Throughout our lives, Navajo women are nurturers, protectors and the strong backbone of their families. We are known to do the impossible to protect and provide. We build a strong home base and everything we do is a way of teaching our children to help them succeed in life. We hope they will carry those cultural teachings and pass them down to their children. This matrilineal structure has been set up by one of our deities, Na’ashjé’ii Asdzą́ą́ (Spider Woman). Spider Woman gave us the art of weaving and has set protocols on how to weave, how materials are made and used, the setup of the loom and named the parts of the loom as they represent our universe and natural elements. These lessons are equated with childbirth, raising children, discipline principals, and the important roles of family members that contribute to a healthy family life. I grew up with three strong women in my life. My mother Ruth Teller who taught me how to weave, my paternal grandmother Nellie Teller who taught me to be humble and told me stories of our weavings. My sister Roseann Lee taught me to be brave and speak up for myself. She also taught me to have the drive to be the best weaver I could be. Navajo children grow up with this kind of love and blessings. Navajo mothers try to live a life where they are role models for their children. The best part of being a mother is watching my daughter raise her son. It brings me so much love and pride to my life when I see her passing down the teaching that I gave to her, that I received from the Navajo women who came before me.

Barbara Teller Ornelas

June 2020