TahNibaa Naataanii

“When I was a young girl my paternal grandmother gave me my Navajo name, TahNibaa Aglohiigiih; when translated it means TahNibaa the Weaver. Navajo weaving was introduced to me by my mother, Sarah H. Natani, when I came home from school. I was in the second grade and seven years of age. She told me, ‘Today, you are going to learn how to weave.’ I learned how to weave stripes first, then graduated to weaving squares and diamonds. I wove during the summer months so I could buy my school clothes. After I graduated from high school, my weaving ceased for a moment when I joined the U.S. Navy. After my tour I longed to hear the tapping of the weft, so I began to weave once again. I have been weaving for the past ten years, and discover that I am falling in love with my work each day. I enjoy raising sheep, working with raw wool and processed wool. I enjoy weaving traditional style shoulder blankets, contemporary designs, and exploring with the creative process. When I weave, I feel the wisdom of my Great Matriarchs before me and ‘Asdzaa Maaiideeshgiizhnii’ who makes me the fifth generational weaver.”

http://www.tahnibaa.com

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