The Carlisle independent., 1909-12-30

the progress of the southwest the drst Navajo fair. which was held at Shiprock Agency, New Mexico, recently
 At Shiprock the past six years has been period of preparation, struggle for position of advantage from which the ignorance and super stition of barbareus people might be attacked and the influences which have fettered them might be obliterated that. freed from it's bond age. the Navajo might take it's place among the useful and beneficial elements of the nation. contributing its share toward the industry and enjoying it's proportion of the advantages em- bFaeed in the common stock
 How successful this preparation for and be- ginning of their civilization has been is soon apparent to the observer who visits Shiprock be- comes acquainted with the superintendent and Ais assistants and realizes what they achiev- ing.
 How important the civilization of the Navajo is to that section of the country is also apparent when it is considered that there 30 900 of them scattered over reservation in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. which contains a larger area than all the New England states and includes thousands of of fine agricultural. mineral and timber lands. and is almost com pletely underlaid with coal. The increase of their productiveness means increase in the out put of the southwest Their education and per manent settlement upon small homesteads will leave large surplus of land to be sold to white settlers. Thus the work being carried on at Shiprock has many points which commend it to the people who are interested in the development sf that section
 The holding of fair this fall was not decid ed upon until about two weeks before it held, and when the decision reached it so late In the that it necessary to arrange for it at once, thus less than two weeks notice given the Navajos by means of Indian police and messengers time to gather up what they had on hand and bring it in without any preparation opportunity to gather or make anything especially for exhibition.
 Under these circumstances the amount and quality of the exhibits displayed no less than remarkable. The extent to which they responded to the call to bring in their products was sur orise to Major Shelton, the Indian agent for this reservation himself. He knew that they could and would make very creditabe showing.
 Two hundred and ninety general exhibits were received and displayed while several others arrived too late to be accepted. These exhibits contained from five to 50 articles each. Agricul- ssrai products formed the chief part of the exhi- b5fion but by no means an as the famous Navajo blanket was there in many styles and sizes, beau SifuI silver jewery of various and unique designs, S,Id blankets of great value, few buffalo robes, valuable pieces of bead work and dozens of other x,roducts and curios, ancient and modern Be sides these general exhibits there was the live s4ocIz show in which horses. mich cows, sheep and goats were numerous
 The sports consisted of foot races (the longest ,ne five and one-half miles, in which 12 entered and four f,ished), horse races games and amuse- r,ents Each evening the Navajos provided their own amusement by participating in several ,f their ancient sacred dances. which were both Interesting and entertaining to the visitors.
 As an example of how list of prize winners .t an Indian fair would read, the following tracts are given:
 General exhibit of farm and garden products First prize double harness Extraordinarily tthe latter is the winners name); second disk har TOW Happy Jack; third, cultivator, Bekin-e-be- gay. fourth shovel. Dobe-bit-see.
 Native blanket, all wool-First, cook stove, yyInle-chene; second. 100 pounds flour. Lenna Oliver; third. 50 pounds flour, Be-ka-da-nabega; fourth % pounds -four. Pel-e-can-e-es-kin-e.
 Cleanest Navajo baby-First, 50 pounds four. Ienna Oliver; second. g pounds four. Hoston-at- sose.
 The Navajo blanket collection, like all other exhibits was a fine It contained few of fha o,d-time bayetas for which the Navajos first became famous These were originally made from .he yarn obtained by unraveling wooien