On November 9, 2023, I was honored to present a program on the “History of Native American Jewelry,” at the Fernwood Country Club in honor of November being “National Native American Heritage Month” to the Judith Robinson Chapter, NSDAR group. Most of my jewelry was given to me by a high school friend that owns an American Native Jewelry Boutique in Nashville, TN. I have acquired quite a collection through the years, and have traveled with her to Gallup, New Mexico, to purchase many of the pieces direct from the tribes.
The history of Native American Jewelry is deep rooted in the culture of Native American Indians in the American southwest areas such as, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Native Americans started making silver jewelry in the late 1800’s when the Spaniards came. There are many legends about turquoise. The Pima considered it to bring good fortune and strength. The Zuni believed that blue turquoise was male and of the sky and green turquoise was female and of the earth. The Pueblo Indians thought its color was stolen from the sky. In Hopi legend the lizard who travels between the above and below, excretes turquoise and that stone can hold back floods. The Navajo considered it good fortune to wear and believed it could appease the Wind Spirit. The maker of the jewelry puts his own interpretations into the piece and at the same time uses designs which have special meanings or symbols that have come down through the generations.
I set up a display of my jewelry for everyone to view, and never realized how beautiful my pieces were until that day. Most of my jewelry was made by the Zuni and Navajo tribes. My collection included Kingsman Turquoise, Spiny Oyster, Coral, White buffalo, Indian pearls, and silver jewelry with carved fetishes.
I have always been very interested in my heritage through many hours of searching for my lineage ancestry. Genealogy is a hobby and with proven lineage I am also a member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. My elders tell me that I come from an American Natives ancestor in my lineage – but this has been too difficult for me to nail down. Maybe, this is one reason I have collected many pieces of American Native Jewelry and enjoy wearing it as well.