The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-01-22

the progress of the southwest was the
nrst Navajo fair, which held at Shiprock
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
stition of barbarous people might be attacked
and the influences which have fettered them
might be obiterated, 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 it's proportion of the advantages en-
sbraced 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 Shprock, be-
comes acquainted with the superintendent and
his assistants and realizes what they are achiev-
ing.
How important the civilization of the Navajo
d to that section of the country is also apparent
when 1t is considered that there are 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
pletely undertake 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
the people who are interested in the development
0f that section.
The holding of fair this fall was not decid-
ed upon until about two weeks before it was held,
and when the decision was reached it was so late
IN the season that it was necessary to arrange
for it 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 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 was no less than
remarkable The extent to which they responded
to the call to bring in their products was 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
were received and displayed while several others
arrived too late to be accepted. These exhibits
contained from five to go articles each. Agricu!-
tural products formed the chief part Of the exhi-
bition, but by no means all, as the famous Navajo
blanket was there in many styles and sizes. beau
tiful silver jewery 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.
pne five and onehalf miles, in which IL entered
and four fnisied), horse races. games and amuse
ments 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
nj an Indian fair would read the following ex-
tracts are given:
General exhibit of farm and garden products
first prize double harness, Extraordinarily (the
batter is the winners name); second. disk har
row. Happy jack third. cultivator. Be-kir-e-be-
nav: fourth, shovel Do-bebit-see.
Native blanket, all wool-First. cook stove.
Kin-le-che-ne; second. 100 pounds -four. Lenna
oliver: third. so pounds -four Be-kada-na-bega;
fo,rth 25 pounds -four, Pel-ecane-es-kine.
,Cleanest Navajo baby-First. 80 pounds flour.
Iepna Oliver: second. rs pounds flour. Hoston-at-
Go-se. -
The Navajo blanket collection like all other
exhibits. was q flne one. 1t contained few Of
re- old-time bayetas. for which the Navajos first
hecame famous These were originally male
from the yarn obtained BY unraveling WOODEN