Where did the Navajo traditionally live in relation to Hopi lands?

The Navajo people traditionally settled in the American Southwest near the Pueblo peoples, including the Hopi, after migrating to the region from Canada between 1100 and 1500 CE.1

Historically, the two groups have maintained close, albeit complex, interactions. During the 18th century, some Hopi members left their mesas due to environmental hardships like drought and famine to join the Navajo, particularly in Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona. Over time, these geographic and cultural contacts led to significant exchanges, with the Navajo adopting various practices from their neighbors, such as weaving and the use of painted pottery.1

In the modern era, the proximity of these groups has also been marked by long-standing land disputes between the Hopi and the neighboring Navajo. Today, the Navajo Nation Reservation remains a vast territory spanning parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, while the Hopi reservation is situated in northeastern Arizona.21