Oh, shoot!

First gift misses mark, but arrows right on target

PHOENIX

An awkward moment late last year prompted the Morning Star Youth Leadership Foundation to think outside the box.

The Phoenix-based Native American youth group presented the Navajo Nation President and Vice President with gifts they picked out from the local Navajo Arts and Crafts store in Window Rock.

“We bought them mugs and tea bags,” said Morning Star cofounder Debbie Manuel.

Manuel said the mugs they purchased were made of abstract art so when the current administration received those gifts they asked if the mugs were handmade.

“They were real happy to receive those gifts but when I saw their expression I felt ashamed,” Morning Star Youth Council President Megan LaRose said. “They were wanting something made by the youth. At the time I was regretting not making them something from our own hands.”

That unpleasant moment inspired the youth group to think of other ways to show their appreciation. A few ideas floated around but they settled on making arrows since LaRose’s dad, Royce Manuel, is very knowledgeable in that craft.

As a member of the Salt River Indian Community, Royce Manuel has been making arrows all his life. In fact he learned that craft from his father and he said all Native American tribes use arrows.

“Arrows are very symbolic,” said Royce, the group’s other cofounder. “Back in the old days it was used to hunt to feed the people and it was there to protect your way of life.”

He added that arrows are made of different wood and the most common plant they used in their community was Desert Arrowweed.

The youth council collected arrowweed stems on the Verde River, near the border of the Salt River Reservation two weeks ago and they let the wood dry for a few days.

 

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