The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony / Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1883-84, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1887, pages 379-468

Name: The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony / Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1883-84, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1887, pages 379-468
Author: Washington Matthews

By Washington Matthews

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About This Book

An ethnographic account records a Navajo ceremonial chant, offering the origin myth and a meticulous, day-by-day description of rites performed by shamans, including private medicine-lodge ceremonies and a public final-night program of dances, dramatized acts, dry paintings, sacrifices, and sequence songs. The text documents ritual objects, dance types, and pictorial panels, provides original Navajo texts with translations, and explains orthography and performance context. It emphasizes the ceremony’s healing and communal purposes while detailing choreography, chants, and the material setup that structure the rite.

About the Author

Washington Matthews

Washington Matthews was an American ethnologist and physician known for his significant contributions to the study of Native American cultures, particularly the Navajo people. His work with the Bureau of Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution led to important publications that documented traditional Navajo arts and ceremonies. Notable among his writings are "Navajo Silversmiths" and "The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony," which provide valuable insights into the cultural practices and craftsmanship of the Navajo community. Matthews' research has played a crucial role in preserving the heritage and understanding of Native American traditions.