Weavers

Helen Rose Lewis


Yá’át’ééh! I am Helen Rose Lewis and I live in Teesto, Arizona. I was born in 1941 on the Navajo Reservation. My mother is Jenny Paddock and is of the Tocheenie Clan.

I have been weaving to support my family for over 40 years. It is good for me to sell my rugs through Adopt-A-Native-Elder. I try to sell my rugs on my homeland, but it’s hard to sell them there.

I was taught to prepare the loom and weave rugs by my mother. I use both yarn that is already dyed and my own wool. My favorite colors are red, white, black, grey, and brown. I weave throughout the year and spend two to three hours a day at my loom. I will sing traditional songs as I prepare the loom and weave. There are also other weaving traditions that are hard to say in English and are secret.

Sometimes I don’t have money to buy food or firewood. During the winter cold season we need lots of woods to keep us warm and to cook. The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program really helps me so much in many ways. Thank you all.