Here’s The Surprising Reason Navajo Women Are Given Strong Warrior Names

Wally Brown teaches Navajo beliefs and shares why women have been given warrior names in their tradition. He says it has to do with the belief that females fought the evil one in the second world and came to the third world with this legacy. 

The Holy People Taught Women Have Great Glory 

“Women are given special types of glory even before they came into this life,” said Brown. He discusses the four worlds important to their tradition. He says in the second world, there was one named Black Yei that wanted to take power. 

According to Brown, the holy people taught that most of the men listened to Black Yei, but all the females opposed him. No women would follow him. Because of this teaching, Navajo people give their female children warrior names. 

Women Were Given Intuition and the Abilities of the Holy People 

Because of their opposition in the second world, the evil one goes after women in the third world. “That is why they are subjected by the evil one with so many of the different experiences in life that cause them such great pain,” said Brown. 

They were also given great gifts and glory for following the holy people. They receive this understanding when they come of age and Brown notes that he had this teaching, reserved for females, taught to him by women willing to share it. 

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The warrior name given to Navajo women is to remind them of who they are. They have been given a greater understanding as a gift whereas male members have to earn this knowledge. This is what Brown says the elders taught.