Hogan - Canyon de Chelly, AZ

DAY 9
FRI 5 OCT 2012

Hooghan baa hashneʼ dooleeł.
Haʼaʼaahdę́ę́ʼ yah ajighááh. Ákweʼé nitsáhákees silá.
Shádiʼááhjígo dahshdiighááh. Ákweʼé nahatʼá silá.
Áádóó eʼeʼaahjígo dashdiighááh. Ákweʼé iiná silá.
Áádóó náhookǫsjígo dashdiighááh. Ákweʼé sih hasin silá.‎

I will speak about the hogan.
You enter from the east. Here thought exists.
You head toward the south. Here planning exists.
You head toward the west. Here life exists.
You head toward the north. Here wisdom exists.


Although the Navajo live in modern bilagáana style houses, the Hogan - or Hooghan remains a traditional part of their lives. In Navajo beliefs, there is always a balance of life - a female and a male. A cone shaped Hooghan represents the male, and is used as a temporary home until a new one can be built. A round shaped Hooghan - like the one you see here - is female, and the structure is more permanent. It is not uncommon to see female Hooghans near a modern home. This is because these Hooghans are still used by the elders and for ceremonial purposes.

Hooghans are always made of natural materials: logs, sand, stone, and water.