SW Indigenous artisans and "fakes"

Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo) made earrings
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2018
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

New acquisition into my southwestern desert jewelry collection. I purchases this pair of earrings directly from the Indigenous artist this weekend.

These authentic Indigenous Pueblo-made earrings were created in the ancient Pueblo style called "mosiac" design. These earrings include the following desert minerals: turquoise, black jet, and I am not sure of the yellow mineral. They also include mother-of-pearl shell and feature sterling silver findings and hooks.  I was able to talk with the Kewa (Santo Domingo Pueblo) artist about his work before I purchased it, which I feel is vital in buying "real" authentic southwestern Indigenous jewelry.

As I mentioned in a previous post, if it is possible BUY DIRECTLY FROM THE INDIGENOUS (Native American) TRIBAL ARTIST.  By doing this you are ensuring the sovereignty of the Indigenous peoples ways of life, and overall artistic, creative expression.  In today's climate there is far too many fake jewelry pieces in the southwestern jewelry market.  This is particularly true in tourist towns such as: Santa Fe, Gallup, Flagstaff and other towns that border Indigenous / 'Indin' reservation communities who feature authentic "American Indian Jewelry."  Via the American western Anglo-drive trading posts and pawn shops and other so called Native American curio shops, there is fraud. This ill tradition began as early as the late 1900s when Euro-American Anglo people (particularly men) were seeing, or experiencing the southwestern INDIGENOUS ART of New Mexico and Arizona.

Nowdays, non-Indigenous (non-Navajo, non-Pueblo) people are perpetuating THEFT of INDIGENOUS ART.  Non-Indigenous business owners are stealing, copying and re-creating Indigenous peoples designs via jewelry and the Navajo rugs. In many cases they are photographing our art designs and then sending them off to foreign lands such as the Philippines, China, the Middle East and South America for non-Navajo, non-Pueblo artisans to re-create and therefore, make fake copies of our jewelry. All you have to do is walk down the tourist areas of say Santa Fe, NM and see curio shops selling knock-off jewelry items. Many times they are labeled as "authentic Native American made." Don't be deceived, be vigilant and instead ask questions and buy directly from the Indigenous artist when possible.

I share this post as a means of educating the public at large on modern issues we face as Indigenous jewelry artisans in a time of continually colonization.

Blessings.

 (Posted 06-11-18
by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)