When a modern Indigenous person wears their cultural/traditional jewelry items, they in essence are walking or existing in a sacred manner.
Ever since I was a young girl, I always seen my desert matriarchs 'adorn' in their silver and turquoise items which usually included bracelets, rings, and strung beads around their neck. I carry this memory with me, it has soaked into the marrow of my desert bones - and for this I know I am a blessed being.
Today as a contemporary Indigenous woman, I make opportunities to be working within the area of the Arts and especially in the southwest cultural realm. And when I do so I make sure to wear my best items to not only represent myself, but also to honor and respect the ways of my ancestors.
Wearing turquoise or other southwest desert adornments is not a fad, it has never been for me. Adorning oneself with such items asks for great respect. I respect the items I have, I 'feed' them and talk to them. My cultural teaching are real and great meaning, and for this I have much reverence for them.
For the Dine', the turquoise stone is so much more that just a blue mineral. The stone is about healing, its about strength, its about protection of spirit. Turquoise has a big and beautiful, and a sacred story behind it. If you don't know this then I say, ask yourself if you should even be wearing it.
Bless.
