The Migration Swirl Symbol in Southwestern Native American Culture
The migration swirl symbol, often found at numerous petroglyph sites in the American Southwest, holds significant cultural and historical importance for the Native American tribes in the region. It can also be found in pottery, jewelry, and numerous other forms of Native American art. This symbol has various possible meanings, but it is most widely recognized as representing the circular migration patterns of these tribes as they searched for their destined homes. The migration swirl symbol is a powerful emblem that connects the native tribes of the Southwest to their rich histories, ancestries, and the journey that brought them to today. There are many lenses to understand the origins and migration of a people, including through myth, oral tradition, and archeological evidence. All these pieces, together, encompass the entire migration journey. Below is a brief look at the physical migration of the Hopi and Navajo peoples.
The Hopi Migration Story
The Hopi people derive from the Ancestral Puebloans. They believe that these ancestors originated from the south, in Southern Mexico or even as far as South America. Over many years, they migrated in search of the place where they were destined to settle. According to their beliefs, the Hopi migrated west, north, and east, eventually circling back to discover the three mesas in Northern Arizona that they now call home. The migration swirl symbol serves as a powerful reminder of this long journey towards the pre-destined homeland of the Hopi people.
The Navajo Migration Story
The Navajo Migration Story is the story of the Diné, "The People," as the Navajos call themselves and the migration to their homeland, Dinétah, which means “among the people”.
The Navajo people's ancestors are believed to be the Athabascan peoples in present-day Alaska and western Canada. They migrated south, eventually settling in the Four Corners region (where Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico meet). Through years of cultural adaptation and innovation, economic changes, forced relocation, and a return to a portion of their ancestral lands, the migration swirl symbol is a testament to the complex history and resilience of the Navajo people.
Migration Swirl Ring by Kee Yazzie (Navajo)
Spiritual Meaning
The migration swirl can also represent the less literal journey people take in life, such as the migration between the physical world and the spiritual realm. This is a journey of life spiraling outwards and inwards. It represents the eternal cycle of life.
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