Schedule
UPDATED 5/26/2010
Monday – Saturday, June 14 – 19, 2010
Rodeo Arena, Diné College, Tsailé, AZ, Navajo Nation
Celebrating the central role of sheep and fiber arts in cultures around the world.
Diné be’ iiná (The Navajo Lifeway) presents the 14th Annual Sheep is Life Celebration from June 14–19, 2010 at the Diné College Rodeo Arena in Tsailé, AZ, in the Navajo Nation. The Celebration is organized by Diné sheep herders and weavers to honor the central role of sheep and fiber arts in the spirituality, philosophy, and daily lives of cultures throughout the world. The event is co-sponsored by the Diné College Land Grant Office and funded in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency.
Everyone is invited to participate. Bring tools, spindles, fibers, sheep, and creativity to share.
Sheep is Life Daily Schedule
Schedule subject to change. Check www.navajolifeway.org for updates.
Workshops. Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Navajo Fiber Arts and Lifeways.
Half-day- to five-day classes. Tuition and materials fees apply.
Classes, instructors, and registration form are on this web site under the Sheep is Life heading, drop down menu to Workshops.
Thursday through Saturday. Free Activities for the Whole Family.
Schedules and directions at the DBI Information Booth, Rodeo Arena.
Youth Fiber Camp. Thursday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. daily. Ages 5-18. Parent participation welcomed.
Opening Prayer, Rodeo Arena, Friday, 6:00 a.m.
Sheep to Loom. Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Premiere of international traveling exhibit on Navajo Sheep Culture.
Educational exhibits, demonstrations, and presentations. Vendor and Food Booths.
Demonstrations. Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sheep to Loom, from skirting to finished weavings
Triangle Loom, Navajo Loom, Navajo Weaving Tools
Preparation of Traditional Foods
… and others to be announced.
Guest Artists:
Centinela Weavers, Chimayó, New Mexico. Irvin and Lisa Trujillo, Master Artists.
Spanish weaving and dyeing traditions. Demonstrating weaving on a floor loom.
Luis Garcia, Isleta del Sur, Pueblo Sash Belt Weaving.
Sally Black, Monument Valley, Navajo Basket Weaving
Educational Presentations, Friday and Saturday. Guest speakers.
Everyone is invited to participate in discussions and initiate topics.
Traditional Topics
Origin of Navajo Weaving
Navajo Spindle Stories
Navajo Twill Weaving
Navajo Traditional Veterinary Care
Western Topics
Value-Added Marketing: Lamb, Sheep, and Fibers Arts
Financial Literacy and Planning
How to Get into Juried Shows
Land Monitoring and Resource Management
Roundtable Discussions. Friday and Saturday. Open participation.
Navajo Weaving History
Navajo Tool Making
Navajo Sheep Herding
Involving Youth in Working with Sheep and Wool
Strategies for Sustaining our Sheep and Wool Cultures, Friday
Preparing Wool for Dyeing, Friday
Dyeing Wool with Cochineal and Indigo, Saturday
Southwestern Sheep Lab, a Cultural Center, Saturday, 3:00 p.m.
Other topics may be proposed.
Animal Events.
Youth 4-H Market Lamb Show, Friday. Land Grant Program
Alpacas, care of animals and fibers. Friday and Saturday.
Horse Care, Land Grant Program. Friday and Saturday.
Sheep Dog Training. Friday and Saturday.
Fleece Show, Saturday, 9:00 – 11:00
Navajo Churro Sheep Show, Saturday, noon – 1:00 p.m.
Fiber Arts Sales Shows, Friday and Saturday
Organized by the DBI Fiber Arts Committee. For information, contact 505.406.7428.
Juried Navajo Weaving Show and Sale. Friday, 3:00 – 9:00 p.m. SUB Activity Room.
Open to any Diné weaver. 100% sheep and/or goat wool, featuring Navajo-Churro.
Check in work on Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, SUB Activity Room.
Contemporary Fiber Arts Sale. Saturday, 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Rodeo Arena.
Open to all fiber artists of any race or nationality.
Creative value-added products made from any natural fibers.
Check in work on Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., DBI Information Booth, Rodeo Arena.
DBI Annual Awards Presentation, Friday, 6:00 p.m. SUB Activity Room.
Reception from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Everyone welcomed.
Vendor, Food, and Hospitality Booths. Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For vendor applications, go to the forms section on this web site or call 505.406.7428.
Logistics: Except where noted, all Celebration events take place at the Rodeo Arena on the Diné College Tsailé campus, Navajo Nation. Tsailé is located on the northeast rim of Canyon de Chelly. Enter the College campus from Highway 64, approximately 30 miles northeast of Chinlé, the nearest town with hotels. Go to the Travel and Lodging page ont his web site for driving directions, maps and links to hotels. Free camping, tenting, and RV parking is available at the Rodeo Arena, adjacent to sheep pens and the show arena, which have a water hydrant and electric lighting.
For more information:
Diné be’ iiná, Inc., PO Box 683, Window Rock, AZ 86515
TahNibaa Naataanii, Project Director, 505.406.7428
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.navajolifeway.org
Sheep is Life is co-sponsored by the Diné College Land Grant Program and funded in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency. DBI is a nonprofit, federally tax-exempt 501c3 corporation. Donations and contributions will assist with presenting this event.
Get ready for next year! June 13 – 18, 2011
15th Annual Sheep is Life Celebration
20th Anniversary of Diné be’ iiná, Inc. founding
25th Anniversary of the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association founding.
Share your stories and recollections. Celebrate all that you and your families have accomplished for continuing the Navajo Lifeway and restoring the Navajo-Churro sheep.
