Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: sheep
Practices
- Farm Business Management: new enterprise development, budgets/cost and returns, cooperatives, marketing management
Proposal summary:
The Navajo, or Dine, of Black Mesa in northeastern Arizona, among the most traditional indigenous populations in the United States, continue their struggle to preserve their culture, land, water and way of life. In 1998, a nonprofit Dine enterprise called Black Mesa Weavers for Life and Land was formed. Its goal: to improve the economic and social conditions of Black Mesa Dine by preserving the traditions, namely through the shepherding and sale of wool and weavings. Carol Halberstadt of Newton, Mass., coordinator of the Western SARE marketing project and founder of the nonprofit enterprise, seeks to enhance the sales begun five years ago through a print and outreach advertising campaign. Included will be advertising in spinning and knitting magazines and Web sites, direct mail and visits to key sheep and wool festivals.