Culture defines the lifestyle of a group of people. Culture defines people; This is what people are. The Navajo Indians are a group located in the southwestern part of the United States with a distinct culture. They originated there between 1200 and 1500 (Craats 4). Unlike the beginning of their residence in the United States, several aspects of the culture have changed, but the Navajo people still remain a culturally rich group of people. To date, their political, economic, social organization and religious beliefs are the main four main elements that make them who they are as a whole. Before establishing the political structure that spoke for the entire Navajo community, a smaller political structure existed among several independent groups of Navajo. “In summary: There was no centralized authority among the Navaho. The political unit was the natural community, defined environmentally” (Hill 28). Because most disputes and conflicts “were locally owned” (Hill 23), a political system was not developed until “oil was discovered on the reservation and the federal government needed an official Navajo body to approve oil leases” (O'Neil ). In 1922, the U.S. government established the Navajo Business Council, the first political structure that spoke on behalf of every single Navajo. Before this modern political structure, a smaller structure existed among the several independent communities of the Navajo people. “Leadership of the community was vested in one or more individuals whose duties involved the direction of internal affairs and warfare” (Hill 24). War leaders were in control of defense operations and were chosen completely “after the ritual was achieved” (Hill 24). These leaders... center of paper... helsea Clubhouse, 2004. 4-17. Print.Downs, James F. "The Navajo." Case Studies in Cultural Anthropology (1972): 95. eHRAF. Network. October 28, 2011. Hamamsy, Laila S. “The Role of Women in a Changing Navajo Society.” American Anthropologist 35 (1957): 102-106. eHRAF. Network. October 24, 2011. Hill, Willard W. "Some Changes in Navaho Culture Over Two Centuries: [with a Translation of the Early 18th-Century Rabal Manuscript]." Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 100 (1940): 23-28. eHRAF. Network. October 23, 2011.O'Neil, Caitlin. "The Ancient Roots of the Navajo". PBS. PBS and Web. October 23, 2011. .Sonneborn, Liz. The Navajo: Native American Stories. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2006. 11-32. Print.Witherspoon, Gary. "Navajo Social Organization." South West (1983): 535. eHRAF. Network. October 24. 2011.