From Stones to Silver: Navajo Silversmithing and Holistic Well-Being

Johnnie Bia, Jr.

Diné College Psychology BA Intern, Office of Miss Navajo Nation
Blog #4: Navajo Cultural Arts Holistic Well-Being Series

Bridle set by Wilson Aronilth Jr.

Hi, everyone! It's Johnnie again! These past two weeks I have been exploring the connections between silversmithing and Diné Holistic Well-Being. I know that most sources believe that silversmithing was introduced by the Spanish and I am not one to refute history but here is what I have learned. Silversmithing is about forming and fabricating metals and minerals and Diné people were working with metals and stones long before the Spanish arrived. Its purpose included and still includes ceremonial, hierarchical, and aesthetic purposes. The Spanish did, however, offer us new ways of working with stones and metals, including tools, techniques, and designs. Atsidi Sani from Wheatfields is known to be one of the first Navajo silversmiths by trade in the 1800s. He was a blacksmith who transitioned into working with silver, sharing his talents with his sons.

As I look into the Diné holistic components of Navajo silversmithing, I reached out to Master Silversmith, Leonard Gene and Emerging Silversmith, Waycee Harvey for some guidance. Leonard is Tó'aheedli'inii,  born for Bit’ahnii, his maternal grandfathers are Ashii'hi, and his paternal grandfathers are Hashk'a'a i Hadzohí. He is originally from Rock Point, AZ.  Waycee is Tachinii, born for Kinyaa'áanii, his maternal grandfathers are Todichinii, and paternal grandfathers are Tlaashchii. He is originally from Many Farms, AZ. He is apart of the 2017-2018 NCAP cohort and learning silversmithing from Don Denetdeal and Wilson Aronilth, Jr. I also took advantage of revisiting previous blogs written by former NCAPers, Delia Wauneka and Carlon Ami, to understand how the process of silversmithing makes us holistically unique.

Waycee finishing up some work in the DC Silversmith Building.

From a physical perspective, silversmithing builds your stamina; even if you think you have stamina - silversmithing proves you otherwise. Stamping, soldering, sawing, and the dreaded buffing - it  all takes a lot of endurance as you have prolonged sitting periods. Your back, hands, eyes, fingers, and neck will all be tested. But you will find that patience will be one of the greatest tests you'll have to pass, especially when you are learning how to use the tools. The very basic tools needed are a ball peen hammer, ruler, rawhide mallet, saw

frame, scribe, saw blades, files, acetylene tank, pliers, and creativity. This was the shopping list that was given to Waycee when he first started learning how to silversmith. From that basic tool kit, a silversmith can build up their supplies depending on the specialization they select (or I could also say the specialization that selects them). Specializations can include everything from stamping, overlay, in-lay, lapidary work, sand casting, tufa casting, and so forth.

Leonard explained that silversmithing brings joy and happiness to other people when you present them with your artwork. To know that your creation is appreciated by others is a wonderful thing, especially when they pay you their hard earned money. He also added that the emotional celebration isn't just for those who receive your work. Emotionally, silversmithing brings an elated     

Custom overlay moccasin buttons made by Waycee.

feeling to the silversmith too - particularly when you finish a project to your liking. Delia also explored this elation in her blog "Wauneka's Meldown." On a NCAP trip to Meltdown Studios, Delia challenged herself to learn different techniques like chemical and electric etching. She also desperately wanted to learn how to make her own beads. It was somewhat of an emotional roller coaster: "I watched as Lauren did her demonstration, yet I struggled with this project and I decided to put it aside. Later on the day, I confronted my own self-doubts and challenged myself to finish one bead. You know what… I did it! I am so proud that now I can say, 'I made my own bead'". Delia explained that her self doubts were over come by her persistence. This is what Leonard must have meant when he reminded me that when you complete a project, it uplifts your spirit and makes you respect yourself for what you have done.

Custom stamped bracelet made by Leonard.

Silver represents a positive way to think about life. For this reason, before you start working with silver, you have to think positively because if you have negative thoughts or feelings it will show in your work. In this way, silversmithing helps individuals grow mentally by allowing those positive thoughts to become visual. Silversmiths are artists and as such they are gifted in a way that they can bring their visions to reality. However, the creation process can be mentally challenging and, as Leonard reminded me, there is a certain amount of mental

toughness you have to have. Carlon also wrote of this toughness in his blog "Just Take It Apart and Put It Back Together":  "Don't let convention limit you.  If you can reasonably imagine it, you might be able to build it. If it doesn't work out, you can always melt it down later for casting material."  At the end of the process, there is a sense of satisfaction for completing the puzzle and having your ideas all come together. But the mental challenges don't stop there. When your done buffing and publishing, Leonard explained, there is a motivation released that inspires you to make improvements on the next project.

Silversmithing can effect an individual spiritually as making jewelry is an extension of Diné culture. As Christine explained in her blog "NCAP Logo and Diné Cultural Arts Holistic Well-Being," many of the gems and minerals that are used in silversmithing are used in our traditional ceremonies. White Shell, Turquoise, Abalone, and Black Jet stones have cultural values within them and they give us a sense of who we are as Diné People. They have the power to heal us when we wear silver or any of these stones. Additionally , when you are working with minerals and stones, it

Leonard's sterling silver purse.

gives you another level of respect about what our culture means. With this understanding, you can have prayers done every now and then to help your work along and to keep you strong so you can continue your work with positive motivations. You can also sing songs while you’re working. It helps to stay connected with our traditional culture and values.

After speaking with Leonard and Waycee, reconnecting with Carlon and Delia's blogs, and sitting in on some of the NCAP silversmithing classes, I can begin to understand how silver work helps an individual’s holistic well-being. There are physical demands when working with silver, sacred stones and minerals but you get energy, stamina, and motivation from them as well. Silversmithing is an emotional journey, bringing joy to you and others when your work is completed, even amidst the self-doubt and frustration during the process. This cultural art helps your mind to focus on the positive, which in turn, helps maintain creativity within your work. Ultimately, silversmithing as a Diné individual evokes a spiritual feeling through the stories and history of how Navajo people have always had silver and the sacred stones. Silversmithing has many benefits for a person who wants to learn. It will give you as much as you want to give to it.

And with that said...

• If you are interested in seeing Wilson's bridle set in person, the exhibit "Celebrating Cultural Art Teachings at Diné College: Silversmithing with Wilson" is open till April 13 in the Gorman Room of the Tsaile Library.
  
• NCAP also wants to remind you that the application period to be part of the 4th Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate Cohort is here.
  
• Don't forget to follow us as next week's blog will be about Moccasin Making, written by no one other than Miss Navajo!