Dine'.Male Historical Adornment

Dine' males. Three generations of Indigenous adornment.
Internet photograph via Google.

This historical photograph showcases desert southwestern INDIGENOUS male ADORNMENT.

The three generations of these picture males are Dine' (Navajo) tribal members who are wearing early 1900s tribal regalia. This era in Navajo history is what many tribal people call Post-Long Walk, the time lived after the forced exodus and incarceration and release of Navajos as prisoners of war in American society.

After the infamous Long Walk the tribal regalia of the Dine' changed tremendously. Before the exodus the Navajo still wore garments made of buckskin and for many women, they wore woven dresses. After the Navajo returned they brought cotton and poly-cotton materials back to their homelands. Among the various European fabric was the inclusion of Velveteen material, which the Navajo women held in high esteem for its shining, vibrant reflection.

This photograph showcases the men wearing cotton pants, including the popular calico cotton fabric which the boy is wearing. They are wearing long-sleeved velvet shirts ADORNED with silver button accents, each is ADORNED in silver concho-inspired belts around their waists and each of the males are wearing the traditional Indigenous foot wear via their moccasins.

Each is wearing traditional head-wear. The elder Dine' man on the left is ADORNED in a Dine' men's war-bonnet or chief-bonnet, which is likely made of buckskin and turkey feathers. The other two men are wearing headbands probably made of cotton fabric.

Also, the two men on the left are ADORNED with traditional Dine' male satchels which is worn on the side of the hip. The satchels are usually made with a thick, cow leather or buckskin and ADORNED with silver buttons.

They are standing upon a Navajo-woven rug made in the design of the era.

Overall, this is a great historical photograph that tells much in its depiction of Navajo male ADORNMENT.

Blessings. 

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.