NAVAJO GIRLS ARE JOINED BY RELATIVES AS SHE TAKES A RUN DURING HER PUBERTY INITIATION TO ENSURE THAT A WOMAN WILL REMAIN LIMBER AND VIGOROUS THROUGHOUT HER ADULTHOOD. SHE BEGINS AND ENDS AT A HOGAN AND SHE MUST NOT FALL DOWN. THE GIRLS GRIND CORN AND HAVE OTHER DUTIES SO THEY WOULDN'T BE LAZY. FASTING OR EATING A RESTRICTED DIET DETERRED THEM FROM SELFISHNESS. DURING HER FIRST MENSES SHE WENT INTO SECLUSION. LAUGHTER WAS FROWNED UPON DURING THIS TIME. IF SHE TREATED CHILDREN UNKINDLY SHE COULD BE CERTAIN THAT SHE WOULD BE A BAD MOTHER.
THE PUBERTY CEREMONY WAS CALLED KINAALDA AND LASTED FOUR DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY BASED UPON ACTIVITIES OF CHANGING WOMAN, THE DAUGHTER OF FIRST MAN AND WOMAN. THE WOMEN PREPARE A DEEP EARTHEN OVEN TO BAKE CORN BREAD OVERNIGHT. THESE CAKES ARE AN OFFERING TO THE SUN. SIMILAR TO THE APACHES, THE MOTHER OF THE GIRL MASSAGES HER BODY INTO A PERFORM FORM. THIS RITUAL SHAPES THE GIRL 'S PERSONALITY TOO. THE GIRL IS REQUIRED TO STAY AWAKE UNTIL AT THE THIRD NIGHT OF THE CEREMONY. SHE LISTENS TO MEN SING SONGS THAT GIVE HER SPIRITUAL GUARDIANS.
SOCIETIES OF ELDERS
MOST SERVED AS A MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL. WARRIOR SOCIETIES HAD RITES, A MEETING PLACE AND REGALIA. IN THE PLAINS SOCIETIES THERE WERE MILITARY SOCIETIES. WARRIOR SOCIETIES, KIT FOX SOCIETIES, THE BRAVE HEARTS, AND MANY RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
WOMEN HAD SOCIETIES AS WELL FOR CEREONIAL LIFE. MANDAN WOMEN HAD RITUALS THAT COULD ATTRACT BUFFALO. ELDERS REMAINED USEFUL LONG INTO OLD GE MAKING BASKETS, POTTERY, HELPING WITH CHILDREN, COOKING AND GARDENING.
VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA
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