Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, Arizona

Once a nation of nomads, the Navajo Indian Nation occupy some twenty four thousand square miles of prime Arizona terrain. Hidden amongst their vast landscape and villages, tourists can visit great national treasures – parks and monuments, as well as taking in reservation traditions, history and culture. In fact, its famed dances and artwork are highly regarded.

Arizona is home to the Navajo Nation's Indian reservation, the largest in the country. It covers a broad territory, and is home to some of the state's most important national monuments and parks. This once proud nation of nomadic tribesmen now occupies many professions, but it is their unique culture and history that attract visitors from many countries.

The reservation was established in the mid-eighteen hundreds in northern Arizona. It straddles the Colorado River, Lake Powell and the San Juan River. It is a harsh land where high mountains, deserts and deep canyons dot the landscape.

The Navajo are also known as the earth's people or Diné. Theirs is the biggest tribe in the United States, comprising of over two hundred thousand people.

Up until the mid-nineteenth century, these nomads wandered the grassy plains and canyons from Arizona to Canada. As they made contact with other tribes they learnt farming and weaving. When they finally met with the Spaniards, they learnt sheep farming, horse riding, cattle ranching and how to use what was then modern weapons.

After their defeat at the hands of Kit Carson in 1864, they were forced to surrender as their fields, homes and crops were burned. Surviving members were force marched to New Mexico's Fort Summer, being held as prisoners for some 4 years. This greatly reduced the tribe numbers to below ten thousand. Thereafter they were returned to their greatly reduced lands, forced to live on the reservation that their modern descendents still occupy.

Modern Navajo still rear cattle and live in modern villages. They continue their traditional pottery and artwork, selling these both on the reservation and in varied towns across northern Arizona. However, though there are few outside visitors, those that do the journey to experience their culture are richly rewarded with ancient legends and exquisite dances. They can also take tours to the many parks and monuments that still sit on reservation land.