Community and Belonging

Where it surfaces

• I

  The dance gathering, shared meals, and racing create a strong sense of community among the Navajos.

• III

  Laughing Boy experiences a deep sense of unity and joy dancing with the community, though he feels a moment of loneliness at dawn.

• I

  The gathering at the box canyon shows communal activities, betting, and social bonding among the Navajo.

• II

  The gathering at Tsé Lani emphasizes communal bonds through shared meals, gossip, and trade.

• I

  The crowd's collective reaction to the shooting and the headman's speech emphasize community cohesion and the shared desire to avoid conflict.

• II

  The festive gathering, races, and interactions among Navajo men and women emphasize communal bonds and shared traditions.

• III

  The race is a communal event where Laughing Boy competes among his people, yet feels a private sense of destiny with Slim Girl.

• II

  Slim Girl joins distant relatives for a meal, participating in communal activities despite feeling apart, highlighting themes of belonging and alienation.

• II

  Laughing Boy's pride in his role and his desire to impress The Doer highlight the importance of communal reputation and belonging within Navajo society.

• II

  Slim Girl fears she is 'not a Navajo' and worries about being accepted, but Laughing Boy's support helps her feel connected.

• I

  Laughing Boy feels apart from his people due to his marriage; he sits 'on the edge of their domestic discussions.'

• III

  Laughing Boy feels a renewed sense of belonging as he contemplates attending the dance and re-engaging with his people's communal and spiritual life.

• I

  The visit to T'o Tlakai forces Slim Girl to confront her outsider status and her longing for a place where she truly belongs.

• III

  Slim Girl feels isolated and opposed to the entire community at T'o Tlakai, questioning her place and ability to belong.

• I

  Laughing Boy navigates the complex dynamics of family and clan acceptance as he introduces his wife.

• III

  Slim Girl works with her sisters-in-law, who accept her as a protégée, and she begins to feel the atmosphere of hozoji, though she remains partly detached.

• V

  The council debates whether Laughing Boy and Slim Girl belong within the Navajo community, emphasizing the importance of clan and family ties.

• I

  The camaraderie among the Navajo group, including shared jokes and bets, reinforces their sense of community.

• I

  The hospitality of the family from Chiziai, who take in the stranded couple, underscores the importance of communal support.

• II

  The storm-bound gathering and myth-telling reinforce community bonds, yet Laughing Boy feels out of place, longing for his own home with Slim Girl.

• III

  The couple's home is described as a 'house of happiness,' reflecting their sense of belonging and completion in their domestic space.

• I

  Slim Girl seeks acceptance among the Southern Navajos, undergoing initiation and adopting Navajo trappings to feel part of the community.

• XVI

  Slim Girl's acceptance by Laughing Boy's family and their return home highlight themes of community and belonging.

• I

  Laughing Boy's changed name and distance from his family highlight his ambiguous belonging; Jesting Squaw's Son seeks comfort from a friend, underscoring the importance of community bonds.

• II

  The visit from Jesting Squaw's Son brings a sense of community, but his departure underscores the couple's isolation and the question of where they truly belong.

• II

  The couple's journey to establish a new home together reflects their desire to build a shared life and place of belonging.

• III

  Slim Girl's desire to die as a Navajo and be buried among her People underscores her search for belonging.

• II

  Laughing Boy seeks the comfort of his people and the ceremony, feeling isolated until he rejoins the community.

• III

  Laughing Boy sits among friendly strangers, feeling part of the communal prayer and continuity of his people's traditions.