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History of trading posts and the post at Two Grey Hills
Navajo Indians were nomadic people living in the southwest over 500 years
ago. They traded with both the Pueblo Indians and also later with the
Spanish who came to the southwest. After the area became under the
control of the United States in the mid 1800's, trading posts began
to be established.
For Navajos living in northwest New Mexico, trading posts in the 1860's
offered modern items both Indians and settlers wanted. Travel was limited
to horse and wagon. So local trading posts opened to stock goods folks
couldn't produce for temselves--for example, coffee, flour, tools and
hardware, among others.
Traders and trading posts also served as a way for outsiders to buy what
Navajos made--jewelry, wool and finely-woven textiles including blankets
and rugs, among others. Traders and weavers worked together to develop
unique designs to identify the reservation where items were made.
By the 1920's, several styles of rugs were identified with New Mexico
Indian Reservations--such as blankets and rugs from Crozier (now Two Grey
Hills), New Mexico, and Ganado, from Teec Nos Pos. They designs were often
named for the trading post in the area where they were made.
The Two Grey Hills Trading Post is over a century old--it's one of the
few remaining historic posts on a Navajo Indian Reservation. It's the
primary source of authentic regional rugs and tapestries. The fabric is
made of handspun yarn from the fleece of naturally-colored local Churro
sheep, and includes shades of gray, brown, black and white.
The original stone and adobe store still serves the local Dine community,
supplying their needs and buying for resale their arts and crafts. Just
a few Bilagaana each week seek out this unique site, between the Chuskas
Mountains and the Chaco River.
Years ago rural trading posts served as general stores and community
centers for small local areas of the Navajo reservation. Very few
survived to remain open today. Fewer still have continued trading in the
goods produced by their local artists. From the handful of such stores
still in existence, one or two go out of business every year.
The Two Grey Hills Trading Post has been less affected by tourist travel
than have some others. Operating in isolation for over 90 years with no
identifying signs, it's well known only to Navajos. It's now listed on
the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties. A few visitors and
collectors do visit the Post.
The trading post has changed over the years to serve the needs of
the community. All the essentials are here, from microwave sandwiches and
Huggies to kerosene lamps, enamel pots, fresh mutton, and washboards.
Neighbors drop by to pick up their mail or cash a check. They may bring
pinon nuts, wool, handmade weaving tools, or rugs and other arts to sell or
trade. A few locally-made pots, mud toys, wedding baskets, and miniature
looms are usually on hand.
While handspinning is almost extinct in other parts of the reservation,
about half of the weavers here still handcard their wool and spin it on
the traditional spindle. Traders pay a premium for rugs made of handspun wool.
Weavers all over the reservation, and off, now copy the
Two-Grey-Hills-style rug, but usually substitute mill-spun yarn that's
commercially dyed to resemble the natural sheep colors.