THE INDIAN TRADER July 2019
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Friends of Hubbell Auctions Make Scholarship Dreams A Reality Proceeds from Semi-Annual Auctions Support Native American Students By Tom Surface
An audience of several hundred active bidders recently turned out for the Friends of Hubbell (FOH) Trading Post’s Spring 2018 Native American Arts Auction of new and very collectable Native American artifacts. The semi-annual event, held at the Gallup Community Service Center in early May, featured some 370 lots of textiles, carvings, pottery, artworks, and jewelry creations by Native artists representing tribes throughout the American Southwest. In years past, the auctions were held at the old Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Ganado, AZ. However, the team moved to its new Gallup, NM, location three years ago to better accommodate increased audience and artists participation. And this move has paid dividends for the organization. “This auction is one of the best in recent years,” noted Bill Malone, a member of the FOH board of directors. “There was great audience participation and we had good sales and very fair prices.” But the real winners of the auctions are deserving Native American students who would be unable to pursue college studies without FOH financial support. In the FOH Spring Newsletter, Chairman Frank Kohler confirmed; “Our scholarships will continue in 2019 with awards upward of $25,000-$30,000 available to 10 Native American students.” Over the years, the FOH scholarship program has awarded close to $165,000 to Navajo and Hopi college students. At the spring auction, a number of Native artisans were in attendance to help with the auction of their creations. Among them was noted Hopi carver Eddison Torivio Jr. who helped the auctioneers with the sale of several of his pieces. Also, renowned Navajo weaver Victoria John personally
A magnificent 3 panel Teec Nos Pos weaving by Betty Bahe measured 6’ X 9’ .
Auctioneer gaveled this beautiful piece “sold” at the Friends of Hubbell Spring Auction.
showcased her Two Grey Hills rug to bidders on the floor. Her intricate weaving sold for $1,765, and was a real bargain to the winning bidder. A unique aspect of the FOH auctions is the opportunity of artists and buyers to directly negotiate post auction sales for items not sold during the auction. Once the item has gone through the auction and does not sell, the artists are free to negotiate with traders and buyers on a sale price. The daylong spring auction also featured more than 15 Native vendors selling arts and crafts directly to guests throughout the preview hours and auction. The Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, AZ, has been a direct point of contact between cultures for more than 140 years. John Lorenzo Hubbell purchased the trading post in 1878; ten years after Navajos were allowed to return to their homeland from their forced exile at Bosque Redondo, Ft. Sumner, NM. During the four years spent at Bosque Redondo, Navajos were introduced to many new items. Traders like Hubbell supplied those items once they returned home. Hubbell family members operated the trading post until it was sold to the National Park Service in 1967. The trading post is still active, and operated by the non-profit organization, Western National Parks Association, which maintains the trading traditions established by the Hubbell family. Friends of Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Inc. is a notfor-profit organization for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes. Its mission is to maintain, preserve and enhance the general public’s awareness of the cross-cultural heritage of the Southwest as represented in The Hubbell traditionally operated historic trading post. Friends of Hubbell aid and promote the management programs and objectives of the National Park Service at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site and works to extend the Hubbell legacy by helping revitalize Native American arts and crafts, and provide scholarships for Native American college students. The Friends of Hubbell Trading Post 2019 Fall Auction is scheduled for September 28, 2019, at the Gallup Community Service Center. For more information go to: www.friendsofhubbell.org.
