Navajo Blanket Weaving

Through out the ages some of the most impressive feats of blanket weaving has been produced by the Navajo people. One of the most beautiful styles that the Navajo created are the "chief blankets". These blankets have played a extremely important role in the survival of their people with the coming of Western society and are still continued to be made to this day

To understand the effort and significance of these works, first one must understand its people. The Navajo are thought to be descendants from the people known as the Athabascan's, who migrated from Northwest of Canada and Alaska to the American Southwest around 1200 to 1500 CE . In the 16th century the Spanish conquistadors appeared in the Southwest and by the late 16th century began to subdue many of the native Pueblo people. It was because of this that many of the Pueblo people migrated westward into Navajo territory. Prior to this the Navajo had types of weaving. It is thought that they adopted weaving as well as some agricultural and ceremonial practices from these Pueblo people. This newly adopted craft was further changed with the introduction of sheep brought in by the Spanish .

Although weaving had caught on and become an important part of Navajo society, it was still considered something that weaver would when she had nothing else better to do with her time. This is why many of the rugs that were woven were done during the long, inactive winter, and ready for use and trade in the spring . As the Navajo women became more proficient with weaving blankets, they would use them for trade between other tribes, although they were not used specifically for this function. After a time these blankets, and more specifically the chiefs blankets became "the unit of exchange by which all other goods were measured " .

By the mid 1800's the American army had taken control of much of New Mexico and Arizona. It was during this time that the U.S. Government put the scorched earth policy into effect in response to the "increased intensity of [Navajo] raids for sheep and other things on Pueblo and Spanish and Anglo settlers" . The scorched earth policy allowed the U.S. army to begin destroying the Navajo livestock and crops as well as kill any Navajo men who resisted arrest.