Time To order Lead -NAVAJO (Dinè) portrait native american

Oil portrait of a young Navajo woman in beautiful traditional clothing from a photo by Navajo photographer Matt Toledo. My very latest portrait! --This is a reproduction--

100% of the profit from this sale will be donated to help support the wild indigenous horse population within the Navajo homeland. These horses are currently faced with systematic removal for slaughter in Mexico. Cattle and sheep overgrazing has developed into a situation of limited resources and land, which has prompted “unbranded” round-ups in return for $50 per head paid for by the Navajo Dept. of Agriculture's “Unbranded Horse Rewards Program”.

The Dinè (Navajo) people reside in their innate homeland, within four cardinal sacred mountains, encompassing portions of Arizona New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. It is from this spiritual center that horses remain sacred. The traditional leaders, Elders and Medicine People developed a resolution on August 26, 2013, that states: “Nohooká Dinè strongly oppose any and all actions by the Navajo Nation, Department of Interior and Dept. of Agriculture that leads to the mass execution of the horses that have been illegally rouned-up...these illegal actions violate Our Dinè Way of Life and Our Responsibilities as Human Beings.” The inhumane treatment of horses during this round-up and sale also alarmed the Dinè Hataalii Association, a distinguished association comprised of Dinè Medicine Men and Women. The Association responded by clearly stating they do not support or in any way condone the slaughtering of horses and the sale of horses to those that are identified as kill buyers.

This struggle between maintaining cultural traditions and being assimilated into contemporary culture is being played out on the range. Indigenous peoples see this clash as a microcosm of a much larger issue. Traditional Dinè knowledge describes the physical make-up of the horse and its connection to Nature. The horse's mane represents dark rain clouds and ensures moisture and well-being to all life forms on Mother Earth and in Father Sky. Underneath the hooves are arrowheads that ensure the protection of the Dinè people and all other life forms. With this understanding the Dinè see the inhumane treatment of the horse as a order violation against Mother Earth and her natural cycles.

About this print: In an effort to keep my art affordable, I am offering this canvas print in an open edition size 20 x 10 - for $110.00

This is a wrapped canvas that can be displayed without a frame. The original was professionally photographed to deliver the finest quality print resolution.

This painting will come in a custom cardboard box, signed by me.