Journal

Zia Pueblo sits on the Jemez River, some thirty miles north of Albuquerque. The roots of this long-standing community run deep into the land around it, and the symbol of its people’s spiritual beliefs extend far across the state of New Mexico through the Zia Sun symbol. The state began using the Zia symbol on […]
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There’s a saying that words have power. Often, however, words lose that power or have it corrupted by a lack of understanding of their true meaning. One such word is “sovereignty”. When it comes to the meaning and the practice of the concept of sovereignty for Native American tribes in the United States, there can […]
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The Beauty of Cluster Jewelry
Though he admits he finds it a “little bit nerve-wracking”, Eric Joe loves creating pieces of handcrafted jewelry in the cluster style. He says “it’s just so pretty”.  And it is indeed that. This style has a longstanding role in the world of Native American jewelry and rightly so. What is it? The name refers […]
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Writing history can often mean righting the story told for many years. Such is the purpose behind Indigenous Peoples Day. The recently proclaimed holiday is celebrated on the second Monday in October. It was meant to provide a more accurate lens through which to see the history of the Americas and the interactions of colonialism, oppression, and the genocide of Indigenous people...

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Native American jewelry is known for its patterns, symbols, and materials. The traditional skills used in crafting each piece are a reflection of cultural and historical connections which continue into the world of today. This is especially true of materials that reflect the larger community of an ancient people.

Many make the mistake of believing that the ancient world...

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