Eastern Band of Cherokees to the Resuce

Our co-workers from the past our going to auction off rugs to raise money for our cause. We have named the benefit - Native hands helping native hands. How amazing, people from across the country are helping people that they have never met, only God can do this. Amen. We are blessed!

What all is in the food baskets? Do you need clothes, toys, etc.? I'll brainstorm this and get with the crews and see what we could do!!! I'm sure we'll do something for you'll. Keep your chin up. This is a great thing you are part of.

Would you'll benefit from a "SHoe Box" drive. We normally do this for families in West Virginia every Christmas. We fill a boot box up with clothes sizes we obtain from the organizations up there, and put some toys, etc in them to. WOuld you be able to get information such as this? Please let us know how we could better help!!!!!!
Jason D. Clark, B.S., CCEMT-P
Education Coordinator
Cherokee Tribal EMS

WEAVERS IN THE AREA

The picture here is of a rug that one might find at the local rug auction. The rugs are made here on the reservation. The weaver might sheer their own sheep, dye the wool and then weave the rug. The know how of how to weave is a tradition that is slowy fading away.

The rug auctions are held across the reservation, to help the weavers sell their art work. Some have designs that the weaver created and some have the traditional designs that one can find at local stores.


The young in the area are not learning the tradition of weaving due to many factors: school work, tv, ipods - you name it, there are many excuses one can find.

We are hoping to have at the A Way In The Wilderness building - local weavers to volunteer time to spend with teens and teach them how to weave. This would be a great way to share their talents and their faith, an perhaps become a adopted family member.

Find more information in regards to the Navajo rugs, here are some web sites you might try:

http://www.crownpointrugauction.com/ has a complete list of dates of the auctions
http://weavinginbeauty.com/navajo-rug-101/how-to-identify-navajo-textiles interesting info on the rugs
http://www.navajorugrepair.com/crownpoint.htm has information on the auction, what bargain the rugs are at the auction, compared to buying at a gallery - meet the weaver most times

The next auciton is on the 14th of August, for the month of Sept the date is the 11th. The dates have changes from the navajorugrepair article that stated the auctions were on the 3rd Friday, it is now held on the 2nd Friday.

If anyone is interested in coming out this way to go to a auction, let us know here. We would gladly share one of our different locations for donations for the mission work here.