# NAVAJO RESERVATION DOCUMENTARY NEW MEXICO / ARIZONA SANTA FE RR 46024a

This color film “El Navajo” is an educational documentary presented by Santa Fe Railway. It is a Telefilm Recording (a format popular in 1935-1940, and represented a motion picture created to be shown on television). The Navajo Reservation spans New Mexico and Arizona during this film’s time period. Women in Navajo dress wave at an oncoming Santa Fe train (38), whose Chicago to San Francisco route passes it ( 1:03 ). Views outside the train window see the red desert cliffs ( 1:27 - 1:44 ). On the Navajo Reservation, a plaque for Window Rock states it’s the headquarters for the Office of Indian Affairs. This further dates the movie between 1933-1946 as Harold Ickes is listed as Secretary of Interior ( 1:50 - 1:58 ). Nearby are the St. Michael Mission built in 1902 ( 2:11 ), the Indian Day School ( 2:19 ), the Ganado Mission, which housed a nursing school ( 2:28 ), and Hubbell’s Trading Post built in 1873 ( 2:38 ). Sheep provide resources and income ( 2:48 - 4:02 ). Shearing is shown, including branding with black paint ( 4:03 - 5:54 ). Soap made from the amole plant is used to wash the wool ( 5:57 - 7:25 ). Navajo women card, spin, and dye the wool ( 7:28 - 8:40 ). Hand weaving is done on looms to create beautiful rugs ( 8:41 - 10:14 ). A cow is slaughtered and prepared to eat ( 10:30 - 11:15 ). The hides are stretched; a sheep is skinned ( 11:18 - 11:59 ). The post office also serves as a trading post where bartering occurs ( 12:03 - 14:34 ). The process to make moccasins…

- Kind: Documentary
- Genres: Documentary, Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/46024aElNavajo)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/46024aElNavajo?play=1)