Dine' (Navajo) made turquoise cluster earrings

Dine' (Navajo) made turquoise cluster earrings
Photo credit: Venaya Yazzie 2018
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Pretty much all my life, I've been in the company of the revered southwest Indigenous gem: turquoise. Whether it is in its raw, unprocessed form or made into a modern Dine' jewelry piece, turquoise is the center of our Indigenous universe.  For thousands of years the Dine', the Pueblo and Apache have had turquoise within their narrative. In 2018 this mainstay is still at the center of many people's life.

Though mainstream American culture has adopted the personal adornment use of turquoise and have made it infamously trendy, turquoise use in North America is rooted withing the community of southwest Indigenous tribes.  It has origins in many of our Indigenous creation stories and stand as a type of amulet that perpetuates protection of self and spirit. But, I should also express that this mineral has also been used in the past by other global cultures including the people of Tibet and the royalty in ancient Egypt.

I share this image as a means of showcasing contemporary designs of modern Dine' silversmiths. I acquired this pair of Dine' turquoise cluster earrings one year at the annual Northern Navajo Nation Fair in Shiprock, New Mexico, USA.  For me the best way to buy such Dine'-made jewelry pieces is directly from the maker. So I must express that these were purchased by a Dine' artist who was walking, vending down the parade route in Shiprock.

I wanted to share this too because I hope you learned a little more about the use of turquoise. It is a valued mineral for more than just its monetary value, and its more about the spiritual and origin.

Bless.

Posted by Venaya Yazzie 

7/31/18

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2018