Dine' and Tibetan, the Turquoise Parallels

Tibetan Woman
Photo credit: Instagram via TibetPortraits Lhasa
By Brant Knutzen(2003) 2018

Of the plethora of parallels that exist among the Tibetan people and the Dine', the most notable concerns personal adornment practice, or as I express "Indigenous Adornment." This blog entry concerns those existing similarities, especially when it comes to female personal adornment.

Originating from the high-desert community of northwest New Mexico, and being a woman, I have lived and experienced the expression of southwest Indigenous Adornment. Growing up I always seen my maternal clan matriarchs cultural adornment steadfast with turquoise.  The gem turquoise has been a mainstay for the Dine' and Pueblo people of New Mexico and also the Apache and Hopi nations of Arizona.  For among the Dine', the turquoise is believed to be a positive amulet that brings safety and continual protection, mentally, spiritually and physically for the wearer. 

Doing my research in the area of Indigenous Adornment in the "americas" and in the Tibetan cultural, the fact is that we both share the same reverence for turquoise. The main difference being that the Tibetan people prefer to wear raw, unprocessed turquoise, while among the Dine' wearing turquoise in various forms of processing does not matter much. Instead, many Dine' wear and use turquoise as a means of symbolically perpetuating: balance, harmony, protection.

Also on her person is her coral necklace pieces and also the one coral piece on her headdress. Again the Navajo use coral as a major part of their southwestern adornment efforts.

I share the image above as an example of how the modern Tibetan female wears turquoise on her person. It seems that a favorite way of 'adornment' in Tibetan culture has the individual affixing turquoise directly to their hair, something that I have not seen Navajo people do.

#IndigenousAdornment

This photo capture by Brant Knutzen via Instagram is one of many outstanding images of the Indigenous people in Tibet.

(posted 7-1-18/ edited 7/6/18

  by Venaya Yazzie

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)