Going Home

Wow what a powerful video! Very moving!
Just another form of Art by Native Americans.See more Art www.agalleryofnations.com

Fawn Wood

I really like her voice and I just wanted to share it here.More Native Talent!!

Natural Beauty

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Zuni Fetishes and their meanings

The Mountain Lion (Long Tail) was appointed as Master of the gods of prey and guardian of the North. Stout-hearted and strong-willed. Po'-shai-an K'ia designated that he would become the Maker of Paths(of men's lives) and his color would be yellow, the color of his coat.
The Black Bear (Clumsy Foot) became the Master of the West for his coat was the color of the night. The Bear's color is the Blue of the Pacific and he is revered for his strong Healing powers and abilities to protect and provide for his charges.
The Badger (Black Marked Face) was appointed Guardian of the South and his color is the Red of the distant mountains. He is highly regarded for his perseverance in the face of adversity.
The East was assigned to the Wolf (Hang Tail) and his color the white of the daylight. The Wolf is extremely loyal and possesses the cunning to fend off one's enemies.
The Mole, Master of the lower region, exhibits flexibility and fidelity. His color is black. The mole's burrowing ability illustrates why he is revered. He has the flexibility to change direction at a moment's notice to avoid danger and his burrows often become traps for his predators.
The Eagle (White Cap) guards the Upper region. The Eagle represents all colors and is said to be indefatigable. He tirelessly flies around his domain preserving its openness. He symbolizes free spiritedness.
The Zuni believe that their carved effigies of these animals embody the same traits and powers as their living forms and can provide their possessors with similar traits if their likenesses are well cared for by those bearing them. Read more about Zuni Fetishes here http://www.agalleryofnations.com/understandfetish_.html

National American Indian Month

Eleanor with Fetish bowl by her Aunt Edna Leki

A passion for art runs in Eleanor Lefthand’s family, and Eleanor shares that tradition with the community through her online business, A Gallery of Nations. Eleanor’s Weahkee family from Zuni Pueblo, NM has an established presence in the art circles of museums, art shows and collectors. It was Eleanor’s vision to take that tradition and share it on the World Wide Web.

A Gallery of Nations has been online at http://www.agalleryofnations.com/ since 2004. The online gallery has evolved and grown over the last three years, now encompassing more than just the family’s art. “I have expanded my knowledge of Native Art and the many forms of expression and mediums in which my fellow Indians present their art, which has enriched and deepened my commitment to exposing as many Native artists and their work to the online business,” writes Eleanor.

Fetish necklace by Lena Boone

Eleanor stresses that “the old saying: ‘If I can do it so can you’ applies” to e-commerce. She writes that she is no computer guru but still is figuring out what makes an online store, no doubt aided by her love of learning new things. One such new thing is looking into producing video demonstrations of artists and their work—specifically to inspire Native youth.

Through A Gallery of Nations, Eleanor is not only learning but also growing her business. “As I continue to build my business I am seeing the benefits of sharing my experiences with other Indians, who may also want to venture into an online store. Economic Development is the latest buzz word in Indian Country; I want to be a contributing part of that growth.” If you are Native American or a Native American organization and interested in venturing into e-commerce, Eleanor is available for consulting.

When asked what was most special about A Gallery of Nations, Eleanor replied that it was “the connections with the family, artists and to meet artists from all different Tribes… hearing their stories and seeing the many forms of artwork being done today.”

Eleanor has learned, accomplished and shared much with the community through A Gallery of Nations. However, she writes that it would not have happened without “help from family and friends encouraging, adding new ideas, what ifs, try this and editing.” Through this process, A Gallery of Nations is not just about art and e-commerce, it is “a community that can be shared.”

You can contact Eleanor Lefthand at info@agalleryofnations.com


Indianpreneurship®: A Native American Journey into Business

reprinted from Onaben.org

Helping your Neighbors

For the people of San Diego county my prayers are with you. My family members in the city of Carlsbad be safe. Just talked to Sister; she had to leave the house in Carlsbad packed up and drove through areas of dark thick smoke. They are ok for now just staying indoors because of the air being so thick with smoke.

Native american Issues

Technorati Profile

Music by Native Americans

Something new from www.agalleryofnations.com I just thought I would try my hand at another form of media. We as Native Americans have many Artists who are Talented in many ways,one is music. I will continue to explore and add more Talented Natives and their work.

Native Art

Just wanted to share a bit of history about the Grandmother Fetish Necklace. The one shown here is a piece by the Quandelacy Family of artists from Zuni Pueblo,NM. The fetish necklace is called Grandmother because the first one made by the Quandelacy family was a gift for Ellen Quandelacy,the head of the family. Many members of the family including Faye,Georgia,Albenita,Andres and Brian,have carved the animals and brought them to Faye to make this beautiful necklace. The center pendent is a Turquoise Corn Maiden on one side and a Grandmother "the wise elder" on the opposite side. There is a Jet bear inlaid with a sunface design.A shell turtle with very fine details,a smaller corn maiden with exquisite carving in such a small piece,the turquoise mountain lion has a coral heart line and eyes highly polished. The Mother of Pearl Eagle is beautiful in its lines carved on its wings. You can even feel each kernel on the piece of corn. Some of the stones used are Spiny oyster shell,Jet,Turquoise.

At http://www.agalleryofnations.com/Necklaces_.html Is another wonderful Fetish Necklace carved by Lena Boone one of Zuni Pueblo's premier artists. This necklace is of Fossilized Walrus Ivory and has 21 carved animals. Look close at the Hummingbirds. Lena is very proud of these. As Lena has said it takes a skilled and steady hand and patience because many times the stones being carved just break its such a small piece to work on. The animals are strung on very dark rich red coral beads, a nice contrast to the Ivory.

Come by and visit and see more examples of beautiful Jewelry by Zuni Artists at

http://www.agalleryofnations.com/earrings1.html

What an Honor

What a great time I had, visiting family at Zuni.I really felt it was time to catch up with all the family news. I stayed with Lena at Blackrock,because her house by the family group of homes was being remodeled. We laughed and told stories and I was introduced to extended family members. Lots of beautiful babies,all the babies get much attention,I really can't remember a crying uncomfortable baby.Just big brown eyes taking in all the activities.
One lazy afternoon as we all sat in Dinah's backyard,we talked about my Aunt Edna, Dinah, Lena and Sandra's mom. I have several of Edna's fetish bowls and I was interested in finding out more about the bowls. Since Sandra helped her mom, I thought she might be the next person to carry the tradition of making the fetish bowls. After a short silence Sandra started by saying no I don't think so because of all the time and work involved with each piece. Well that just increased my interest. I had to ask what work? Please tell me more. Sandra in her very soft voice said well,I would have to grind down the turquoise, to get it the right size,and sometimes the stones didn't want to be crushed. The turquoise has to be very fine. Then comes the washing of the stones and picking out all the discolored ones and odd sizes. Again Sandra said lots of work. Then there is more washing,the turquoise has to be very clean for the adhesive to work. The adhesive was a recipe of ingredients that Aunt Edna had made up, I didn't ask Sandra or Lena if they know the ingredients.I'll leave that as a family secret. All the fetishes on the bowls were carved by Edna. I have an example of one bowl here http://www.agalleryofnations.com/pottery.html I am very honored to have Fetish bowls that my Aunt Edna made. As we sat and chatted about the art work being done by the family I asked who is all carving now. Lena said almost all of the family. The list of carvers is growing and the younger ones are now working on fetishes. The sense of family history and style of carving is being carried on today and can be seen in the work of Debra Gasper,Evalena Boone,Leland Boone,Micheal Weahkee,Peter Gasper Jr. all the old style that Grandfather Teddy Weahkee did in the early 1950s. As the afternoon went on I felt a quiet loneliness of the family that miss their mother and my Aunt Edna. I just wanted to share a little about Zuni
Fetish bowls.

Looking Forward to Indian Market,Santa Fe

Just talked with Lena Boone about this years Indian Market Days in Santa Fe,N.M. sounds like a lot of work, but that is where the family gets many orders for the Fetishes they carve. Plus as many of the family members attend the younger ones get to experience the event. I hope to have a display for http://www.agalleryofnations.com/ at the event. I am excited about that to see if we get traffic to the site. After all its the place to find most of Lena's work and Fetishes by Peter and Dinah Gasper. I know Debra and Ray Tsethlikai will be there too with their work. If you haven't attended an Indian Market this is one of the biggest and the best. The dates are

August 18-19 its been said this is the place Where Native Art meets the World. Great statement. Just thought I'd place a picture of a fetish here to show Lena's work!

Indians Helping Indians

Sounds like a win-win situation,right? Wrong... I am Indian and searching for help with promoting my wesite http://www.agalleryofnations.com/ I have visited many sites with Economic Development as their titles..Seem like the place to be if looking for help.. After all I am developing a source of income for my self and not standing in a line waiting for a hand out. I am not afraid of hard work and just need a helping hand. Some forms of advertising would be great!

You would think that all our Indian Casinoes could at least display an ad for its Tribal members in/on their advertising media. Wrong again!! Indian entrepreneurship is the latest buzz in Indian money,funding wonder where it is all going? Just thought I'd write my 2 cents worth today.. Looking forward to tomorrow with a smile.

Native American Programs that work

That is a question.... If you know a good program that has the very best interest of the avg. Indian in mind and really wants to be of help let me know ...I have searched the web for quite awhile and found many sites that preach help however they are only helping themselves...to grants and funding ...... also do you know of a good way to get your site in a good rating on google with out the paying part?? Let me know here.

What is an Indian today?

Do other Indians struggle with the thoughts of not enough Indian but still Indian?