Mary Sobralske, PhD, MSN, RN Assistant Professor of Nursing

Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

509.324.7208marysobralske@wsu.edu

nursing.wsu.edu© 2008 WSU Intercollegiate College of NursingGraphic Design and Illustration—Susan Lyons

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y { &The Art of Navajo Weaving Leadership in Native American Cultures

Mary Sobralske, PhD, MSN, RN

Background• The art of Navajo weaving represents changes that mirror

culture & history of Navajo people. • Weaving tells a story which represents viewpoint much like

nursing leadership.• Goal of nursing leaders is to learn about human cultures.• To understand how culture has impact on health & welfare. • Effective nurse leaders recognize importance of culture in

health care delivery (Nichols, 2004). • Cultural knowledge, understanding, & competency are

basic tenets of nursing care. • Navajo culture relied on oral history, story-telling, & other

forms of communication to carry on traditions & beliefs.• Weaving tells a story, explains an opinion, reveals an

emotion, & relates an idea. • Story intends to promote empathic understanding.• Symbols represent ideas that elicit emotions & represent

cultural beliefs. • Deep-seated meaning and provoke strong emotions.• May be difficult for an outsider to comprehend. • Symbols depict transitions in life cycle of human

existence. • Meaningful in promoting health & balance. • Symbols are powerful healing tools which reverse effects

of illness. • Understanding logic & meaning of symbols can

strengthen nurse leaders. • In Navajo mythology women learned to weave from

Spider Woman.• Loom made of sky & earth, sunlight, lightning, white

shell, & crystal • Weaving takes the form of rugs, blankets, sash belts,

or baskets.

Crystal Weave• Highly distinctive, borderless, wavy bands

of colors. • Arrows, feathers, & geometric figures woven

within bands.• Origin of rug design Crystal area western

edge of northern New Mexico.• Feather motif commonly used in Shiprock,

New Mexico area. • Shiprock is a rock formation that holds

historical & mythological significance in Navajo culture.

• Shiprock represents eagle that flew deep into earth & first brought Navajos to Southwestern United States (Campbell, Kopp, & Kopp; 1991).

• Shiprock is a remnant of volcanic eruption.• Considered sacred ground.

Yeibechai Rug• Yeibechai rug has elaborate designs &

distinctive colors. • Story it tells contains anthropomorphic

female Yei dancers & stylized corn plants.ª Yei are thin figures with arms & legs. ª Symbols originally seen in Navajo sand

paintings (Hedlund, 1992). • Yeibechai literally means grandfather of the

holy people. • Yei are supernatural beings with spiritual

relationship to Navajos & environment (Hedlund, 1992).

• Yeibechai healing ceremony lasts several days during winter.

ª Yei dancers appear, setting up environment that enables patient to heal (Faris, 1986).

Nursing Leadership in Native American Culture

• InNativeAmericancultureleadershipmeansmentoringyoungpeople(Nichols,2004).

• Inspire&mobilizethecommunity.• Demonstrateimportantculturalvaluesin

theiractions.ª Attributessuchashumility.ª Aquietpresence.ª Beingwise,reflective,&spiritual.• Leadersexperienced&oftenolder.• Effectiveleaderscreate,affirm,&rejuvenate

traditionalculturalactivities&ceremonies(Louie,1997).

• Leaderisagoodcommunicator&storyteller.• Usesmetaphorstoshareavisionofthe

future.• Storytelling&oralhistoryintegraltomany

tribalcultures.• Leadershiprequiresskillstohelppreserve

culture&language&educatechildren.• Eldershippredominatethemewithinmany

NativeAmericancultures.• Eldersdesignatedcaretakersoftheearth

(Suzuki&Knudtson,1992).• Elders’roleinherentlysacred.• Strengthflowsfromprofoundsenseof

relationshipwithnatural&spiritualworld.• Nursingleadersarewisetolearnfromtribal

elders.ª Quietlylistening&consultingthem.ª Helpguidetheminmakingdecisions

aboutwhatisbestfortribe.ª Whatwillbeembracedbythe

community.ª Gainingsupportfromtribalmembers.

Connection Between Nursing Leadership &

Navajo Weaving •Navajoweavingcombineselementsintoa

whole.ª Bringingtogetherthreads&strands.ª Interlacing,interconnecting,joining.ª Threadingin&out,back&forth,

up&down.•LikeaNavajoweaving,leadershiphas

boundaries.ª Keepingfollowerssafefrom

theenvironment.•Leadersupholdculturaltraditions.ª Transmitculturetonextgeneration.ª Integrateculturalbeliefs,values,

practices,&customs.ª Interlaceattitudes&historyinto

leadershipabilities&style (Sanchez,Plawecki,&Plawecki,1996).

ª Maintain&reinforceculturewhile exploringnewideas.

Suggestingchangesinculturaltraditions ifnecessary.

•TheartofhealthcareleadershipisliketheartofNavajoweaving.

•Weavingtogetheruniqueindividualsintothefabricoforganizations&communities.

•Leadershonorwhatindividualsbringtotheweaving.

ª Eachstrandisspunbyanindividual. Butstrandsboundtogetherarestronger. Canwithstandmorestress.ª Eachstrandisuniqueinitsdye.ª Fabriccanberough&textured. Butroughsurfaceswithflaws&nubs

alladdtothebeautyofthewhole weaving.

Weaving & Meaning in Nursing Leadership

Wedding Basket• Navajoweddingbasketsymbolicof

Navajouniverse.ª Representsrelationshipbetween

MotherEarth&herworld.• UsedspecificallyintraditionalNavajo

weddingceremony.• Ceremonialbasketsymbolizeslife,the

environment,andtheencompassinguniverse.

• Representshistory,beginningwithcenterholewhereoneisborn&dwellsamongtheplains&sacredmountains(Jackson,1995).

• HolerepresentsNavajoemergencestoryhowNavajosfirstcametobe.

• Weavingdepictsthecomplicatedweboflife.ªRedportionofbasketisarainbow,

exemplifyingayoungcouple’sdestination inlife.

ªBlackportionsareclouds&darkheavens. Likemostmarriages,coupleswill

experiencestormytimes.ªWhiteareassignifywater&dawn,

bringbeautifulthoughts&newgrowth.• Cornmealplacedinbasketduringwedding

ceremony.ªSymbolizesfertility&health

innewmarriage.

Sis La Chiii Sash Belt• Sis la chiii a woven ceremonial sash for

Kinaalda female puberty rite.ªSymbolizes abdominal binder that

women wear after delivering babies. Abdominal binder once used routinely

after giving birth. Helps massage & strengthen uterus

after baby born. ª Represents stage of transition from youth

to adulthood. ª Encompasses concepts of health, growth,

responsibility, change, & womanhood (Frisbie, 1967) .

• Navajo tradition to perform a Kinaalda for girl after onset of first menses (O’Brien, Anslow, Begay, Pereira, & Sullivan, 2002).

ª Dramatic 4 day & night ceremony to usher girl into Navajo society, adulthood, eventual marriage, and motherhood.

ª Kinaalda ceremony among Navajos involves positive blessings, insures health, prosperity, & well being of the girl.

Protects her from potential misfortune.ª Typical Navajo ceremony with songs,

prayers, & purification rites.