(Click here for Albuquerque pics!)
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Because of its closeness to both the western band of Ramah Navajos (at Tó Hajiileeh formerly known as Canőncito), the southern Alamos Navajos (called Diné Náhódlóonii), and the large amount of Navajos from the main reservation who live and work here, Albuquerque still has its impact on Navajos today. Though we probably don't raid it for horses like our ancestors in the past, we still raid its malls, university, etc., because it is the closest city to the Navajo Nation.
Navajo names of the Albuquerque area are:
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Bee'eldíil Dah Sinil
- Translation: "where the bell sits up high" (implying the one at Old Town)
This is the name for the city of Albuquerque.
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Dzi
 Nááyizí
- Translation: the mountain that "moves-around"
The name for the Sandia Mountains, the foot of which Albuquerque lies.
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Kin
 igai
- Translation: "white homes"
The name for Sandia Pueblo, a nearby Native American (non-Navajo) village. This is the home of the Sandia Pueblo Indians.
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Nák'aa't'áhí
- Translation: "white cotton cloth"
The name for "Bosque Farms," a suburb between Isleta Pueblo and Albuquerque.
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Naatoohí
- Translation: the "river enemies"
The name for Isleta Pueblo, a nearby Native American (non-Navajo) village. This is the home of the Isleta Pueblo Indians.
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Kin Noodóóz
- Translation: "striped homes"
The name for a suburb, north of Albuquerque.
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Tooh Ba'áadii
- Translation: the "female-river"
The name for the Rio Grande, the river that runs through Albuquerque. Some people also call this river "Naakai Bitooh," or "Mexican's River."
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Tsé Hane'é
- Translation: the "rocks that tell stories"
This is the name for the nearby Petroglyph National Monument.
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