Book

The journey of Navajo Oshley: an autobiography and life history

Utah State University Press • Logan, Utah • Published In 2000 • Pages:

By: Oshley, Navajo, McPherson, Robert S..

Abstract

This is an autobiography of Navajo Oshley, based on a fourteen taped interviews conducted by Winston Hurst, a graduate student in anthropology at Eastern New Mexico University, and afterwards by his interpreter, Wesley Oshley, Navajo Oshley's son. Ten years later, Bertha Parish transcribed and translated the tapes, a ten-year project in itself, and finally McPherson edited them. The tapes tell the story of a quiet, deeply religious, and conscientious man, who worked as a hired sheepherder. Cured early in his life by a local medicine man, Oshley was a firm believer in Navajo ways. He sought work in the new towns of Bluff and Blanding, Utah. In the beginning he travelled between family and work, but later moved with his family to town. Besides his life on the range, Oshley recounts stories about religious ceremonies, witchcraft, and his gift of divination.

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

North America

Sub Region

Southwest and Basin

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Indigenous Person

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ; 2003

Field Date

1978

Coverage Date

1882-1988

Coverage Place

Four Corners area, southwestern United States

Notes

edited by Robert S. McPherson ; foreword by Barre Toelken

Includes bibliographical references and index

LCCN

00008147

LCSH

Navajo Indians