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    Navajo reality

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    #5 There's an ongoing struggle between traditional and modern values affecting the natives. As kids don't have to attend school, they lack skills that would help them live in larger cities where they face drug and alcohol addiction problems, and are surrounded by well-off tourists thus creating a circle from which it's very difficult to break out. Views[302] #4: The Navajos offer extra services to tourists that are willing to pay for them, such as sleeping in the traditional tents (hogans) overnight. The hogans are traditionally single-sex constructs, men and women were to sleep separately. Tourists are only allowed to spend the night in the women's hogan, which looks different from men's. The latter is sacred and only 'true warriors of the tribe' may sleep there. Views[631] #3: Again, due to legal and historical reasons they have their own legislation and US laws don't apply to them, meaning certain rules that come as natural to a 'Western' tourist don't apply. The boy on the photo was out of school, playing with a toy gun, yet wearing jeans and t-shirt, suggesting that his family actually spent their money on 'American' things rather than investing into their store. Views[256] #2: Their efforts to capitalise on tourism are often disorganised and seem to lack strategy. In essence, while placed in mostly frequented areas, most of these shops are made of the most basic materials (wood), sell the same items and draw very little traffic altogether. Many of them are actually closed and abandoned. Views[233] #1: Monument Valley, artistically portrayed on the sign in above the faux-leather couch on the photo is commonly known after its appearances in cigarette ads and the Forrest Gump film is in the heart of the Navajo Nation reservation. Due to the peculiarities of the legal framework and history, the Navajos in the area try to make a living out of tourism. Views[208]
     

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