Support Traditional Navajos At Annual Rug Sale

In today's fast-paced world there are not many Native Americans in Utah who try to traditional lifestyles. It's difficult making a living by hand-crafting jewelry and wool rugs. It takes time - hour upon hour - to create things using traditional materials and methods.

And, after you create them, how do you market handmade items?

The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program provides some help. Every year the program sponsors a rug and craft sale, held at Deer Valley Ski Resort. The sale will be held this weekend, beginning Friday, Nov 2 and running through Sunday. Here are some details. Read more about the sale here.

This special event provides attendees the opportunity to experience Navajo culture through demonstrations of weaving, singing and other traditions; and to help support Navajo elders by purchasing their hand-woven rugs and hand-crafted jewelry.

"The Rug Show offers guests a unique opportunity to learn more about the Navajo way of life and to meet 30 elders and their families who will travel from their native homeland to Park City. From its humble beginnings, just a few rugs at the Kimball Art Center, the Rug Show has evolved into what may be the largest event of its kind in the country. More than 700 rugs will be on display and available for purchase at the show. The proceeds from the rug sales go directly to the weaver."

Food and clothing collected during the show and all funds generated from the sale of rugs and jewelry go directly to the elders. The Rug Show is supported by grants from the Utah Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Summit County Restaurant Tax.

Here is a news release about the rug sale.

On a related note, the Utah Valley University Native Sun Club will sponsor its 2012 UVU Pow Wow in the Grande Ballroom November 2nd & 3rd. Here are details.