In Defense of Indian Traders

Last week I telephoned our friend Carol, who works with the Utah Arts Council, to discuss a few things about the trading post. Carol and her staff have been helpful over the past several years, and Barry and I frequently call her to discuss a variety of issues. During this particular conversation, Carol mentioned a Navajo basket presentation Barry and I had done at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art with Lorraine Black, Peggy Black and Joann Johnson. Carol went on to ask, “Do you remember what was said to Barry by a member of the museum staff?” I had to confess that I did not.

Carol went on to tell me that the individual in question had asked, “So, are you Indian traders still taking advantage of the Natives?” Over the many years we have been in the trading post business, Barry and I have encountered that same issue in a variety of situations, so Barry may not have actually mentioned it to me. The title “Indian Trader” seems to incite passion in many people, and the passion is not always positive.

When we built Twin Rocks, the family had many discussions about what to call it. Some family members wanted it to be “Navajo Twins Trading Post,” others suggested “Bluff City Trading Post.” Several alternative names were also mentioned. The funny thing was that no matter what the proffered name, it always included the term trading post; calling it a gallery never seemed appropriate. We are, after all, southern San Juan County born and bred, stained by the red dirt, and calling the business a gallery seemed a little pretentious for people with red necks and farmers’ tans. If only because of the name we chose, we became known as Indian traders, even though the store only vaguely resembles the old time posts.

Had we the foresight to call Twin Rocks a gallery, we may have saved ourselves a lot of trouble. As everybody understands, gallery owners are not known for taking advantage of the disadvantaged. Of course, one look at Barry and me, and people would have known there was something wrong with our choice of terminology.

Carol’s question started me thinking about our relationship with members of the Southwest tribes, and about several of the early traders. Certainly there was a historical basis for the negative comment about our chosen profession. As my mind worked through the issues, I noticed a copy of the recently published photo essay entitled The Weavers Way lying on the counter.

The book has numerous photographs of contemporary Navajo rug weavers, and pictures of and commentary by five modern day Indian traders. The comments of Bruce Burnham, from Sanders, Arizona, struck me as the best illustration of how the traders we know feel about their Native American friends. While discussing how he learned the Navajo language, Bruce said, “I had also learned so much more - the culture of these beautiful people. The truest friends I have are Navajo and with that comes the moral responsibility for their welfare.”

Barry and I also believe we have a “moral responsibility” to be fair with our Native American artists. The responsibility we feel is not paternal, but is instead based upon the belief that we must treat our Indian partners with respect, honesty and dignity; and must demand the same in return. It is not only a moral imperative, it is a business necessity. We understand that our continued viability in this business is tied directly to maintaining the honest and open relationships we have with our artists and customers.

In The Weaver’s Way, Bruce, who seems to have his finger on the pulse of the contemporary Indian trader, summed things up by describing the stages of trader development, decade by decade. These are his words,

1st decade, the trader is primarily concerned with making and retaining a profit;

2nd decade, the trader lightens up, is easier to deal with, and has developed a strong sense of belonging to the community;

3rd decade, the trader becomes more involved in service and compassion for the community and thinks less of profit; and

4th decade, the trader realizes that he isn’t going to be wealthy and begins to give more back to the community;

5th decade, the trader is broke, but happy. He has valued customers from 2 to 40 years old who call him “shi chei” (Grandfather).

Depending on how we calculate our experience, Barry and I are in our third or fourth decade of trading, and have begun to realize the truth of Bruce’s words. We have long since realized the beauty of these people, the obligations we have to them and the economic realities of this business. So, the answer to the staffer’s question is an emphatic “No!”

To avoid future problems, however, Barry and I will now refer to ourselves as “Art Consultants,” and Twin Rocks Trading Post will be known as “Twin Rocks Trading Post, Art Gallery, Souvenir Shop, Store, Loan Office, Internet Connection, News Room, Historical Repository, Museum, Listening Post, Parking Lot, Psychotherapy Office, Truck Stop, Soul Therapy, Candy Store, Financial Advisory, Chat Room, Law Clinic, Church and Post Office.” If that doesn’t solve our image problem, nothing will. Barry and I are currently soliciting bids for enlarged signage.

Copyright©2004 Twin Rocks Trading Post