Diné Masání.Adorned.



Dine' elder at local Navajo market.



Most Saturdays I can be found at one of the many local community markets such as the Shiprock Indian Market in Shiprock, New Mexico. Just a couple of those days ago I was at such a market and spotted this lovely Diné elder walking through the market.  She was in full INDIGENOUS ADORNMENT with all her lovely Diné turquoise and silver jewelry.

She is wearing post-Long Walk Diné attire, a velvet-type shirt with collar and a three-tiered gathered skirt. She wears her hair in a bun and is ADORNED with several strings of coral beads as a necklace with a sting of turquoise tied at the end, this is called ja’atłó   This masání is also ADORNED with a large, round silver and turquoise pendant.

I love to see our Diné elders ADORNED in their cultural attire. If you are fortunate to live in a community that has a large INDIGENOUS Native community, such as in the Four-Corners area, you will no doubt see such ADORNMENT practices in your local markets and even at Wal-Mart (the other Gathering of Nations)!!!