Voices Rise Against Witchcraft As Warnings From The Past Echo In Navajo Lands

There is a difference between the work of a medicine man and witchcraft according to Navajo teachings. The holy people warned of a time when the teachings and language of the past would be forgotten and evil witchcraft would rise.

The Warning of the Wise: Lessons from the Past

Wally Brown of Navajo Traditional Teachings works to preserve the knowledge handed down by the holy people of the Diné. This is the name the Navajo use for themselves. He describes a story where some of his people were once enslaved.

The Anasazi had the powers of witchcraft and through a game of chance brought some of the Navajo people into subjection. It was a wise medicine man who prayed to the holy people and with their blessing challenged this same Anasazi man to a game.

A Warning from the Past Looks it Might Be Fulfilled

He was able to free all the people who had been enslaved and instructed them to never fall into the same trap again. To avoid evil and never play games of chance. He said if the time came where they embraced witchcraft they would be enslaved by fear.

Brown tells how certain people wanted to bring gambling to Navajo land. Three times the people heeded the warning of the elders and voted it down. He then describes how the tribal council found a way around and brought casinos to the reservation.

This appears to be the time warned about. Brown says these casinos are filled with the Navajo people who lose their money to chance and suffer other negative effects of this vice.

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He describes how the people are filled with fear and how it looks and sounds like the fulfillment of the time described by the holy people.