Journal
The Navajo lands, which they call, “Dine Bikeyah.” Four Sacred Mountains (San Francisco Peaks, Mount Blanca, Mount Taylor, and La Plata Mountain) approximately delimited the sacred land. The Navajo Tribe live in close proximity to other groups who also came to the southwest and brought with them their ancestral language of the Athabaskan family: the Na-Dené […]
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Throughout the arid world, native and aboriginal peoples held turquoise in high regard for spiritual reasons. Ancient Egyptians entombed their Pharaohs with turquoise-studded jewelry, and the Persians associated the mineral with victory and holiness. Traditional Native Americans, including the Aztecs and Mayas to the South, associate it with communication with spirits, good fortune, and healing. […]
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The development of the designs and colors found in historic Navajo weavings is a part of the tale of the people themselves. To understand why certain designs took hold, and what colors and patterns developed and where, one must look to the changes which took place when the proud Navajo became the wards of the […]
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Sheep is life. Three simple words to convey a history of cultural connections. To the traditional Navajo, these words reveal the hardships and triumphs of their past. That history can be found in the beauty of their weavings. Through them, we can understand more about how Navajo culture developed and how it is faring in […]
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The history of many gemstones reveals they were often one of the earliest forms of wealth in many prehistoric societies. Turquoise is an excellent example of how such stones can become not only prized possessions, but a window into past cultures. Archaeologists today are looking at the remnants of those early civilizations and piecing together […]
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