WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Weaving is more than just a craft for the Diné people; it is a profound expression of language and culture that intricately intertwines with our identity.
Through the art of weaving, cultural weavers like Mark Deschinny are not only preserving traditional practices but also fostering small businesses that celebrate and revitalize the Diné language.
Deschinny, who creates weaving equipment and offers services such as dyeing yarn and processing wool, has found a unique way to merge his skills with cultural significance.
After relocating to the Navajo Nation in 2001, he initially sought a technical job but discovered a greater calling through his mother, a weaving instructor.
Encouraged by her to build looms for her students, Deschinny leveraged his background in ergonomics to redesign looms, making them easier to transport.
This innovation not only honored traditional weaving techniques but also opened the door to a viable business.
“I learned how to make them (weaving tools) from our traditional background,” said Deschinny. “Bedizi, Be’ehdzo’o, Be’kintlizhi, I started having to make them. Before I was dependent on tool makers, but they’re getting harder to find because of health problems and old age.”
His work underscores the importance of language in this cultural practice; each term carries historical and practical significance that helps to pass down knowledge.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren recognized Deschinny’s efforts to bridge the gap between language, tradition, and entrepreneurship.
“I have been working towards uplifting our Dine-owned small businesses through grants with Change Labs, and it’s because of initiatives like this, what Deschinny is doing,” said President Nygren. “What he is doing is unique to us Navajos because he’s teaching younger generations the Navajo names of the tools, speaking in Navajo, and showing these younger generations how they can start their own small business simply by reconnecting with language and tradition.”
President Nygren also proclaimed Oct. 18 Diné Bizaad Teacher’s Day to highlight the revitalization efforts while at the Navajo Nation Museum, where he met Deschinny.
“Navajo language is learned through conversations and consistency,” President Nygren said. “Learning to weave is a perfect way to learn Navajo as well, and that was demonstrated by Deschinny while also learning a skill like weaving that can become a business.”
Through weaving, the Navajo language is preserved; it is actively lived and taught, creating a rich tapestry of cultural continuity for future generations.
