I have been trying to acquire Navajo ceremonial objects from collectors and galleries.  There are many Navajo ceremonial medicine bundles, called jish in Navajo, ceremonial masks, rattles, memory aids, feather plumes, and other objects in private collections, auction houses, and galleries. Ceremonial Navajo items were made by Navajos for the sole purpose of use in ceremony and spiritual practices.  These items were not made for sale to non-Navajos. I have been saving money to purchase some these objects, but I cannot afford all the objects. 

In November 2008, I met a couple from Atlanta, Georgia, David and Laura. They were kind to host me in their home which houses collections of art from all over the world.  Their home is like a gallery!  David was giving me a tour of their home and I noticed a Navajo medicine bundle, jish, in a curio case on their wall.  We looked at it and it was indeed a jish. David and Laura wanted to return the medicine bundle to me, but I had to call my uncle who is both a traditional Dine’ medicine man and a Native American Church medicine man.  As it turns out my uncle asked me to accept the bundle and return it to the Dine’ medicine people, but this was after I returned to New Mexico.  David sent me the bundle, which they paid $3,000 for in the early 1990s. I received Navajo jish via overnight FedEx in Santa Fe, NM where I work the following week.  I then took the next day off and took it to my uncle who re-blessed it and returned to use by the Dine’ medicine people.

The kindness of David and Laura and their concern to return the bundle to the rightful owners inspired me to continue to pursue Dine’ medicine bundles, rattles, memory aids, and other objects.  I found 2 objects that are available for sale at galleries.  I know there are collectors out there who have the medicine bundles and objects I am pursuing.  I ask all of you who read this to do the right thing by returning or donating any and all traditional Dine’ medicine bundles and paraphenalia to me.  My tribe and ancestors greatly appreciate your compassion and kindness in doing so.  This helps to restore the spiritual balance for the Dine’ and the universe around us. 

The two listed items are examples of what is available for sale to collectors.  I know there are many, many more items out there in private collections, auction houses and galleries.  I hope there are collectors out there who are kind and compassionate to help me in bringing spiritual balance back to my people and the rest of the world.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Please contact me if you have any questions, leads on where some objects are or if you want to return your Navajo ceremonial paraphenalia.  If and when I do receive returned Navajo ceremonial paraphenalia, I will return items to be re-blessed and spiritually restored to the proper medicine people. 

	This is a Navajo  memory aid for a ceremony. It is for sale at www.shiprocktrading.com.
	This pair of ceremonial Navajo rattles is available at the Michael Smith Gallery. http://michaelsmithgallery.com/gallery/artifacts/rattles/