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GO & DO
What: Quilt show and Navajo rug sale
When: Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Palisade Church of the Nazarene, 3595 Front St.
Cost: Free
Info: 523-7494
When: Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Palisade Church of the Nazarene, 3595 Front St.
Cost: Free
Info: 523-7494
Elizabeth Johnson, a resident of the Cornfields village on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, is bringing a dozen Navajo rugs to the Grand Valley for a Quilt Show and Navajo rug sale Saturday at the Palisade Church of the Nazarene, 3595 Front St.
Johnson is the wife of the pastor of the Nazlini Church of the Nazarene in Nazlini, Ariz. The Arizona and Palisade congregations are sister churches, and for years the Palisade congregation has donated clothing and gifts to the impoverished reservation village. Two years ago several of the Palisade parishioners got together and made 20 small lap quilts for their sister parish in Arizona.
The quilters have continued to meet biweekly to sew and on Saturday will display their quilts along with the rugs that will be for sale.
Johnson grew up in a family with 12 siblings in a traditional hogan — a circular Navajo earth dwelling. She remembers often going to bed hungry. She had the opportunity to go to college and became a medical technologist, and then a hospital administrator.
A year ago, after eight years of retirement, Johnson accepted a job as community services coordinator for the Cornfields Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Cornfield is located about 200 miles east of Flagstaff.
“I came back here, to help my chapter,” Johnson said. “I enjoy helping my people.
“There are many needs here.”
Two children, ages 8 and 11, were diagnosed in 2008 with leukemia, and a another child, 6, has a tumor. They and other seriously ill residents, and elderly veterans must travel hours away to cities in Arizona or New Mexico for medical care.
It's widely suspected the cancers were caused by contamination of water by old, abandoned uranium mines on the reservation, Johnson said. The village received notice last year that one of its wells had higher than acceptable levels of uranium and arsenic in it, she said.
“There are a bunch of abandoned uranium mines of the reservation,” Johnson said. “Cancer is a top leading disease among Navajos.”
The Chapter House where Johnson works provides various services, including helping people deal with financial hardship — unemployment is about 75 percent on the reservation.
With a meager $1,000 annual budget, the Chapter House attempts to spread financial help as wide as possible by giving $50 per each application. It basically amounts to gas and food money for medical trips that often involve weeks away from home.
The Navajo Rug Project is a community effort, Johnson said. About eight weavers are paid minimum wage, and will donate the rest of the value of the rug to the Chapter House. Twelve rugs will be for sale Saturday.
Johnson will provide information about the weaver, type of design and a suggested price. Most rugs will be priced at around $200, Johnson said.
Forty-percent of Navajos, including the Johnsons, do not have electricity or running water. Most people haul water by truck from eight to 18 miles away.
“Our mission at the Chapter is community development,” Johnson said.
It hopes someday to build paved roads and bring power and water to the village.
“We have goals, but no funds,” Johnson said.
The office is currently writing proposals seeking tribal and federal grants.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
Johnson is the wife of the pastor of the Nazlini Church of the Nazarene in Nazlini, Ariz. The Arizona and Palisade congregations are sister churches, and for years the Palisade congregation has donated clothing and gifts to the impoverished reservation village. Two years ago several of the Palisade parishioners got together and made 20 small lap quilts for their sister parish in Arizona.
The quilters have continued to meet biweekly to sew and on Saturday will display their quilts along with the rugs that will be for sale.
Johnson grew up in a family with 12 siblings in a traditional hogan — a circular Navajo earth dwelling. She remembers often going to bed hungry. She had the opportunity to go to college and became a medical technologist, and then a hospital administrator.
A year ago, after eight years of retirement, Johnson accepted a job as community services coordinator for the Cornfields Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Cornfield is located about 200 miles east of Flagstaff.
“I came back here, to help my chapter,” Johnson said. “I enjoy helping my people.
“There are many needs here.”
Two children, ages 8 and 11, were diagnosed in 2008 with leukemia, and a another child, 6, has a tumor. They and other seriously ill residents, and elderly veterans must travel hours away to cities in Arizona or New Mexico for medical care.
It's widely suspected the cancers were caused by contamination of water by old, abandoned uranium mines on the reservation, Johnson said. The village received notice last year that one of its wells had higher than acceptable levels of uranium and arsenic in it, she said.
“There are a bunch of abandoned uranium mines of the reservation,” Johnson said. “Cancer is a top leading disease among Navajos.”
The Chapter House where Johnson works provides various services, including helping people deal with financial hardship — unemployment is about 75 percent on the reservation.
With a meager $1,000 annual budget, the Chapter House attempts to spread financial help as wide as possible by giving $50 per each application. It basically amounts to gas and food money for medical trips that often involve weeks away from home.
The Navajo Rug Project is a community effort, Johnson said. About eight weavers are paid minimum wage, and will donate the rest of the value of the rug to the Chapter House. Twelve rugs will be for sale Saturday.
Johnson will provide information about the weaver, type of design and a suggested price. Most rugs will be priced at around $200, Johnson said.
Forty-percent of Navajos, including the Johnsons, do not have electricity or running water. Most people haul water by truck from eight to 18 miles away.
“Our mission at the Chapter is community development,” Johnson said.
It hopes someday to build paved roads and bring power and water to the village.
“We have goals, but no funds,” Johnson said.
The office is currently writing proposals seeking tribal and federal grants.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
