Navajo Tradition – A Celebration of 100 Years

On June 20, 2009, Toadlena Trading Post celebrates its 100 year anniversary with an event that honors the weavers and community.  Wes Studi, well known Native American actor, is providing emcee duties with other entertainment and food for approximately 1,000 expected attendees. 

Over the past 100 years America has seen tremendous change and progress.   In the first decade of the twentieth century, America was reinventing itself.  The Wright brothers had taken their first flight, the automobile was becoming part of everyday life, and consumerism had taken off. The railroad could now bring trade goods across the continent.   As a territory, New Mexico was on the verge of statehood.  It joined the union as the 47th state in 1912.

Change comes at a much slower pace to the Navajo Nation. Navajos were still re-establishing themselves after signing the treaty and the Long Walk home in 1868. During the four years of captivity they were introduced to new foods and became quite innovative and dependent in their use, which continued after they returned home.  Thus, traders provided a welcomed source for these supplies, such as coffee, flour, potatoes, sugar, salt, and other needs.  Also during captivity, Navajos, already known for their craft, spent time weaving out of necessity.  They had been given cheap blankets that they patiently unraveled and rewove into warm blankets. 

According to Navajo mythology, Spider Woman, one of the most important Navajo deities who is said to live in Canyon de Chelly on Spider Rock, taught the Navajos to weave on a loom.

 

According to history, sheep came to the Navajo from the Spanish, loom techniques were learned from the Pueblos and then Navajos created their own innovative weaving styles to master and make their own. 

 

The traders encouraged the Navajo weavers to perfect their craft.  In 1909, a trading post was established in Toadlena at the base of the Chuska Mountains on the eastern edge of the Navajo reservation.   Unlike other weavers who created colors by dying their wool, the weavers of Toadlena preferred to use natural colors. Sheep were, and still are, bred for their rich colored wool – black, white, brown and everything in between. The wool also changes colors during different ages of the sheep providing even more variety.  Their style is specific to the area. 

The Toadlena Two Grey Hills style, as it is known, typically has hand sheared, hand carded & spun yarn that is black, gray, brown, tan, gold, white and various shades and blends of those basic colors. Some of the yarn is spun so fine that it is hand woven into tapestries that have over 80 to 100 threads per inch.

 

In 1997, Mark Winter bought the trading post and has spent his tenure at the post collecting and documenting rugs and weavers. There is a museum on the premises with exquisite examples of his collection that provide a history of the area and the generations of weavers over the past 100 years. 

The business still runs as a true trading post.  It is the economic base of the community that supports or subsidizes approximately 175 families in the area, trading rugs for credit, supplies, cash and other needs.  The textiles that are created in this area are known to be the finest in the world.

 

One hundred years of keeping a tradition alive and thriving is a fantastic feat made possible by the traders.  A visit to Toadlena Trading Post is like taking a step back in time.  If you’re fortunate, one of the grandmother weavers will be there, perhaps bringing in her latest creation that she has spent the last year weaving - a textile that holds her heart, soul and all her talent.  They use no drawn designs or patterns, no computers.  The design is created completely in their minds. 

 

It’s an amazing ability that stirs a feeling of awe within everyone who sees these works of art.

 

Toadlena Trading Post is located approximately 50 miles north of Gallup, NM off US Hwy. 491 on IR 19. While weaving your own tapestry of memories on the Navajo Nation, include Toadlena Trading Post and Two Grey Hills Historical Weaving Museum as an integral ingredient for your design. 

 

For more information, call toll free at 888/446-1759 or click on www.ToadlenaTradingPost.com.