Navajo Squaw Dance Songs

Canyon Records
Singers: Alfred Yazzie, leader; Wilson Dahozy, Walter Yazzie, William Wilson, Arthur Newman, and Mark Slickey.
These are part of the Navajo Centennial Dance Group which made many appearances over the USA during the Navajo Centennial Year 1968, celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the treaty with the US Government, and the return of the Navajo people to their home-land.
The Squaw Dance, proper, essentially a healing ceremony, is preceded by much preparation, by protocol, and gift exchanging. A family wishing to arrange such a ceremony (to aid some member who is physically ill or who has had a troubling experience) invites other to help in arranging The Squaw Dance – and, buy offering and having accepted the sacred stick (beautifully decorated and specially cut) sets in motion the preparations.

These preparations are vast and expensive. The medicine man must be engaged, and must ready his part. Singers must be secured, often brought from a distance; food must be obtained, stored, and prepared to feast a large gathering; the sties must be chosen and the area made ready.

On this record the singers of the Navajo Centennial Dance Team take the listener phase-by-phase through the social aspects of the Navajo Squaw Dance – held on three successive nights at different encampments.

Play song

Name

Performed by

Description

Native Words

Translation

Notes

Preamble To Round Dances These are the songs of the late afternoon of the last day of the Squaw Dance. All day, and for the two days previous, the essential religious or ceremonial rites have been performed, with slight diversions. Now, the social aspects truly take over – a period of rejoicing for the victory won over the patient's illness or troubles. In these songs the chanters are notifying those in attendance that it's time to begin "round dancing." Navajo
Round Dances Still in late afternoon the round dance takes place. All present who wish to dance are welcome. Two circles are formed with the men locking arms in the outside circle and the women doing the same in the inside circle. (Or, it has been done with men and women in the same circle.) The circles move in first one direction then in the opposite direction each time the song ends. The dancers use a side step in rhythm with the music. Navajo
Warm-Up Songs After supper, when night has fallen, new festivities begin. First come the singers, preparing themselves for the long evening, with "warm-up" songs. These will last until the bonfire is lighted – perhaps a couple of hours. They are songs for listening, pleasant to hear. Navajo
Courting Songs In this public, social aspect of the "Squaw Dance" the young girls or older women invite the men to dance with them, and dance as long as the women wish. However, when a man wished to stop dancing he must offer a forfeit, as a piece of small change or some small token – or stand to lose some possession, which the women may snatch, even "the shirt off his back." During the courting or "get-acquainted" songs, the woman dances around the man. In the dance, emphasis is placed on the alternate beat. Navajo
Escort Songs This is part of the Squaw Dance most frequently depicted in Navajo paintings, with men and women dancing in couples, circling waists or holding hands, and moving forward in a large circle. Escort songs are many and varied. The subject matter may be old or very current, or may be pure rhythm without words. The singes usually being these songs after midnight. Navajo
Skip Dance Songs As the dancing continues through the night, the chanters vary the rhythm, and eventually come to "skip" dances. The men and women still dancing in pairs in a circle, and to the changed rhythm, dance in a skipping motion, throwing the feet forward. Navajo
Quitting Songs These songs have a round dance flavor, but proceed into a different phase – the final of the squaw dance. The chanters have told the dancers "It is time to leave off; it is time for the dancing to stop." After the dancers comply, these songs are sung, sometimes until dawn, as long as the singers 'have the voice.' They are, at times, in the nature of competition, as the tiring singers vie to hold out, to reach higher notes. Navajo