SW Indigenous. Trade.

Four-string necklace
Photo by VENAYA YAZZIE 2013

The perpetuation of southwestern Indigenous trade is ongoing in the 21st century with many desert peoples. Historically the Pueblo, Navajo, Apache and the Native people of Mexico and the Baha of southern California have traded earth mineral and plant materials with each other via a bartering system.

The Navajo of New Mexico continue this tradition with their Pueblo neighbors including the: Jemez Pueblo, Kewa Pueblo and the communities of Laguna and Acoma. Most likely the trade items including materials used for making jewelry items, but this also includes the trade of food items.

I made this four-strand necklace item (pictured above) after I acquired the abalone shell beads from a tribal member from Walatow (Jemez) Pueblo. I traded some woven goods for a batch of various beads including heishe shell, which I use as "spacer" in making necklaces with turquoise.

I have mixed the turquoise stone with heishe shell beads and squared abalone shell beads in making this item. I was inspired to make this piece after I saw an elder Dine' woman's necklace in Shiprock. Her necklace was more ancient-looking, and more of a mix of mother-of-pearl shell beads.

The materials involved in making this necklace originated in two places. The turquoise developed in the dry, desert lands of the southwest, whereas the abalone shell originated from the ocean region.

The trade involved in this necklace speaks volumes about INDIGENOUS ADORNMENT but most especially INDIGENOUS trade in the southwest.

Blessings.