The Diné Against Spanish and American Expansion

A Southwestern Story of Ingenuity and Adaptation.

Abstract

Through a concise historical narration of the exposure of the Diné to the arrival of the Spanish, the latter’s attempts to undermine Navajo sovereignty, and finally the American expansion into Dinétah, I argue that the Diné showed great attachment to their traditional land and way of life, pushing them to resort to ingenuous strategies in order to retain what was being stolen from them, until the Navajo eventually came out as the main Indigenous player in the Southwest. I begin with an account of the early encounters with the Spanish, comparing Diné lifestyle before and after the arrival of the European settlers. Then, the notion of Navajo sovereignty is discussed: after replacing the concept in the particular Diné context, I show how, in different areas, the Navajo were successful or not at remaining sovereign. Finally, I analyze the impact of American expansion on the Navajo.