Ring.connection to Masani.

Heirloom Silve and Turquiose ring.
Photo by Venay Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I was fortunate to have my great-grandmother in my live until I was 18 years old. I was a Senior in high school when my Masani' left this earth. I always remember that last day I spent in her presence, her face and our conversation is as clear and vibrant as if were yesterday, its my medicine that keeps me living a good life.

When she left, I was given two of her personal items. One was her Pendelton shawl blanket and the other was this beautiful silver and turquoise ring.

I have treasured this ring and wear it often. This ring is a connection I have with a great past of beautiful Dine' Matriarchs of the Many Hogans clan, this ring is my grandmother's laughter and love.

blessings.

BlueBird.Handbags by Venaya VJ Yazzie.Dine.

BlueBird Handbag made by Venaya Yazzie

Blue Bird Handbag made by Venaya Yazzie

Blue Bird Handbag made by Venaya Yazzie

Kewa Earrings.



Pueblo-style Earrings.
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2013

 One of the treasures I found during the annual Navajo Fair was at the Indian Market.

These are the earrings I purchased directly from the maker, a Kewa Pueblo man from Santo Domingo, New Mexico. He called this style of work, mosaic. There are three different types of stones presented here, one of them being turquoise.

Such amazing work...!

Blessings

Southwest Beauties.



Turquoise necklaces from Kewa Pueblo, NM @ Shiprock, NM
Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2013

 I am fortunate to have roots in the desert Southwest. I am happy about my land and my People, the Dine' and Hopi people. This weekend I was very glad to be amidst the celebration of fall harvest during the annual Dine' Nation Northern Fair in Shiprock, New Mexico on the Navajo reservation.

This fair takes place accordingly in October, which is the New Year's beginnings for the Navajo people, and when the Dine' harvest is in full effect! Indigenous farmers are reeping and sharing their crops with the community via the community Farmer's Markets and along the roadside. The great thing about the crops is that they are GMO-Free products! Many Dine' people still farm using traditional Indigenous farmingon techniques which includes using 100% organic soil and family-heirloom seeds, truly a strong and sovereign food source.

Among the many varities of melons, squash, corn and other organic vegetables, is tuquoise in its many forms. Necklaces, earrings, pins, bracelets, rings, hat bands and buckles are scattered throughout the fair community. This includes jewerly made by the Navajo and Pueblo people of the region.

This photograph I took was made by jewelers from Kewa Pueblo of New Mexico. The necklaces showcase the variety of turquoise made ADORNMENTS. The use of raw chunk turquoise stones to stabilized, formed turquoise are evident and also the use of shell varieties.

The annual Northern Navajo Shiprock Fair is the beginning of the Dine' cultural calendar. It is a blessing in its many form because it truly bring the community of many cultures of the area together.

Many Blessings!

Happy Bday.Shima'.



Photo by Venaya Yazzie 2013
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


The month of American society's September is the uneventful ninth month of the year, but for the Dine' it is a month of many cultural events including the most important activity of harvest. And too, it is a most important time for my family as we have more than seven birthdays in it.

For the Dine' this month concerns everything about crop harvest. It is what we call,
Bini'ant'aatsoh, or Large Harvest as it is related to the arrival of the Harvest Moon.

Everyday I feel so very blessed to have my maternal 'shi'/Masani' in my life. Everyday I am fortunate to see Dine' ADORNMENT perpetuated in the 21st century. She wears turquoise faithfully, it is her ritual, it is her lifeway and I try everyday to reflect such a matriarch.

To my family I express: Baa Hozhogo Nii Deseschii. Happy Birthday! esp. Masani./Shima'.

Dine' Concho Belt.history.




Navajo Leather Turquoise Concho Belt by J. Williams

 
This Navajo made belt is grand in its complex-simplicity. The basic design concerns a circular motif in the concho-style. The Dine' (Navajo) people have become world reknown as the master of silversmithing design, method and technique and this belt showcases such brilliance.

The Dine' have been creating concho belts since the earliest days of the initial introduction to metal work, and in its early creation the concho belt was purely Dine'. The major inspiration for them in the design of the belt was from their first views of the Spanish silver via the armor used on their person and their horses.

Unlike the Dine', the Spaniard conquistadors would ADORN their horses with silver-work on their bridles and body pieces.

As the Dine' became more skilled at the technique of making jewelry pieces the concho belt was born out of the arid desert lands. First, the belts were simple in silver, then would come the stamp designs and curves. Among the many oral histories of the Dine', it is said that the first group to actually add tuquoise to the belt was the neighboring Zuni people.

Whoever made it first, the conch belt ADORNED with turquoise continues to shine in the southwest and perpetuaally make a grand statement.

Blessings.








Silver Adornment. Pins.



SWAIA Fashion Show participant.
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2013



1940s ERA. Navajo Outfit.



SWAIA Fashion Show participant in Santa Fe, NM
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2013

 I captured this images during the SWAIA Indigenous Fashion Show in August 2013. This Navajo child was participating in the Children's Traditional Clothing Fashion Show.

Here we see the full outfit which includes a five-tiered gathering skirt and collared blouse made in some type of velvet material. The designer, which they announced was the child's grandmother, used rick rack trim to re-create that uniquely NAVAJO design made popular in the 1940s era of the southwest. Her outfit is finished with a woven wool sash belt, silver concho belt and traditional Navajo hair ADORNMENT.