Jun 23, 2019

New Navajo tourism website selling culture

I like the new Navajo Nation tourism website's efforts to increase tourism.  (https://travelnavajoonline.com/) But it shows foreign tourists how to participate in an authentic Navajo ceremony.  The article reads:
"In addition to the well-known destinations on Navajo, the site has stories about lesser known destinations, including things to know about the Navajo culture, how and where to watch an authentic ceremony, travel and safety tips, Navajo foods and where to buy, authentic Native American jewelry, hiking opportunities and others. A user can also access a Google map to each of these locations."
Navajo ceremonies are for Navajos.  Navajo ceremonies are not for outsiders.  The author of the new Navajo Nation tourism website should  not be selling out our Navajo ceremonies.  If anything, our own young Dine people need to be participating and relearning these ceremonies, not foreigners.  There is a reason why our ceremonies are private.

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