NCAP Blog

NCAP
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Academic Programs
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate
    • Navajo Cultural Arts BFA
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Dual Credit
    • Indigenous Visionaries
    • Apprenticeship Program
  • Community Outreach
    • Exhibits
    • Workshop Series
    • Conversation Series
    • Language Series
    • Radio Series
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Online Resources
  • People
  • Contact

More Sewing - More Holistic Well-being: NAC Blankets and Bags

5/1/2018

4 Comments

 

Johnnie Bia, Jr.

Diné College Psychology BA Intern, Office of Miss Navajo Nation
Blog #8: Navajo Cultural Arts Holistic Well-Being Series

Picture
As many people  know, I am a practitioner of the Native American Church, or what is commonly referred to NAC. All that talk last week about sewing traditional of Navajo skirts and dresses started making me want to examine the seams of my NAC bags. We use these bags to store and protect our cedar, tobacco, peyote and other personal items. I started to think about how the sewing of NAC bag contribute to our Diné holistic well-being in perhaps similar ways to how Shayne Watson spoke of sewing. For this week's blog, I spoke with Kurtis Smith.
Kurtis is Deer Spring clan, born for Coyote Pass clan, his maternal grandfather is Black Sheep clan, his paternal grandfather is Bitter Water clan. His mother is Caroline Rose Yazzie from Old Valley Store area north of Chinle, AZ. His father is Gilbert K. Kurtis is from Canyon De Chelly- White House Overlook area east of Chinle, AZ. He graduated from Chinle High
Picture
School back in 2002 and he also took some credits with Dine College before he transferred down to Phoenix Valley where he went to Scottsdale Culinary Institute- Le Cordon Bleu. He resides in Phoenix Valley nowadays where he is an Executive Chef. Kurtis was first curious about how people made ceremonial blankets when he would attend NAC peyote ceremonies. He then finally took it upon himself to learn how to sew. From the encouragement of one of his good brothers, he was able to learn how to sew with a sewing machine. His first projects were for a giveaway items for his little sister’s peyote ceremony.
Picture
Kurtis readily depends upon rulers to measure, scissors to cut, fabric glue to secure and irons to fold. He uses ribbons and tapeda materials to fold and to sew on to trade cloth material. Trade clothes that he works with depends on the customer - there are 1 Band (low quality), 3 Band (finer quality), 5 Band (much finer quality), 8 and10 band materials (High Quality- 100% Wool). Everything depends on the what
 material/colors and how the customer wants their product to function. Kurtis feels that he is at an “Okay” level for his sewing skills and techniques because he believes that you cannot judge your own self on your work. But he does stress that he puts his whole self into his work, reminding others that you have to take care of yourself first - be in a good physical state and good mindset. If there is something wrong with you or not feeling good, it will be difficult to fold or to sew.  People don't want individuals who are falling apart to create their pieces just like they don't want your blankets or bags to be falling apart - people can judge you for that so put in your best efforts. You are the first one that needs to be healthy before you start working on a project. You want your customer to feel good and to take care of your products
Sewing ceremonial blankets and bags contributes to a person’s mental well-being by learning to Self-Sacrifice and being humble by taking your time and being selfless when working on your project. Putting everything aside and focusing on how beautiful you want to make your next project for someone creates an environment that nurtures productivity. A person can also foster mental well-being through time management - specifically, working on dedicating time to others
Picture
through their schedule. Kurtis mentioned that he takes care of his sewing abilities because it was given and he has been blessed with it. Once you figure it out and master it, just take good care of it. Sometimes it works in your favor and sometimes it difficult to work through problems that pop up. Either way, it is something you can’t just give it away or push it off to the side because it is a part of your livelihood. You put your mind into it, you made it a part of yourself. The designs and colors you put on the projects is a part of you. A person must give themselves to that gift that was given to them. There’s good thoughts, prayers, and songs that go into it, a person will have some teachings from it. He/she can make a good living with it, whatever they want they can obtain it through sewing.
Picture
Kurtis is able to express his feelings through his sewing, especially through the colors. The colors will show, along with how well the stitches come together, the emotions of the maker. But if he is sad or angry, then the colors will be dark and the blanket or bag will be put together quickly and/or sloppy. When you are in a good emotional state the creativity flows and you don't mind the extra time you are putting into your project, Positive emotional output opens up your creativity. 
Sewing can build up your self-esteem and self-worth by seeing the happy faces of your customers. You feel proud and good within yourself when you know that people are amazed from your blankets & bags. They feel thankful and happy about your work so when they Thank You, it moves or touches your mind, heart, and soul. Sewing can give and take relationships with family, friends and relatives. When working on a blanket or bag, you are using and sacrificing your time away from family, friends, and relatives. It helps to maintain a good relationship by setting a good example of knowing how to sew a ceremonial blankets and bags. It can be good and bad depending on how your family, friends, and relatives take it.
For Kurtis, sewing holds a significant and spiritual place in his life - putting himself out there for self-preservation, self-deaeration and away from self-destruction. He found something that he could put spiritual value into so that he wouldn’t harm himself or anybody else. For Kurtis, he wants to live a good life through his sewing, it can put a person in check and can leave them in a good place. Your relationships are based on what you put out for people. Sewing blankets and bags coincides with that output of his values, beliefs, and values. Kurtis takes time for prayer by finding it is best that a person should be in a clear mind, in a state of trancendency when dealing with spiritual instruments. Kurtis listens to peyote music because it helps a person to keep going as they work on a project. Singing along with the music while folding or sewing is always good to do because it helps you to get into it. By doing that, it’s a prayer in a song that goes along with and within a blanket and bag. Kurtis mentions the positive activities that a person can do for their spiritual well-being is knowing that it has to be you, “Taa’hwiajitee’”. Praying is the main thing that a person can do for themselves. You can give someone money to help say a prayer for you, but what if things don’t go your way. It will be easy to blame that person for nothing saying a right prayer for you. So it is best to pray for yourself, because that will help you to believe it by saying those words that come out of your mouth. Praying is the only and best way to keep your spiritual-self going.
In conclusion, there are a lot of things that go into folding and sewing Native American Church peyote blankets and bags. Being in good physical health within a person is important, because they have to be up to doing the work. Having a clear and positive mind helps a person to really get into folding and sewing. It helps an artist feel good emotionally through the customer’s reactions of the final completed product. The spiritual aspect is the main important one to focus on because people are going to be using the blankets and bags around a peyote ceremony. In a way an artist must be in a spiritual mindset, spiritual feeling, and to live that spiritual lifestyle. It is having respect for the gift of folding and sewing blankets and bags.
4 Comments
best dissertation reviews link
11/12/2018 06:12:36 pm

Some women who they are bored, they search for stuff they could do in order for them to be productive. Sewing could be the best activity they are looking for! If they want to improve their skills in sewing, they could produce NAC Blankets and Bags using their own effort. The finished products that I've seen above were really beautiful and I was just amazed by what I saw. I couldn't help but to feel grateful on what I saw! Because of this, I was also encouraged to join the club and try sewing for my own growth.

Reply
best online resume service link
1/20/2019 08:05:01 am

I have always wanted to learn how to weave or do anything that you can't really learn in a classroom. It's better to learn these from tribal villages because they have the machinery and they are the only ones equipped with real knowledge. They pass this on to different generations and if they teach this to you, you must be very lucky and loved. In return you should also love them back and vow to participate in all efforts being done to preserve their culture. Given a chance I am going to do this.

Reply
cotton open weave blanket supplier link
4/25/2022 04:29:27 am

Sewing is an excellent thing for the housewife. They can learn from this and do some business, or they can sew blankets for their loved ones. Thank you,

Reply
Van Holloway link
10/28/2022 08:16:24 am

People don't want individuals who are falling apart to create their pieces just like they don't want your blankets or bags to be falling apart people can judge you for that so put in your best efforts. I truly appreciate your great post!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Apprenticeship Program
    Basket Making
    Certificate Program
    Dual Credit
    Emerging Artisan
    Ephraim Anderson
    Harry Walters
    Holistic Well Being
    Indigenous Visionaries
    Lyndon Tsosie
    Moccasin Making
    Navajo Cultural Arts Week
    Navajo Weaving BFA
    NCAP Intern
    NCAP Staff
    Peyote Fans
    Sewing
    Silversmithing
    Sue V. Begay
    TahNibaa Naataanii
    Tammy Martin
    Valene Hatathlie
    Weaving

    Archives

    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

Socials

        ALL PHOTOS IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. PHOTO IMAGES USE IS SUBJECT TO PERMISSION BY THE NAVAJO CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. NO FORM OF REPRODUCTION IS PERMITTED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE NAVAJO CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. 

Featured Pages

Academic Programs
Community Outreach
Blog
Contact
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Academic Programs
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate
    • Navajo Cultural Arts BFA
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Dual Credit
    • Indigenous Visionaries
    • Apprenticeship Program
  • Community Outreach
    • Exhibits
    • Workshop Series
    • Conversation Series
    • Language Series
    • Radio Series
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Online Resources
  • People
  • Contact