Far from home, a traveler posted this message on the internet. It was July 1, 2021.

Question

I've made it to my next lookout, overlooking a spot we're calling "Séítah."

Where on Earth is Séítah? No place! It's on the planet Mars. And what about the "traveler" who posted the message? It was a NASA rover called Perseverance. The robot was wheeling its way around, exploring the red planet. It studied rocks and loose dirt on the ground.

Perseverance's first stop was a rock called Máaz. That means "Mars" in Navajo. It's a language spoken by people of the Navajo Nation. The NASA team gave Navajo names to other places the rover found, like Séítah. Why did they choose to use Navajo names? Because the Navajo Nation's lands are in the Southwestern U.S. The ground is red and rocky there. And the spot where the rover first landed on Mars looks a bit like it.

The name of the rover itself is meaningful for the Navajo people, too. Why is that?

Because the Navajo have a long history of perseverance. Like the Mars rover, they once had to find their way in a new land after a hard journey. Long ago, the Navajo lived in what is now Canada. They followed animal herds from place to place. They hunted and gathered food. Between the years 1100 and 1500, they made the long migration south to the Navajo Nation's current lands. There, they adapted to a very different environment. They learned to grow food. And they became known for their beautiful arts, like pottery.

Today, the Navajo Nation is still going strong. It has about 400,000 members. And Navajo is the most spoken Native American language in the U.S.

The Navajo have traveled far. They came from Canada to the American Southwest. Now, with a little help from Ha'ahóni (Perseverance), their language has journeyed even further. It's gone all the way to Mars.

Think about and discuss these questions:

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The Navajo hunted and gathered their food in Canada.
The Perseverance rover landed in a rocky place.
Perseverance is studying loose dirt and rocks.
Navajo words make the best place names for Mars.

Answer 1

These statements and ideas present a fascinating intersection of culture, history, and exploration. Let's break them down one by one:

1. The Navajo hunted and gathered their food in Canada.

   • Discussion: This statement highlights the historical migration of the Navajo people from their origins in Canada to their present lands in the Southwestern U.S. It underscores their traditional lifestyle focused on hunting and gathering, reflecting the adaptability and resilience of the Navajo in changing environments.

2. The Perseverance rover landed in a rocky place.

   • Discussion: This aligns with the rover’s exploration objectives on Mars, where it is studying a rocky terrain similar to that found in some parts of the Southwestern U.S., including Navajo Nation. The rocky landscape is crucial for scientific investigations, such as examining the planet's geology and searching for signs of past life.

3. Perseverance is studying loose dirt and rocks.

   • Discussion: This highlights the rover's mission to analyze the Martian surface. By examining soil and rock samples, Perseverance is collecting valuable data that can provide insights into the planet's history and its potential for supporting life. This scientific exploration reflects humanity’s quest for knowledge beyond Earth.

4. Navajo words make the best place names for Mars.

   • Discussion: The use of Navajo names for locations on Mars is significant as it honors the culture and history of the Navajo people. It emphasizes the connection between various lands and the shared human experience of exploration. This act not only celebrates Native American heritage but also brings cultural representation into the realm of space exploration, creating a meaningful link between Earth and Mars.

Overall, these points reflect the broader themes of resilience, exploration, and cultural connection—both in the history of the Navajo people and in the context of space exploration with the Perseverance rover.