Haschogan, the Hunchback God
The Navajo Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the United States, is mostly found in the southwestern states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is noted for its rich culture and deep spiritual traditions. This is a Navajo guy wearing the mask of Haschogan, the hunchback god. Petitions were submitted to Haschogan to secure a plentiful crop every year. The moniker “the hunchback” refers to the position of being bent over in a field when spreading seeds. It is thought that Haschogan’s back carries rainbows and mist, which will be unleashed on Navajo fields after the winter. The Navajo, like all other Native Americans, have a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each with unique characteristics and abilities.
Haschogan, The Hunchback God
Buffalo Dance
The Buffalo Dance, also known as the Bison Dance, is a yearly festival that commemorates the buffalo’s return to the northern plains after a long, frigid winter. It is a holy and influential Native American ceremonial dance honoring the buffalo, which represents abundance, strength, and connectedness to the natural world. The dance is performed with the intention of invoking mystical forces to keep the buffalo migration and return cycle intact. One of the first video recordings of Native Americans was made in 1894. The sixteen-second video shows three Sioux men dancing while two others beat drums.
Buffalo Dance
