new thread
I'm an old bird, 58. Quit cutting my hair about 9 years ago. Its down to my hind end now. Usually wear it in a pony tail for work - the old hippie look. I'm a therapist doing a lot of drug and alcohol work with probationers and parolees so its not a problem.
I work next to the Navajo Nation up in Page, Arizona. A young Navajo that works with the office cleaning crew has been asking to tie my hair up in a Navajo Bun. Told him sure. Today he showed up with the yarn to do it. Hard to explain, but he looped my pony tail back and forth so it was only about five inches long. Then he wrapped it all with white yarn and tied it off leaving a couple short decorative tails of yarn.
This is a traditional way Navajo men do their hair. I'm Bilagaana (White)and was probably the only white guy in town with a Navajo Bun. Feels great though, a nice change. He offered to show my lady how to do it so I could wear it that way more often....but it has a funny cultural feeling...sort of like the White guy with an Afro deal.
Sure would love to see a photo of that....
RARELY ARE WE INVITED AS OUTSIDERS TO BE A MEMBER OF ANOTHER CULTURE. YOU HAVE. HONOR IT. KEEP IT. URGE YOUR WOMAN TO LEARN IT TO HELP YOU. YOU WILL NEVER CEASE BEING AN ORDINARY MERKAN, BUT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RITES OF ANOTHER CULTURE. AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT ASKED TO DO SOMETHING WHICH VIOLATES YOUR SANDARD OF DOING NO HARM TO OTHERS, THEN FOLLOW THE PATHWAY INTO THAT CULTURE. YOU WILL MORE AND MORE ENJOY BEING BI-CULTURAL. THIS DOES, HOWEVER, REQUIRE THAN YOU BEGIN, CONTINUE OR DEEPEN YOUR LANGUAGE STUDY.
DRUID
Been away, just back then off again.
Yes, Shonto is just down the road. Many Navajo wear their hair long. Many men wear their hair in a Navajo bun - with the help of their woman. Can't do that alone. Its a loving time when she works on your hair.
You might find a photo of a Navajo bun by searching for it on google.
My lady took a couple photos but they haven't been developed yet, will post when they are.
When I took it down I found the wrap was maid from 12 strands of yarn about six feet long tied together at each end.
For Druid, thank you. I've been up in Navajoland for two years now. Worked for the Navajo Nation for a while. Interact with many urban and reservation Navajos in my work. I have taken conversational Navajo to learn the basic courtesies. I also was mentored by a Traditional Navajo medicine man (singer, healer) in learning the ways of the Navajo sweatlodge. An incredible experience. Took me a while to get over my claustrophobia and stay in the lodge. Just kept working at it. When I finally was able to stay in for all five rounds I was given the Navajo name "Braveheart" because of both my Scotish ancestry and my determination to face my fears of the dark, hot, enclosure and break through to incredible spiritual experiences.
I'll never be Navajo. I'll always be "Bilagaana Sani" (old White guy) but I do enjoy learning the culture in a respectful manner.
I APOLOGIZE FOR A "NOT" THAT SHOLD HAVE NEEN A "NOW," IN MY PREVIOUS POST. Unless we are raised in two cultures simultaneously, we will always be who we were born. But we can reach out and be adopted because of our open heart. It happens.......
DRUID, a scot
Wow. I used to live up in Shonto Arizona, which is just a town away from you. It's probably my time with the Navajos that made me want to grow my hair long. Anyway I'm familiar with the style your hair was tied in. With hair as long as you say, it seems like a convenience.