GLOSSARY

ancient: relating to a period of time long ago.

canyon: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it.

ceremony: a special celebration for an occasion.

concha: something that resembles a shell in shape. In Navajo jewelry conchas were flattened, round, shell-shaped discs of silver.

corral: a pen for keeping livestock, such as sheep, horses, or cows.

cradleboard: a board or frame on which an infant is secured, as by binding or wrapping in a blanket, used by certain Native American people as a portable cradle and for carrying an infant on the back.

deerskin: leather made from the hide of a deer.

Dine' or Din'- eh;  ancient Navajo word meaning "the people".

habitat: the place where a person or group of people is most likely to be found.

hogan: an earth-covered house of the Navajo, built with the entrance facing east, used for a dwelling or for ceremonial purposes.

leggings: tight-fitting trousers or pants, made of leather.

loom: a wooden frame made for weaving wool or thread into cloth.

mesa: Spanish word meaning "table". Seen most often in Southwest states – high, flat land formation with sharp, steep sides, appearing like a table.

moccasins: soft leather shoes without a heel and with the sole and sides made of one piece. Native Americans wore moccasins of made of animal skins.

Navaho: another spelling of the word, Navajo.

pottery: containers or dishes made of moistened clay, hardened by heat.

region: an area of land, usually found on a map.

sacred: holy, pure.

sandpainting: drawings made with colored powder or herbs sprinkled over a layer of sand.

storage: a place or space for storing something.

traditional: customary; cultural behavior, speech, or practices handed down through generations.

turquoise: a brilliant blue-green gemstone, often used in Navajo jewelry.

valleys:  the low points between mountain ranges, often with a stream or river running at their bottom.

virtual: existing in the mind, but not in actual fact.