Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-01-07


first Navajo fair, which held at Shprock
Agency. New Mexico, recently
AT Shiprock the past six years has been a
period of preparation. struggle for position of
advantage from which the ignorance and super
stttion of a barbarous people might be attacked
and the influences which have fettered them
might be obliterated, 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 soon
apparent to the observer who visits Shiprock be-
comes acquainted with the superintendent and
his assistants and realizes what they are achiey-
ing.
How important the civilization of the Navajo
is to that section of the country Is also apparent
when 1t is considered that there are some 80 900
OF them scattered over a 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
pletely underaid with coal. The increase of
their productveness means 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 be sold to white
settlers. Thus the work being carried on at
Shiprock has many points which commend it to
the people who interested in the development
of that section.
The holding of a fair this fall was not decid-
ed upon until about two weeks before It held,
and when the decision was reached it as so late
in the season that it was necessary to arrange
tor 1t at once, thus less than two weeks notice
was given the Navajos by means of Indian police
and messengers barely time to gather Up what
they had hand and bring 1t in without any
preparation opportunity to gather 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
to the call to bring in their products was a sur
prise 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
we're received and displayed while several others
arrived too late to be accepted. These exhibits
contained from five to 80 articles each. Agricul-
tural products formed the chief part of the exhi
bitten, but by means ALL as the famous Navajo
| blanket was there in many styles and sizes. beau
tiful silver jewelry of various and unique designs
/ old blankets of great value, few buffalo 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 tthe longest
one five and one-half miles. In which IL entered
and four hnished). horse races games and amuse-
ments Each evening the Navatos 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 are given:
General exhibit of farm and garden products
First prize double harness, Barber-bt-cil-ly (the
latter is the winners namel; second. disk har.
row. Happy Jack; third, cultivator, Be-kin-e-be
: | CAV: fourth, shovel Do-be-bit-see.
' Native blanket all wool-First. cook stove
r Kin-leche-ne; second 100 pounds -four, Lenna
g oliver: third SO pounds -four. Be-ka da-na-bega;
: fourth, 25 pounds flour, PeEe-can-e-es-kin-e.
Cleanest Navajo baby-First, SO pounds -four
n Lenna oliver; second. rs pounds -four. Hoston-at
: so-se.
n The Navajo blanket collection. like all otheI
8 exhibits was fine one. It contained few Of
e the old-time bayetas, for which the NavaJos mrs
6 became famous These were originally made
o from the yarn obtained by unravelng wooler