On Navajoland

At the Navajo veteran cemetery, the United States flag is turned upside down on Kee Lewis grave. The Navajo veterans have not received from the American government the same benefit as the other American veterans did. The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Annie Bonney is 72 years old. She is coming back home for lunch after having spent the first hours of the day herding her sheeps. This has been her daily and only activity since she turned 7. Annie still only speaks the Navajo dialect. The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

The Blackgoat family have build a church at the entrance of their domain. The popularity and the importance of Christianity is still rising on the Navajo reservation. The first attend to convert the Navajo to Christianity came in 1627. Since then the Navajos are referred as the ‘most missionaried people in the world’. The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Ariel Castiano drinks soda by her family old cars. There is no place to trash cars on the reservation so the Navajo just leave them around their homes.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Outside of a trailer a broken car and other old stuff have been left here for years. There is no place to trash this kind of things on the reservation so people just leave what they can't use anymore around their homes or further away on their land and they become part of the landscape.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Front door of a trailer where a single Navajo lives.Poverty and poor sanitary situation are main issues on the reservation.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Annie Bonnie, 72 years old, is herding her sheeps like she has been doing since she was 7.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Angela Willie lives with her three kids in a one bedroom home that she shares with her sister, her boyfriend and their six kids.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Trash is left behind on this part of the reservation called 'bad land'. The soil is made of clay so it is not possible to build or grow anything around here and the trash ends up sinking in this clay soil.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Tony Toledo, 12 years old.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Tony Toledo, 12 years old, is having a walk with his dog on his family land. The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

A domesticated horse is eating on his master's land. As they used to do traditionally, the Navajo take horses to herd sheep. Still, as herding sheep is becoming rare, most of the horses on the land are left wild.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Nicole Toledo is 15 years old. She is the older of six brothers and sisters she has been babysitting while her mother was working. The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Nelson Thompson, 39 years old, herds the sheeps. That has always been his only activity.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Abandoned car, trailer and boat.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Lucy and Paul Thomspon don't know how old they are. They speak very little english . They will spend their last days on the reservation taking care of their land.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Harry Jack is over 80 and lives in his car. He is uncomfortable when he is indoor, he says that he feels the end is coming. "I want to die outdoor, looking at the land, that is why I do not go inside the house anymore".The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Elaine Shelby, 50 years old, is proud to pose in front of her house with her traditional outfit she wears only for very special and rare occasions but that she keeps preciously. Elaine works over 70 hours per weeks in Farmington, the closest city to the part of the reservation where she lives. She drives almost two hours per day to commute to work. She is the Assistant Manager at Furr's, a very popular restaurant. She still finds time to do art craft. Her dream is to one day be able to quit her job and open her own shop.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Tony Toledo plays with his bow. The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Skylar Wolf, 37 years old, is a musician and singer. He was born on the reservation but left it and moved to New York in his 20's. When he returned to the reservation a couple of years ago he found out that most of his relatives had passed away. He often passes by this local cemetery where the members of his family are buried.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Thaddeus Castiano, 5 years old.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Valerie Willie and Darrel Castiano are trying to grow a garden on their land to cultivate some vegetables and fruits. If the cows do not destruct the garden they will be saving money for feeding their six children.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Nelson Thompson is taking his sheeps back home before sunset.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

A Navajo family has butchered earlier that day for a Ndaa (religious ceremony). The kids use the space as a play ground imitating the adults.The Navajo Nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On Navajoland

Neslon Thompson is closing the gate behind the last sheep.The Navajo nation is the biggest Native American reservation in the USA. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland is larger than 10 out of the 50 American states. Today, the Navajo nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. © Myriam Abdelaziz

On navajoland

Today the Navajo are the largest Indian tribe in North America. Navajoland, or Diné Be Keyah, is located within the exterior boundaries of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Nearly 175,000 Navajo are spread across a reservation of 16.2 million acres, an area larger than West Virginia. (Another 100,000 more Navajo live off the reservation.) The vast acreage includes rangelands and forests, irrigated farmlands, lakes, fish and wildlife, as well as substantial reserves of coal, oil and natural gas.

With the median age on the reservation spanning 18 to 24 years, life on the reservation is changing. While most elders speak Navajo, most young people speak English. Across the Navajo Nation, the number of sheep and goats have declined, and with them the rural lifestyle that bound the Navajo to their land. While the Navajo's connection to their land remains strong, it has become more spiritual than actual as many young Navajo moved into towns seeking the wage labor that now fuels the reservation economy. In town, they find easier access to public schools, grocery stores, and social activities. Even the traditional eight-sided hogan, has given way to federally subsidized housing and mobile homes, though modern plywood and lumber hogans are still used for ceremonial and religious purposes. Despite these changes, the Navajo have not abandoned their culture but once again adapted to insure their survival.

On navajoland

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