The story
We Weave is a story rooted in resilience that uniquely weaves together the traditional and digital worlds. Written by award-winning author Daniel W. Vandever and featuring the artwork of illustrator Deonoveigh Mitchell, We Weave celebrates the intergenerational strength of family and the beauty of weaving.
EXTENDED AUTHOR'S NOTE
Weaving has been a tool for Navajo (Diné) survival since Spider Woman taught the intricacies of her art form to First Woman. Spider Woman’s teachings focused on the spiritual aspects of weaving and reinforced Diné Bi Iiná, or Diné Way of Life.
Weaving under Spider Woman’s guidance utilized plants and animal furs. Patterns were simple, yet symbolic. It wasn’t until the 18th and 19th centuries that weaving with wool became common as families grew dependent on domestic livestock, such as sheep and cattle. Dependence on livestock grew until 1864 when the U.S. Government forcefully removed nearly 8,000 Navajos and relocated them over 400 miles to Fort Sumner. Imprisonment at Fort Sumner lasted four years before leaders were able to negotiate a return home under the Treaty of 1868.
Each Navajo family was owed tools, seeds, livestock, and an education under the Treaty. In turn, Western expansion by wagon and railroad were to go undisturbed. After the Treaty, trading posts multiplied in the region. Wool, sheep, and woven textiles were at the center of a new economy, which only grew with the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1878. The railroad expanded trade in the region and permitted sales extending to the east coast.
The next 40 years would prove profitable for weavers. Traders would coordinate with weavers on rug designs with particular colors based on buyer preference in the east. Patterns like Ganado Red and Two Grey Hills took shape during the period, which with the railroad, brought wealth to many Navajo families.
Prosperity persisted into the 1930s until a grazing regulation was imposed by the Department of Interior reducing the number of livestock on Diné land by over half. Livestock Reduction was voluntary at first, but became mandatory in 1936, essentially removing Navajos from their way of life and means for survival.
Sheepherding has since been nearly phased out as a primary subsistence base for Navajo families, but there is hope it will return as efforts to revitalize cultural practices, such as weaving, endure. The digital age has opened opportunities to showcase local goods and artisans are discovering new ways to connect with buyers.
We Weave celebrates the long history of weaving and encourages the next generation of weavers - in whatever form - to take pride in their talents and share them with the world.