Navajo-Churro sheep are descended from the Churra, a very old breed of sheep from the Castile and León region of Spain. Churra sheep were brought to North America by the conquistadors to provide food and wool for their troops and settlers in the early 1500’s.

The Spaniards prospered along the upper Rio Grande Valley and it didn’t take them long to conflict with the indigenous people of the area, the Pueblo. If you’re so inclined, there has been plenty written on the history of this time period but for now I’ll just say, there was a whole lot of raiding and killing and stealing that happened. The Pueblo people put up a good resistance but, as we all know, this was a fight they couldn’t win. Many Pueblo people were forced into slavery. Some of the main chores they were made to do for the Spanish were sheep tending and weaving textiles.

So naturally they mastered those those crafts and Churra sheep became an integral part of their culture. As time went on, the demand for finer wool in North American and Europe grew. European settlers started breeding for sheep with finer wool. Many Churra sheep on larger ranches in the Southwest were bred with Merinos or English sheep to improve the fineness of their wool. However, in the remote Navajo villages, Churra sheep were not cross-bred with other breeds.

Then came the Long Walk.

The United States Government decided they were tired of the opposition the Navajo were putting up over European settlers encroaching into their sacred lands. They sent Kit Carson out with instructions to destroy Navajo orchards and flocks. There was much bloodshed and in 1865 approximately 9,000 Navajos were forced on the Long Walk of 300 miles to an interment camp at Bosque Redondo, New Mexico. Now this camp wasn’t what you’d call four star accommodations. A lot of Navajos died there never to see their home ever again. Some were lucky enough to escape capture and avoid the Long Walk. They hid with their sheep in remote canyons of New Mexico and Arizona.

After three years, the Navajo were returned to their homeland and were issued two "native" sheep per person. Under the expertise of the Navajo, the sheep flourished. By 1930, there were over 574,000 sheep on the Navajo reservation. A drought hit around 1930 and the U.S. government stated that increasing herds of livestock created erosion in parts of the Navajo lands. It was determined that that the Navajo livestock numbers need to be reduced.

Again there was resistance and again the Navajo drew the losing straw. Livestock was forcibly slaughtered and arrests were made. This part of Navajo history has been called the Second Long Walk.

Today there is a concerted effort to preserve Churra sheep. The wool is course and extremely durable. Churro wool rugs made by the Navajo are known to be some of the finest rugs to be found the world over. Navajo saddle blankets are equally beautiful and useful.

I chose to use churro wool to make my tassels because of the strength of the fiber and the strength and tenacity of the Navajo people as told through the history of the Churra sheep.

Brief History on Churro Wool