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Native American Artists United
A Collective of Navajo & Pueblo artists

Native Artists United is a collective of Native American artists showcasing traditional and modern southwestern jewelry, pottery and arts. Through their art, Navajo and Pueblo artists can preserve aspects of their heritage and traditions. Each artist has written a biography about their art form and themselves to provide you with a better understanding of the artist and his/her craft.

The Navajo Tribe

The Navajo Tribe is one of the largest Native American tribes in America. The Navajo people live in the four corners area of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. A large percent of the Navajo people still speak our Native Language and carry on our traditional ways, such as storytelling, healing ceremonies, and family gatherings. Just like many people the Navajo people do experience many challenges in their lives, such as lack of adequate education, availability of employment, which creates many uncomfortable situations.

Navajo Clan System

In spite of many challenges that the Navajo people have experienced throughout history, there are values that keep them stable and in balance: one of these is the clan system. The four-clan system was originated in the beginning of time. The clan system helps individuals with: initiating stability in daily living, identifying who their relatives are, making appropriate choices on who to marry, creating respect for self and other, living a proper lifestyle and creating a feeling of belonging.

Four Sacred Stones

Another important part of Navajo values relates to sacred objects. For the Navajo there are four scared stones that are highly valued, the stones are: turquoise, white shell, abalone, obsidian. These stones are connected with male and female energies, healing energies, creation stories and living a respectful orderly life.

As time progresses to a different age, the Navajo people continue to remind themselves of who they are by initiating story telling, carrying out ceremonial ritual's and having family gatherings. Others choose to express themselves through art, such as pottery, jewelry making, painting and weaving. Many Artists use the sacred stones in creating their art pieces.

Hopefully this bit of history and information will help you understand more about the art that appears in these pages.

Comment: To protect the Navajo people's spirituality and creation stories, I could not give out in depth information.

Adapted from "Navajo History", 1971, by the Navajo Curriculum Center, Chinle, Arizona.

Summarized and written by: Maxine Sky-Coriz