The Resource March 2014 Volume 1 Issue 003 | Page 21

es. Susie still has her children’s
first rugs, and her children’s creativity continues to amaze her.
“The weaver’s first rug must be
kept and all others can be given
away or sold.” That first rug is a reminder neither to despise the day
of small beginnings nor to give up.
Thus, rug weaving is akin to starting school because it takes practice, patience, time, and the will to
learn.

“A weaver is like a mathematician. Our elders never used
a ruler. They found balance within
the warp and wool. Rug weaving
is an art from. It gives you artistic and intelligent thinking.” With
these beliefs
and respect for the art, Susie nowadays has a desire to teach others
and pass on her knowledge. Even
though Chinle and Raised Outline
(Newlands) are her preferred rug
styles, she weaves other styles
for the occasional rug dress or
rug skirt. One of her distinguished
pieces traveled the world with
her daughter, Miss Navajo Nation 2002-2003, Shaunda Tsosie.

One mother even petitioned Susie to teach her daughter the art
of weaving. At
one
time,
she
had
two young
girls as pupils.
“Your learning
doesn’t stop.
It’s
always
there. It keeps
you busy.”
Te a c h ing the foundations of weaving
has deepened
the
respect
Susie has for
this art. She is
sharing a part
of her self and
spirit with each
teaching, loom
and rug. “Various
aspects
of weaving are
considered to
be alive. Your
faith and respect for it will be
your foun-

dation of the valuable goods it will
provide for you. It is your thinking,
planning, life and
happiness
for
the future.”
The principle teachings
Susie has taught
her children are
that rug weaving
means, “a person
will never be lonely when no one is
at home.” Having respect for
your loom means
that “as a weaver, you should
never
judge
someone
or
make remarks
such as ‘They
are
stupid’.”
Even
having
ill thoughts, or
cussing at the
room or rug can
affect the mind.
Life teaching, weaving
carries beliefs and history with it,

“Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war.”-Donald Trump

and both are important responsibilities and likened to a calling.

Along these lines, Susie
cherishes this gift along with the
ability and opportunities to share it
with others willing to learn. “I like
it. Shi’ Nizhoni,” she says, “I like it
very much. It’s like having arrows
in the front room; it protects you. I
enjoy it.” This mentality motivates
the start and conclusion of every
rug.

“It is believed that the rug
loom should be in the front room
where it will keep away the power
of hunger, thirst and poverty. It is
said a weaver will never starve or
hunger. For weavers, it is a weapon or shield from danger. A weaver
should never say or think a disaster will take place.”

A rug is more than an aesthetic piece for Susie because it
represents life’s struggles, challenges, and accomplishments.
Sharpening her techniques and
styles took much practice and patience, and the fruit of her perseverance