Mapping Navajo Nation: VICE News Tonight on HBO

Navajo Nation is the largest Native American territory in the country, sprawling across nearly 28,000 square miles and three states. It can be hard to find your way around, and not just because the lands are mostly rural. The majority of homes and businesses in Navajo Nation don’t have addresses.

Navajo Nation is split into 110 chapters, and about 70 of them don’t have street names or numbered addresses, which adds up to at least 50,000 unmarked properties.

“We don’t have fancy roads and streets that go North, East, South, West, in a grid system,” rural addressing supervisor M.C. Baldwin told VICE News correspondent Nellie Bowles. “Our roads are going all over the place.”

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[damienscullytoo]

There is nothing more inspiring than people looking out for their own community. Props.

[pauldmuerto]

Many of us just don’t want to be bothered we just want to live the way we use to that’s why we live out in the middle of nowhere

[TheKidd]

forget the roads, and addresses focus on the WATER

[moejoemr]

20 years finally have a house address on our reservation(OKIB). Shout out to my friend Jim Smily, Navajo Nation

[redpotatoe]

Respect our Navajo Culture, they do part in helping this country in many ways. Respect the people leave them alone, mind your own business... IF YOU WANT TO HELP, THEY NEED HELP WITH CLEANER WATER SOURCES

[featherman]

These people do not want to be found, unless they need help and then its the ambulances fault for not getting there fast enough.

[rowdylavender]

I lived out there on the Rez for 3 years -- roads are fine, no need for road signs...
NAVAJO need WATER First, then ELECTRIC -- the Gods put signs in the Heavens!

[williamkennison]

go out the county road and turn at old man Turner's barn, go passed the 3rd rock until you see the oak tree that got cut down 20 years ago and I'm ¾ of a mile down the road and the 3rd house in the old field. Those were real directions given to a volunteer fire department dispatcher. BTW old man Turner's barn fell in 30 something years after he died.

[ryanderek]

These are my people I love them it’s so sad to see how humble these people are this is what the world misses so badly.. I would love for people of this country to help them with wells being dug and electro magnet generators wind power solar energy and water filters or purification’ machines Amen

[woodstock]

I lived on the Navajo Rez. Even with g p s, you would not find my house for a long long time. You might have to turn left when the g p s says my house is 18 miles to the right.

[galaxy]

Nellie Bowles is trying to drive and hold a phone... ever heard of Bluetooth? Ask a Navajo. 0:27

[brandt]

I can understand why some wouldn't want an address Navajos, we can be difficult people to satisfy especially as a whole

[fiasco]

They should give everyone their gps location coordinates of their homes. That way they can provide that to emergency services if needed to easily find their house.

[joyhenry]

When people ask us Navajos where do you live. Well, you see, you take this road eight miles...

[meanteddybear]

That's my home!!!! I love it hahaha it's fun when people are confused as hell hahaha we just make fun of you a hahaha

[livmontoya]

My Chapter needs to start this... I've been wanting a home address for the longest time, hate to explain where we live at...

[mosichat]

Go waayyy ober dere!(pointing with their lips)

[wolftrapman]

You are more than welcome. Peace and love to all native Americans form Ireland.

[kbee]

"over der *points w lips*" haha love my homeland. Most people on the rez don't really care about directions bc we know where we're going and bc we have PO boxes for most things, and we draw a map to where we live for certain amenities. It that mentality of "we want nice things" but also "this is why we can't have nice things", bc of shot up signs, wooden signs w paint, and that nice things we do have like street lights or signs or roads (thank god if they're paved) are neglected or vandalized. Plus our police force is more or less at 500 for the whole rez.

[rez-ye]

Heh, I remember my house finally getting an address. No matter what people say I’m happy I don’t have to write or explain my full physical address, aka full detailed instructions of where exactly I live.