Who was the religious leader of the Navajos and the Aaches?

Answer 1

For the Navajo their are two main types of religious practitioners. There is no heriarchy or religious establishment of overall leader. Some were seen as good at one ritual other at different ones.

Hataałii -- This translates as singer or chanter. They are sometimes called medicine men

They are similar to priests in many ways. They perform healing and blessing ceremonies often with the aid of assistants and apprentices that many last for four or more days. The rituals must be perform exactly and include prayers, songs, chants, herbs, dance, sandpainting and stories and more all done in the precise prescribed manner. There are about 60 chantway ceremonies and it takes many years to learn one by heart.

The other type is a diagnostician

They use an altered state of consciousness to determine what problem the patient has and thus what chantway ritual they need to become healed and back in balance. Many are women There are three main types but the last is very rare now.

ndilniihii -- a hand trembler

This one it the most common. She blesses her arm with corn pollen and then goes itno a state were she sees images

déest'į́į́' 'ííł'íní----a star or crystal gazers

After the appropriate blessing, often using powder made from lenses of certian birds, they look at the star or moon directly or through a crystal and get images.

íists'ą́ą́' --- listening

Similar to gazing but with hearing. Used powder of badger eardrums. Went outside and listened for natural signs.

For the last 100 years or so the Native American Church (peyote ritual) has also been popular among a large group of Navajo. These ceremonies are led by a Road Chief and take place in a tipi ( from the Plains not a traditional Navajo hogan)

Answer 2

He is called the Shaman!