Welcome Ranchergal18,

Not sure what your tribal affilication is or where you are, but you're welcome. If you're not up to speed on Navajo history and culture I think you'd be VERY surprised at the power of Navajo women.

Navajo men of yore wore deerskin "skirts" - they weren't pleated so guess they'd be skirts.

I studied Navajo history and culture in grad school and was recruitied up here to the Navajo Nation by the Navajo Nation. Only been here six years...but have seen plenty of times a frail granma "Sani" raised an eyebrow partially and full grown men raced to carry out her unspoken wishes. True matriarchy reigns in this part of the world. A lady came within a few votes of being elected President of the Navajo Nation just a few months ago. A lady is Chief of Police of the Navajo Nation...the second largest Tribe in the U.S. with a huge reservation in three states.

If you understand a certain "Navajo contrariness"...an attitude of still being at war with the "Bilagaana (White people)" It makes more sense.

But hey, I didn't confront her and ask her what was on her mind and she didn't tell me. So, was only left with my own guesses and fears.

We don't do politics on this board and I don't wanna drift there. Just know that Navajo women really are strong and powerful within their reservation and families - I say this culturally, rather than politically.

I do wish she could have met the Navajo man I met the next day, 40 miles down the road, who owned a kilt because his sister brought him home one from Edinborogh.

Ron