The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-01-01

the progress OF the southwest was the
first Navajo fair which was held at Shiprock
Agency New Mexico recently.
At Shiprock the past six years has been a
period of preparation, a 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 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
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 achev-
ing.
How important the civilization Of the Navajo
is to that section of the country is also apparent
when it 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 underlaid with coal. The increase Of
their productyeness means an increase in the out
put of the southwest Their education and per.
mancnt settlement upon small homesteads will
Leave large surplus of land to be sold to white
settlers. Thus the work being carried on at
SLlpIOCh udS many points when commend 1t to
the people who are interested in the development
of 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-b 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 60 articles each. Agricul-
tural products formed the chief part of the exhi.
btion but by no means all, the famous Navajo
blanket there in many styles and sizes beau
tful 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.
one five and one-haf miles, in which IL entered
and four fnshed), horse races games and amuse.
ments Each event g 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, Barberbit.cil-ly (the
,atar is the winners name); second, disk har
row. Happy Jack; third, cultiyator, Be.kin-ebe
gay; fourth, shovel Do.be-bitsee.
Native blanket all wool-First, cook stove
Kin.le-che ne; second 100 pounds flour, Lenna
Oliver; third, 80 pounds -four, Be-ka-dana-be ga;
fourth % pounds -four Pele-can-e-eskin-e
Cleanest Navajo baby-Frst 80 pounds flour,
LENA Oliver; second % pounds -four Hoston-at.
so-se.
The Navajo blanket collection. like all other
exhibits was fine u contained few Of
the old.time bayetas, for which the NaFajos first
became famous. These originally made
from the yarn obtained by unraveling wooden