Seventeen FMS families began learning the art of weaving from scratch during our Summer Weaving Workshop on June 2-3, 2023.
Our presenter, Mr. Lyle Harvey, laced Diné traditions and words as he guided our families through the process of creating a loom first using warp sticks, a batten, a weaving fork, and wool yarn. Mr. Harvey told the group that he inherited this skill from his grandparents when he was just eight years old.
Once the base of the loom was made, shed and heddle rods and the warp or vertical threads of yarn were added. It was during day two that our families began learning how to weave.
“The top of the loom symbolizes the sky. The bottom is the earth. And the strings are the rain, which can connect the elements,” explained Mr. Lyle Harvey.
The workshop ended with a delicious traditional meal of steamed corn stew, steamed vegetable stew, frybread, and blue mush provided by Mr. Irving Shaggy. Mr. Shaggy, a former IEC chair, made the meal using fresh ingredients from his farm in Shiprock.
Maybe we’ll see you at the next workshop, FMS families! Ahéhee'.
This workshop was sponsored by FMS Native American Programs. For upcoming events, make sure to follow the FMS Native American Programs Facebook page.