Adopted!!!

Today, February 17, 2009 something wonderful happened.  I was officially adopted into a Navajo (Dine' or The People) Clan!  After the Bishop called this morning and asked me, I went over to the LDS chapel to play the organ for a funeral, and discovered is was the Aunt of a dear family friend from Window Rock who had passed away.

After the funeral, a member of our Stake Presidency, whose aunt it was, came over to thank me for the music, and I told him I was most happy to play for he and his family, and would have volunteered had I known earlier, as I have great respect for the family.  I asked a few questions about his family's genealogy, which I happen to have spent some time helping with sometime ago, and expressed some concern that his aunt did not get her temple work done before passing, as she was too ill, but had been eligible for quite some time.

My Navajo friend, who is a respected member of the Church, and also considered to be an Elder among his people, surprised me by saying: We have decided: We would like to officially adopt you into our clan - the Todechine or Bitter Water Clan!  Of course, I accepted right away.  My eyes were wet with tears of happiness and surprise, as I have always felt a bit left out, since my husband was adopted into another clan over 20 years ago, and I have never had one.  He had explained that it can take quite a while to be adopted by a Navajo family, as they must be sure they can trust you in everyway, and to not get into a hurry or try to push it, but that it would happen in it's own time.  So as you can imagine, I felt greatly honored at todays events.

I went on line and found out that "strangers are sometimes adopted into a clan, and this gives them a status in the tribe." (1)  Most Navajo tribes are Matriarical, meaning that the oldest living female family member leads family meetings, and usually conducts and instructs.  When she is unable, her husband or oldest male relative takes over.  As it turns out, we have known and loved this man's mom (who is widowed) for some time now.   

Afterward, I began to wonder - what will my new name be, since it is tradition to receive a new name?  I  decided I would like to be named 'one who heals, with God's help'.  I looked up the words on-line, but could not find them; perhaps soon I will figure them out and how to pronounce them.  I did find out that traditional Navajo approach to healing is to restore the sick to hozhooji (phychological or perfect state of mental health) or in otherwords to bring spiritual and emotional healing to the sick.  I have done quite a bit of reading on spiritual healing and figured out that this how it is where all true healing begins.  It it an aspect that I am currently working on with several of my friends.  Until then, I sincerely pray that I am able to make it so, for myself, my family members, and friends.  Navajo healers are called Hataalii.  To be completely well/whole is said to be sa'a naghai bik'e hozho. Sa'a Naghai means long life and Bik'e Hozho means having joiy for all living things - on the trail of wholeness.

Herbal Lady

(1) http://www.scribd.com/doc/890563/Canyons-of-the-Colorado-by-J-W-Powell

Tags: Navajo Clan Todechine Adoption

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