covert function. And, after the war, the Navajos were forbidden to speak of their service until 1968, when the code was finally declassified. Of the original twenty-nine Navajo code talkers, Chester Nez is the only one still alive. The original twenty-nine were the men who first devised the code, then proved it indispensable in combat.

 

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