Why would anyone in his right mind want to become an Indian trader? First he had to learn the native language, no little chore in itself, then isolate himself in a barren country surrounded by members of a foreign society, whose social patterns and thought processes he had to learn and adjust himself to, all for the sake of a small monetary benefit. Why then become an Indian trader? A question often asked of the early traders!

Dean Kirk owned and operated the trading post at Manuelito, NM. He also owned and operated the Lone Mountain turquoise mine in Nevada, where each summer he and several Navajos would mine the turquoise, weather permitting. Dean wanted to bring a new style of Navajo jewelry to the public and hired Navajo bench smiths to create his vision. He taught them how to cut stones, both cabs and inlay. He combined Navajo, Hopi overlay and Zuni inlay all together in many of his pieces. He then distributed this work to the many trading post in both Arizona and New Mexico. If you’ll look, I bet you have a piece of their jewelry in your collection.