Flag of the Navajo Nation facts for kids
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| Use | National flag and ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 10:19 |
| Adopted | 1968 |
| Design | Large Rainbow compassing the Flag, four Mountains one White, Blue, Yellow and Black; Navajo Reservation outline in Copper Orange. |
The flag of the Navajo Nation is the official flag for the Navajo Nation. This is a large area in the Southwest where many Native American people live. It covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
The Navajo Nation adopted its flag on May 21, 1968. This important event took place on the Navajo reservation in the Southwestern United States.
A student named Jay R. Degroat designed the flag. He was from Mariano Lake, New Mexico. His design was chosen from 140 different ideas in a special competition.
The flag also includes parts of the Navajo tribal seal. This seal was created earlier, in 1952, by Amos Frank Singer and John Claw, Jr.
The flag has a light tan or copper background. In the middle, there is a map of the Navajo Nation. This map has a white circle in its center. This circle shows parts of the Navajo tribal seal.
Around the map, you can see four sacred mountains. These mountains are very important in Navajo stories. They are shown in four different colors: black, white, turquoise, and yellow.
A colorful rainbow arch goes over the main design. This rainbow stands for Navajo sovereignty, which means their right to govern themselves. The whole flag looks like a traditional Navajo sand painting. This is a special art form used by the Navajo people.
In 1995, the Navajo flag made history. It became the first Native American tribal flag to travel into space. Astronaut Bernard Harris carried it aboard the space shuttle Discovery.
Images for kids
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A map of the Navajo Nation, with territories in three states, is featured prominently on the nation's flag. The Hopi Reservation is completely surrounded by the Navajo Nation.
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A variant flag of Navajo Nation.
