Rare Navajo artwork discovered in Belen Library
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
A piece of history resurfaced recently at the Belen Public Library, where a long-forgotten collection of Native American art was uncovered, offering a rare glimpse into cultural traditions and artistic expression.
WINDOW ROCK
A hidden collection of rare Navajo sand painting prints, created in 1942 by ethnologist Maud Oakes, has been uncovered in the Belen Public Library, offering a unique glimpse into Indigenous ceremonial life and cultural preservation during World War II.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
While clearing out an office in mid-April, Belen Public Library Director Kathleen Pickering discovered a large portfolio titled “Where the Two Came to Their Father: Navajo War Ceremonial.”
The 16 stencil prints, discovered tucked behind shelves in a library’s back room, document a sacred Navajo protection ceremony performed by Jeff King, a former U.S. Army scout and respected hxataałii or traditional healer. The portfolio, quietly donated years earlier by longtime Belen resident Sharon Stevens, had remained forgotten until recently.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Belen Public Library Director Kathleen Pickering leads the way inside the Belen Public Library in Belen, N.M.
To read the full article, please see the May 22, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.
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