My Nativities are what I am most known for. I
make them of any and all ethnic groups of
people and also do the more traditional
styles.
This is my simple Navajo Nativity with Wise
Men or Kings, from other tribes living close
by, Southern Paiute, Santa Clara Pueblo and
Apache.
Take the angel away and it is just a gathering
of tribal neighbors.
make them of any and all ethnic groups of
people and also do the more traditional
styles.
This is my simple Navajo Nativity with Wise
Men or Kings, from other tribes living close
by, Southern Paiute, Santa Clara Pueblo and
Apache.
Take the angel away and it is just a gathering
of tribal neighbors.
The Navajo Nativity
The Holy Family is Navajo, as are the Shepherd and
Angel. Joseph has a Chief's Blanket over his
shoulder. Mary holds a blanket and the Angel has
her hair down. The Shepherd has two sheep to
watch over. Baby Jesus has a cotton frock and lies
on a Moqui Blanket, Navajo made.
The Southern Paiute King is from southern Nevada
or northern Arizona. His hat is made of a small
animal's skin with its legs up as a design element.
This fellow has fringed clothing. He has woven and
leather sandals on his feet. He wears a Navajo
traded blanket and his gift is a baby's cradle board of
woven twigs and branches from his people.
The Western Apache King, from western Arizona
into New Mexico, wears silver buttons on his
buckskin clothing and belt, has twisted bead designs
on his circular toe flap moccasins, and has leather
leggings with breech cloth and is a horse rider with
turkey feathers on his hat. He has an empty bow and
arrow quiver on his back, for peace. His gift is a
traditional woven Apache woman's burden basket.
The Santa Clara Pueblo King, from New Mexico,
wears the white woven men's skirt, is kneeling and
wears a traditional rain belt, with leather moccasins
with buffalo fur tied to them. He has cedar branches
tied to his arms and wears turkey feathers on his
head of long hair. He is dressed for dancing. His gift
is three pots made by the women of his pueblo, a
wedding vase, a water pot with bear paw design
incised on it, and a carved smaller pot.
There is a multi-colored traditional Chief's blanket on
the ground. The simpler blanket has gifts of silver
bracelets, collar cuffs, a bird necklace, a concha belt,
a tobacco horn, and a woven water bottle covered
with pitch displayed on it.
There are Indian corn, scallions and flat bread,
orange slices, a sliced watermelon, two pumpkins,
etc. There are animals. The backdrop is of a Navajo
hogan's interior wall with a modern Navajo blanket
hung on it. There is a tree stump table attached to its
wall for displaying food.
