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Navajo

Colina Yazzie was born in 1959 and grew up in the Steamboat area of Northern Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. She is a member of the Totsohnii Clan. She and her husband Raymond both make jewelry as well as run a gallery in Gallup, New Mexico. Describing her creative process, Colina says, “I am the artist who puts a lot of heart into making necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. I use strands of beads which are ready to be made into jewelry. The beads I select are exceptional to me such as coral, turquoise, lapis, onyx, shell and other precious gem beads. To build the pieces with balance and beauty, it takes hours of concentration selecting beads that will bring special accent to it and the finished ends that will complement the piece.” Colina has been perfecting her jewelry making since 2000.