Happiness in Navajos (Diné Ba’ Hózhó)

Abstract

It is impossible to know the full extent of Navajo social wellbeing prior to European contact. Today there are challenges with referring to tribal-specific statistics because they tend to be rare. However, there is evidence that wellbeing presents a complicated picture. For example, a negative indicator, diabetes has increased among Navajos. "Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, only six decades ago a rare phenomenon among the Navajo Indians, has become increasingly common in this population". Yet, this decline in wellbeing is attributed to nutritional changes that occurred as a result of shifting from more wholesome indigenous fare to commodity foods (white flour, shortening and salt) that are low in nutritional value and high in caloric value. The increase in diabetes is also thought to be due to increases in Navajo life expectancy; as a population ages, increases in chronic health conditions likewise occur. Navajo longevity has been on the rise, particularly since the 1960s, and the population had demonstrated significant growth since its low point in 1680. In the centuries since first contact with Europeans, mainstream American culture has impacted the Navajo way of life and society. Even so, a distinctive Navajo culture persists and thrives. Happiness among Navajos is quite varied. To those Navajos fully assimilated into mainstream American culture, their happiness will be more like mainstream notions of happiness, probably more hedonistic, material-and religion-based. However, to those Navajos more culturally attached to the traditional Navajo Ways, their happiness will more likely hinge on the lived practice and philosophy of walking in happiness or walking in beauty (Hozho Nashaadoo or Nizhonigoo Nashaadoo). In between these are those Navajos more bicultural or multicultural, who combine mainstream conceptions of happiness with traditional Navajo ways. This chapter focuses on the salient conceptions of happiness anchored in more traditional Navajo culture. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)