What were the subgroups of the Navajo Indians?

Answer 1

There weren't any sub-groups as such in the way you are asking. Leadership was not nor is inherited and leadership was just based of personal charisma and perhaps wealth in sheep or influence do to ritual knowledge.. Groups were just family and clan based. There were not area subgroups. Clans were always mixing as you can't marry anyone in your clan.

There are about 60 Navajo clans. They are said to come from four original clans created by Changing Woman. They are:

Kinyaa'aanii- The Towering House Clan,

Honaghaahnii -One-walks-around clan,

Todich'ii'nii - Bitter Water clan,

and Hasht l'ishnii -Mud clan.

You inherit your clan from your mother. You are "born for" your father's. You can't marry anyone in any of the four ones of your grandparent's clans. It is incest.

Politically today most Navajo are part of the large Navajo Nation which is in AZ, UT and NM. Some belong to the Ramah resevation in NM near Zuni. Other's are Alamo and Tohajiilee, also in NM. These are also part of the Navajo nation. It is is 27,000 square miles. There are 300,048 members. 58 % live on the Navajo Nation. Others live all over the country. It is divided into 5 "Agencys" and 110 "Chapters". Chapters are legislative districts sort of like counties.