sheepherder

    Article

    A sheepherder protects and manages a group of sheep, especially during open grazing. In the 1500s, sheep were first brought by the Spanish to what later became known as the U.S. Southwest. By the 1700s, sheep herding had been adopted by the Navajo, and sheep become very important to the Navajo way of life. Sheep's wool is used to weave textiles, such as rugs and blankets, and the meat is a staple of the diet.

    Photo Credit

     
    "Sheepherding," photograph, Farmington Museum ( 2006_20_587)Farmington Museum, Farmington Museum. All rights reserved. Use with permission only.

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    References

     
    Iverson, Peter
         2004   The Evolution of Navajo Culture. Navajo, Indians of North America, Heritage Edition.
             Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers.

     
    Tapahonso, Luci
         1997   Blue Horses Rush In: Poems and Stories. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.