The Lamar register., 1909-12-29

the progress of the southwest was the
first Navajo fair. which held at Shiprock
Agency. New Mexico recently.
AT Shiprock the past six years has been a
period OF preparation. struggle for a position of
advantage from which the ignorance and super
sttion OF barbarous people might be attacked
and the influences which have fettered them
might be obliterated. SO that. freed from its bond
age. the Navajo race might take its place among
the useful and beneficial elements of the nation.
contributing its share toward the industry and
enjoying its proportion of the advantages en-
braced In the common stock.
How successful this preparation for and be-
ginning of their civilization has been is
apparent to the observer who visits Shiprock. be-
comes acquainted with the superintendent and
his 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 II is considered that there some 10000
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 acres of fine agricultural
mineral and timber lands and is almost com
petely underaid with coal. The increase of
their productiveness means an Increase in the out
put of the southwest. Their education and per
manent settlement upon small homesteads will
leave a large surplus of land to he sold to white
settlers. Thus the work being carried
Shiprock has many points which commend 1t to
the people who are interested in the development
of that section.
The holding of fair this fall decid
ed upon until about two weeks before it was held
and when the decision was reached 1t late
In the season that IL was necessary to arrange
for II at once. thus less than two weeks notice
given the Navajos by means of Indian police
and messengers-barey time to gather up what
they had on hand and bring it in without any
preparation or opportunity to gather or make
anything especially for exhibition.
Under these circumstances the amount and
quality of the exhibits displayed less than
remarkable. The extent to which they responded
the call to bring in their products a
prise to Major Shelton. the Indian agent for this
reservation. himself. He knew that they could
and would make very credtable 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 60 articles each. Agricu
tural products formed the chief part of the exhi
bition but by means all. as the famous Navajo
blanket there in many styles and sizes. beau
tiful silver jewery OF various and unique designs
old blankets of great value. few bu1alo robes
valuable pieces of bead work and dozens of other
products and curios. ancient and modern. Be
sides these general exhibits there was the live
stock show. in which horses. mich cows. sheep
and goats were numerous
The sports consisted OF foot races (the longest
one five and onehalf miles. in which IL entered
and four fnished). horse races. games and amuse
men,s Each evening the Navajos provided
their own amusement by participating in several
of their ancient sacred dances. which were both
Interesting and entertaining to the visitors.
AS an example of how list of prize winners
at an Indian fair would read. the following ex
tracts given:
General exhibit of farm and garden products
First prize. double harness. Barberb itcil-ly the
latter is the winners name); second. disk har
row. Happy Jack; third. cutivator. Be-kin-e-be
gay; fourth. shovel. Do-be-bitsee.
Native blanket, all wool-First cook stove
Kin.le-che-ne; second. 100 pounds flour. Lenna
Oliver; third. so pounds flour. Beka-da-na-b be ga;
fourth 25 pounds -four. Pe-e-can-e-es-kin-e.
Cleanest Navajo baby-First. so pounds -four
Lenna Oliver second. % pounds flour. Hoston-at
sose
The Navajo blanket collection. like all other
exhibits. fine one. 1t contained few of
the od-time bayetas for which the Navajos first
became famous. These were originally made
from the yarn obtained by unraveing wooden