UNRAVELING THE ANCHORING CORD - NAVAJO RELOCATION, 1974 TO 1996

The Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act slated 10,000 Navajo for relocatio n off land partitioned to the Hopi. In the Navajo philosophical system , such forced relocation constitutes a breach of personhood; it ruptur es relocatees' inalienable connections to their matrilineal homes, act uated through burial of their umbilical cords and other acts. Owing to the reciprocal nature of relations between the Navajo and the earth, the long-term debilitating effects are far-reaching. The well-being of Mother Earth is just as dependent on the care of those given stewards hip over particular locales as Navajo are on the continuing nurturance of their mother, the earth.