ROCKING MOCCASINS
Event focus on keeping moccasin-making tradition alive
GALLUP — For Donnaleigh Dedman, the room of Navajo moccasin-makers represented a return to self-sufficiency and being self-sustaining. “I like this room of Navajo people making moccasins,” Dedman said Nov. 8. “This is what it should be like. Not us running into town to buy moccasins from the white man. Unfortunately, I have to say that.”
There were six Navajo moccasin makers, including Dedman, in the large atrium of the Navajo Nation Museum and Library, and each them had a table where they were working on a pair of moccasins.
Their tables also showcased their finished moccasins.
The gathering of moccasin makers was part of the Navajo Nation Museum Arts, Cultural, Language Immersion, Lecture & Working Series that Clarenda Begay, the museum curator, organized.
The “Moccasin Demonstration & Sales; Celebrating Native American Heritage Month” drew a room full of people of all ages, who sat quietly as each moccasin maker talked about his or her craft and shared traditional Navajo stories about moccasins.
But as soon as the presentations were over, they moved to the tables to talk one-on-one with the moccasin makers and to buy or order a pair of moccasins.
Dedman was the only female moccasin maker and the only moccasin maker who made contemporary moccasins, which she called “moccasin racers.”
Moccasin racers
The two pairs of moccasin racers that sat on her table were a plush turquoise color that contrasted beautifully with the wide white shoe laces and white soles that were made of cow hide.
If you saw the moccasin racers from a distance, you would mistake them for a pair of high top or low-cut sports shoes.
Dedman said she created her moccasin racer for a teenager, who was part Navajo and not very traditional.
She remembered that he was wearing a pair of sports shoes that were too big for him. “I felt bad for him and I said, ‘When I get good at making moccasins, I’m going to make that kid a pair,’” Dedman said.
She said she learned how to make moccasins during the fall last year, so it was either January or February when she felt she was good enough to make a moccasin for the young man. But then tax season rolled around, and the teen’s parents had enough money to buy him a pair of shoes that fit him.
Dedman smiled and said she continued working on her design and made her first pair of moccasin racers for her daughter and then she made a pair for her mom.
She said she started orders for her moccasin racers after she showcased them at the annual Navajo Nation Fair in September.
Dedman said she works on her moccasin racers during the weekends because she has a full-time job, horses and family.
She’s also in the process of learning how to tan cowhide, which she will use for the soles of her racers.
A relative gave Dedman a cowhide from a cow that he butchered.
She said her uncle told her to immediately cut off the fat and meat from the cowhide, salt it and let it sit, which will create natural juices that will make the hair come off.
“So, I’m actually able to just pull that (hair) off,” Dedman said excitedly.
She said that after she pulls off all the hair, she’ll wet the hide down, salt it and stake it out to dry.