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UNMGallup student Regina Castillo shows her progress on her weaving project in downtown Gallup on Friday, April 10, 2026.

Dyeing to learn Navajo weaving

Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

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UNMGallup students connect with culture and gain hands-on experience in traditional art form

By Renaldo Fowler, Friday, June 5, 2026

GALLUP, N.M. — Behind the Weaving In Beauty shop in downtown Gallup, students gained hands-on experience dyeing their own wool as part of the Navajo weaving class through UNMGallup on Friday, April 10.

UNMGallup adjunct faculty member Gloria Begay, who teaches Navajo weaving, prepared for her instruction by boiling large pots of water and laying out bundles of Navajo tea, sagebrush, cedar, and onion skins. During that time, students worked in pairs and prepared skeins of wool for dyeing.

Castillo instead enrolled for a part-time semester, signing up for UNMGallup’s Navajo weaving, Navajo II, and cycling courses.

Castillo shared that weaving was a part of her childhood. Her grandmother was a weaver, and she recalled watching her grandmother spin wool.

During her childhood, Castillo spent summers helping her grandmother care for sheep. This involved shearing the sheep and washing the wool to prepare for weaving. Castillo also helped pick herbs and berries to be used for dyeing wool.

Her grandma inspired her weaving work throughout the course.

UNMGallup student Adam Blanchard described the class as challenging but enjoyable.

“I like it,” he said. “I’m keeping up with the tradition and language.”

Gloria Begay is scheduled to teach a Navajo weaving class (ARTS 221) during the 2026 fall semester. The three-credit, in-person course is scheduled from noon to 3:40 p.m. Fridays.

To learn how to enroll in the Navajo weaving course or other courses at UNMGallup, visit the Getting Started website here.

UNMGallup student Nakeisha Begaye shows her first completed weaving project in downtown Gallup on Friday, April 10, 2026.