Spider Woman's Gift

Between the red canyon walls of Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, in the heart of the Navajo Nation, stands an eight-hundred-foot sandstone rock formation known as Spider Rock. According to Diné oral history, this sacred place is where Spider Woman, or Na ashe'ii'tasdzáá, makes her home. For centuries, her gift of weaving has provided the Diné with a constant means of sustenance. Diné textile and basketry weavings in Santa Fe's Museum of Indian Arts and Culture collections created between the 1850s and the 1890s allow us to explore the oral history of Spi-der Woman and the early history of the Diné during this time. This book presents two viewpoints on Diné weaving. One is the perspective of Diné weaver and museum educator, Joyce Begay-Foss and the other viewpoint is from well-known Diné textile scholar and anthro-pologist, Marian Rodee. Starting with early baskets, there is visual evidence of Spider Woman's influence, for it was this early knowledge of hand weaving and dyes that transferred into early textile weaving after the Diné acquired wool. The Diné textiles dating from 1840 to 188o were primarily made for Native use, as well as for intertribal trade. They include one-piece dresses, mantas, two-piece dresses, women's shoulder blankets, and ponchos. Designs range from simple bands and stripes to intricate in-terlocking serape patterns. Of particular interest are fine examples of highly recognised chief blankets, as well as the crowning achievement of classic-period serapes showing the finest de-signs and materials. Published in association with the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts & Culture.