As a non-Native person, and at the risk of being labeled just another one of those annoying “woke” elitists, I applaud the decision of Fort Lewis College to postpone the “Saving Navajo Weaving” lecture by Jackson Clark, II, as one of the lifelong Learning series talks.

Mr. Clark’s stated assertion that white traders “saved” the art of Navajo weaving appears to discount the complicated and debatable history of how the relationship between weavers and traders came about, as well as the monetary benefit to the traders.

It is undeniable that Mr. Clark is an expert on Diné weaving – as a non-Native gallery owner. Perhaps the talk could be organized as a debate or panel that includes Native voices. That could be fascinating.

Who benefited most, the Diné weavers or the traders? What was that relationship like? What were the patterns of exchange? How were negotiations conducted? Who saved whom? I don’t know the answers, but I would like to hear both sides.

Patricia Ellen Taylor

Durango