How does Chee live according to Navaho tradition?

According to the Navaho tradition, “female children belong to their mothers’ people.” Chee’s parents-in-law take away his daughter after his wife’s death even though they themselves are not strict followers of the customs—as Chee says, “their Hogan does not even face the East as is dictated by customs.” His family members urge him to respect the decision of his parents-in-law for peace’s sake. Chee, however, is unable to let the matter rest. After losing his wife, he feels like his daughter, the Little One, embodies all the memories he has of his wife: He tells his family members that “it is not as bad as it might be. It is not as though we are left with nothing.” Therefore, he follows after the Little One, hoping to come to an agreement with his parents-in-law on a shared custody.
However, his parents-in-law do not want to talk about anything to do with the raising of their granddaughter. They despise Chee and his family for being simple farmers and do not want their granddaughter raised up in Chee’s family. Chee is forced to leave his daughter behind in their care, but only until he can come up with a plan to take away the Little One. In this regard, Chee does respect the customs. He accepts the decision of his parents-in-law to live with his daughter. Towards the end of the story, he manages to convince them to give back his daughter to live with him.
Chee has tried to live by the customs of his people much of his life. When he first married his wife, he agreed to live with her among her people, as was required by the customs.