Although surveys have found that an average of 58 percent of families are involved in livestock and fiber production, only a small percentage are able to use their own wool. Recent interviews with wool producers and fiber artists identified these significant barriers to using locally grown wool:

1. access to water,
2. an affordable heat source for heating water,
3. faster methods for picking and carding, and
4. water, heat, and containers for dyeing. Risk Management assessments and planning can the producers with identifying reliable, technically-appropriate methods that are compatible with their needs and resources. A 2005 feasibility study on a minimill found that capital costs, natural resource requirements, and technical needs would be far beyond the present needs of the community.

Teec Nos Pos has proposed a locally-managed wool processing set-up to meet the needs of Navajo producers with hand-operated cost-effective and resource-efficient methods that streamline traditional home processing. Roof collection of water and solar hot water heating; hand-turned drums for opening and cleaning; lanolin sludge recovery and water recycling; a pulley system for lifting wet, heavy wool from wash tubs into the dye bath; solar drying racks; and hand-operated carders producing batts and roving. Hand-spinners can use either the traditional lap spindle or a spinning wheel to produce the yarn for weavers. The facility will be powered with a solar/wind electrical generating system.

Teec Nos Pos Chapter President, Roy Kady, who raises Navajo-Churro sheep, goats, and llamas, has requested Risk management training and technical assistance with technology, business and financial structures, management planning, pricing, and marketing to the wool producers and weavers. DBI is partnering with SWMN to provide these services to Teec Nos Pos, which will provide the facility, utilities, and workers. RMA project activities include:

• outreach to producers and weavers to identify opportunities for using their own wool
• research technical systems for power from clean and renewable resources
• design the wool processing path and assess time and resources needed in each step
• develop and test prototypes that can be locally produced, such as the pulley system
• establish a business plan with organizational, financial, and management structures
• set up prototype facility and train local people for these jobs
• document each step with costs to create transparent pricing, offering a do-it-yourself option
• document all aspects of the operation for several months, analyze, revise, and implement
• develop a business and marketing plan for expansion into a sales outlet featuring a value added product line using Navajo grown and processed wool
•  assist producers and fiber artists with creating their small businesses providing product and services to the wool processing and sales facility