DINÉ BÍ’ ÍÍNA’, INC, (NAVAJO LIFEWAYS), Navajo Nation (Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado)

Diné bí' íína' (DBI), which means "Navajo lifeways," was formed in 1991 to support traditional economic and cultural strengths of the Navajo people. Coming from a matrilineal society, DBI leaders are Navajo women, who work with herders, weavers, and cultural activists. They have spearheaded efforts to reintroduce the Navajo-Churro, a particular breed of sheep once widely raised by the tribe for its lean mutton, its ability to withstand intense heat, and success in producing an abundance of fine wool well suited for weaving their traditional rugs. Until the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Churro were a staple of Navajo life, integral to their weaving and spiritual traditions. Then, the introduction of different breeds and other agricultural policies instigated by the United States government all but exterminated the Churro. Consequently, the future of Navajo herding and weaving traditions suffered.

Recognizing the importance of this breed to tribal culture and prosperity, DBI has worked closely with the Navajo Sheep Project to reintroduce Churro sheep breeding stock throughout the Navajo Nation. Today, Churro are increasing in numbers, and their exceptional wool continues to be woven into exquisite Navajo rugs, a staple of the tribe's economic independence. DBI also supports the annual Sheep Is Life festival, which renews traditional values associated with the Churro and Navajo culture. The Churro has become a symbol of the tribe's past through which they can see a promising future.

Photographer Lucy Capehart, a museum educator and curator, is known for her wide-open color landscapes, domestic interiors, and for being responsive to the people and subjects she is photographing. Her images show us the importance of sheep to Navajo life and traditions through photographs of Churro, fresh mutton for sale, and beautifully woven traditional rugs. DBI leader Sarah Natani is seen in her sheep corral and a Navajo child holds Churro wool.

Interviewer Jens Lund, a Navajo specialist, has recorded traditional cultures throughout the American Southwest, Mexico, Japan, and the Cook Islands. His interviews present the voices of those involved in DBI as they describe the traditions of sheep raising and its importance to them personally, historically, and spiritually. The Navajo stories emphasize a strong sense of tradition, as each person recounts the memories and values that have been passed down to them from earlier generations that orient them towards a successful future. quotation from an interview

http://www.creativephotography.org    This page last updated September 24, 2000.   oncenter@ccp.arizona.edu