Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-02

same sort of reward for exhibiting
the prettiest papoose, are the proud
est squaws on the reservation. Big
Charley, an Industrious Navajo, whose
irrigated farm would be the envy OF
many a white rancher, won the prize
for the biggest and best pumpkins,
his trophy being shovel, while the
other prize pumpkin exhibitors, Sc
Lo-Wat-So-Gee, Car-Nan Eze-Be-N and
AttCit-Y -Be-Ga carried off a mattock,
grub hoe and garden hoe in the order
named,
The Nayajos have been noted for
years as the most industrious OF In
dams, but the fair at the Shiprock
agency was the first public exhibit
ton of their bandiwork The tribe
became self-supporting many years
ago Some of the NavaJos have waxed
wealthy from the sale of blankets
and silverware trinkets, for not only
are they the greatest blanket weav-
ers in the world, but they are silver.
smiths of the first class.
1t Was Regular County Fair.
Superintendent w. r. Shelton OF
the Shiprock agency came to the
conclusion that genuine county
lair on old fashioned lines would be
good thing to stimulate the inter-
est of the Indians in their farm work
and other industrial enterprises.
Word was sent out by the Indian po-
lice, twelve Of whom guard the des-
TIMES of the upper part of the great
reservation, and, though the tribe
had only two weeks notice, the ex-
hibition hall was filled with a very
creditable line of farm products, not
to speak of display of genuine Nav
ajo blankets and silversmith work
that would make the eyes of dealer
sparkle with delight. The blankets
and silyerwork exhibits were worth,
| it is estimated. close to $780, 600.
The Navaios are great judges OF val
uses in these lines and some of the
blankets were family heirlooms that
would not be parted with at any
price.
OF general exhibits at the Navajo
fair there were 290. The corn ex-
hibit numbered 1S5, the wheat exhTb-
It's 73, oats A, melons 80, squash
and pumpkins 100, potatoes 80. al
falfa "a, teams of work horses ~.
saddle horses As, pretty babies 60,
native blankets 230, Germantown
blankets 25. There were numerous
exhibits of sheep and goats, of which
the Nayaios have great herds
The sports consisted of foot races,
horse races and native games and
amusements and in the evening the
Indians gave their ceremonial ana
sacred dances, which proved most in
teresting to the visitors. The long
est foot race was five and one-haI1
miles and so terrific was the pace
that only four out of thetwelye who
entered finished the race.
Exhibits Brought in Wagons.
Some of the exhibits were brought
nearly 100 miles in wagons. oae lot
of fifty general exhibits from Sa-
Noos-Tee, in the vicinity of Noers
trading post. far away in the desert,
deserved especial mention. This lot
contained the prize-winning assort-
ment of silver work. None of the
products raised at Shiprock, under
the supervision of government EN-
ployes, was allowed to compete with
the products of the Indian ranclers.
II was the idea of Superintendent
Shelton to make the fair something
that would demonstrate the actual
progress that is being made by the
tribe as whole. The prizes wer,
all useful and the Indians were far
prouder over the gifts of farm I'M
PIGMENTS and household necessities
than they would have been over the
ribbons and gold medals
For the best general display OF |
farm products, Barber Bit-Cilly won /
first prize, a double harness. The
best general display of indian pIo-
ducts brought Gar-Na-Nezi-BeTI a
corn drill and for the best native
blanket, all wool. Kin-Le-Che-Ne re-
ceived a cook stove, while for the
best Germantown blanket Non-Co- De
Be-Tah received a washtub. The
melon exhibit was astounding ana
great piles OF melons were placed IN
rows in the sehoolhouse yard. to be
Toasted upon at viii by the visiting
lndiaAs. De-Be-Re-Tah was the prize
winner among the melon raisers. re-
ceiving a shovel for his display.
Under New Type OF indian Agent.
Shiprock agency. which is located
in San Juan county, New Mexico is
in charge of w. T. shelton. who mas
looked after the affairs of the Nava-
Jos in that section for about six years
1t may be stated parentheticaliy that
the old-time type of Indian agent-a
type that wrought nothing but harm
to the red men--has vanished utterly /
from western reservations. 1t will be
fsOha. almost without exception. that