Navajo lifestyle
“Sustain Your Teachings”
carding and spinning wool
card the wool is the first process of rug weaving. the wool comes from our own flock of sheep. after it is cleaned and dried in the sun, using a hand carder, the wool is carded so that the fibers go in one direction. this is an easy process to learn.
rug weaving (diyogí)
Bessie Black Jones is my grandmother, (pictured below). She spent most of her lifetime weaving and sold her weaving to the local trading post.
Loom and tools
most weaving tools are passed down from our grandmothers to our mothers and to their daughters.
the tools for weaving:
Dah iistł’ó (loom)
Bee ha’ nilchaadí (carder)
Bee adizí (spindle)
Bee adzoo’í (comb)
Bee ak’iniltłish (batten)
Sheep herding (na’niłkaadí)
sheep (dibé)
Most Navajo have a large flock of sheep, so a large grazing area is necessary. Navajo churro sheep is preferred because they produce the best quality of wool that is needed for rug weaving.
dog (Łééchaa’í)
Our faithful sheep dogs love taking the flock out to graze. while the sheep go from one bush to another, the dogs will play a game of dog tag, chasing each other and wrestling. when one sees a possible rabbit and yelps out, they all become alert, ready to chase the elusive rabbit.
sleeping in a hogan
“it is like being reborn from mother earth’s womb.”
— Rose J Yazzie
