As I was passing through Arizona a couple weeks ago I stopped at the Yellow Horse Trading Post and was lucky enough to acquire this very small authentic Navajo weaving. They called themselves the Dine'.
Their work is ancient and sacred, rare and unique. This piece was woven by Mary Begay, from wool shorn from the sheep she raised, and hand died from plants cultivated by her tribe's husbandry of the land.
According to Dine' tradition, weaving (diyogi) is the most ancient and sacred practice of their people. Two spirits, the Spider People, brought hemp seeds to the Navajo. Spider Man taught them to make the loom, while Spider Woman taught them how to weave so that they could always provide for themselves.
