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| Modern Indigenous Adornment items Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
The continual use of southwestern cultural jewelry via turquoise and silver and other woven garments is a pure form of R E S I L I E N C E by contemporary tribal people. Including myself and my family, other of these people include: Navajo, Pueblo, Apache, Zuni and other low and high desert Indigenous Peoples of NM, AZ and UT.
First of all, happy June to all! To those who are reading this Indigenous Adornment blog I was given the Venaya Yazzie (Navajo/ Hopi) from my mother and my late father. And, I was born and raised in the Americas in the area of northwest New Mexico. Born on the sovereign Navajo Nation I was raised off and on the eastern region of the great Navajo reservation. I was raised up by my maternal grandparents who are of the Manyhogans and Two Waters Flow Together clans and have my Hopi family ties to First Mesa in AZ.
I began this Indigenous Adornment blog with the hope of sharing my culture(s) with those who visit this site. And therefore, I contribute work that I hope acts as a way of creating 'community.' The perpetuation of Indigenous knowledge and in the education-share of the First-Footprint People of the Americas I always want to ensure all areas I cover are correct and true. This posting concerns the resiliency of my tribal people via their personal 'adornment' practices. From the American fashion garments to handcrafted and made Navajo and Pueblo sterling silver jewelry, the 21st century Indigenous person is steadfast in a proud identity.
One sure thing is that I am daily amidst my desert woman matriarchs, which includes my maternal grandmother, shi' masani, other female family members. And therefore, I am able to witness their diverse expressions of Indigenous Adornment, so I am daily enriched and inspired by such' adornment' practices. Most all of the cultural jewelry items worn and owned by tribal people such as the Navajo, concerns heirloom items such as turquoise and silver necklaces and bracelets. So, when a modern young Navajo, who adores modern fashions such as skinny jeans and denim floral jackets, pairs them with a beautiful Navajo Squash Blossom, a 'Neo Navajo' look is born! Personally I like to pair a basic black Converse with a more traditional-style of Navajo woman's three-tiered skirt. Other times I like to where a Russian floral trade scarf with a cute leather jacket. The point is a that modern Indigenous people are strong as ever in their tribal identities. Though this post concerns 'adornment' or even 'fashion' it is true we have adapted to the Euro-American way of life in many ways. And it is true too, that through the many years of American colonization, many of us have overcome terrible hardships and trials and now in 2018 we survive and thrive.
What I am expressing is that we will always hold our tribal traditions close to our spirit(s) and with this in mind, we can still adapt to new ways and in the end we are resilient and strong and look forward to our futures.
I began this Indigenous Adornment blog with the hope of sharing my culture(s) with those who visit this site. And therefore, I contribute work that I hope acts as a way of creating 'community.' The perpetuation of Indigenous knowledge and in the education-share of the First-Footprint People of the Americas I always want to ensure all areas I cover are correct and true. This posting concerns the resiliency of my tribal people via their personal 'adornment' practices. From the American fashion garments to handcrafted and made Navajo and Pueblo sterling silver jewelry, the 21st century Indigenous person is steadfast in a proud identity.
One sure thing is that I am daily amidst my desert woman matriarchs, which includes my maternal grandmother, shi' masani, other female family members. And therefore, I am able to witness their diverse expressions of Indigenous Adornment, so I am daily enriched and inspired by such' adornment' practices. Most all of the cultural jewelry items worn and owned by tribal people such as the Navajo, concerns heirloom items such as turquoise and silver necklaces and bracelets. So, when a modern young Navajo, who adores modern fashions such as skinny jeans and denim floral jackets, pairs them with a beautiful Navajo Squash Blossom, a 'Neo Navajo' look is born! Personally I like to pair a basic black Converse with a more traditional-style of Navajo woman's three-tiered skirt. Other times I like to where a Russian floral trade scarf with a cute leather jacket. The point is a that modern Indigenous people are strong as ever in their tribal identities. Though this post concerns 'adornment' or even 'fashion' it is true we have adapted to the Euro-American way of life in many ways. And it is true too, that through the many years of American colonization, many of us have overcome terrible hardships and trials and now in 2018 we survive and thrive.
What I am expressing is that we will always hold our tribal traditions close to our spirit(s) and with this in mind, we can still adapt to new ways and in the end we are resilient and strong and look forward to our futures.
Posted on 06-05-18
by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
