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Show WASATCH WESTERN MOUNTAIN TIMES WOMAN LINDA MYERS — SPEAKS With Loving Hands By Teri Orr inda her, It is the Navajo Myers walks in beauty. It is before her, behind her, above her and around Prayer, a blessing way. Listening to the willowy blonde talk is only half the experience. You need to watch her talk, as well. Her eyes are the bright sky blue of a cloudless day and she rarely looks directly at you. Her hands are constantly in motion, not a fluttering motion, but a directed, flowing language where the giving hand and the receiving hand come together, often, to form a prayer. For seven years, Linda has been working on the Navajo reservation, trying to help the elders there, remain on their land. She has worked with the resisters of Big Mountain near Teesto and with traditional weavers in remote regions outside Kayenta. Her hands deliver simple foods and medicines and wool and beads to help the elders sustain themselves. Four years ago, her efforts became more organized when she began the “Adopt A Native” elder program, based out of her Prospector Square home in Park City. In the past four years, she has helped the elders sell more than $100,000 of their rare hand-crafted artwork, The real beauty of the program is that 100 percent of the proceeds are returned directly to the grandinothers. Down on the land, the women with the leathered faces follow Linda around and place small tokens in her hands. Sometimes, they are gifts from the earth: feathers, plants, stones. Other times the gifts are simply beadwork or tiny turquoise necklaces. She brings all the giveaways home, knowing they giver. represent the spirit of the And it is with her hands, Linda creates her own artwork. Weavings, prayer sticks, shields, and cuddly oatmeal bears — who become medicine bears and chief bears and grandfather bears. Wise counselors to comfort and advise. In her Main Street store; “Pleasures,” she has displayed some of her hand-crafted work: A large shield made from yucca, a plant often used in healing ceremonies, is titled “Rainbow Sister.” It is a very special piece depicting Grace Smith Yellowhammer — at least her essence — who is a spiritual leader of the elders of Big Mountain. Grace often testifies before the United Nations on behalf of her people. But in the Rainbow bridge between Grace who Adopt A Native reservation. two that forms the cultures, helped Linda Elder Their hands, extended, each woman ture, with the rainbow it start Program on she says, was the the are in her own cul- bridging the gap. The “Rainbow horsehair. and “the bird that food,” and Sister” has gray pheasant feathers — gives itself away for it is wrapped in a piece of Pendleton blanket. It also contains a bit of turquoise and a beaded medal- Linda Myers and a Navajo elder. lion — all gifts from leathered hands to Linda. Another piece, called “Daughter of the Newborn Lambs,” is for Mary Osborn of Big Mountain — a resister, sheepherder and weaver. One spring, Linda recalls being there to see the baby lambs and a_ shearing. She brought back some of that uncarded wool] and died it with plants she was given by the elders. Also a yucca base, “Daughter of the Newborn Lambs” is a_ shield wrapped in» an old weaving and has white horsehair “for she who comes in the spring.” It contains a basket with some of the plants used for the dyes and a necklace and another beaded medallion. A medicine bear that Linda made for a friend, holds sage “for wisdom to purify thoughts,” and sweet grass “for blessings.” The tiny ear of corn “is for abundance, that we may receive and give to sustain ourselves and others.” The red feather represents “walking the road of the heart.” The bear has a deerskin headband, a Pendleton wrap eee Landscape Architecture ¢ Custom Residential Design e Drought Tolerant Design Environmental Planning ¢ Large and Small Sight Design ¢ Project Master Planning Real e ¢ e Estate Development Environmental Analysis Project Administration Planning blanket, and a suede sash. He carries star tobacco in his beaded medicine bag and a tiny earthen basket holds corn pollen, a reminder we must all fill our bowls each day. More than 200 elders now depend on Linda’s hands to bring them needed supplies twice a year. Dozens of volunteers in Park City and Salt Lake Valley have become a part of the program and a part of the bridge of the many hands that link the cultures. The Navajos often will watch a person talk by simply staring at their hands. They look to see if you are open, if you ean give and receive. The actual words are less important than the actions. Linda Myers’ hands create, accept giveaways and give away necessities to preserve a traditional way of life. Her hands speak well for her. @ Teri Orr is a former editor of The Park Record Newspaper in Park City and has just penned her first book, “Sisters in Silence,” to be released later this year. |