Adopt-A-Native-Elder returns to Deer Valley Resort.The Park City-based nonprofit that helps provide food, firewood and other necessities to Navajo elders on reservations, will present a holiday boutique from Dec. 20-22 at the Snow Park Lodge.The boutique, which is free and open to the public, will feature authentic handwoven rugs and handmade jewelry by more than 70 weavers and jewelers, said Linda Myers, Adopt-A-Native-Elder executive director.“We have 70 weavers,” she said. “Some are young and some are older. Their ages range from about 20 to 88 years.”Most of the rugs woven by the older weavers represent the traditional Navajo weaving styles, while the younger weavers’ rugs depict winter scenes, Myers said.The money made from sales will help purchase food, firewood and yarn so those elders who live on reservations can get through the season, according to Myers.“We’re helping 864 elders now,” she said. “We’ve grown since the COVID pandemic, and we’ve picked up a lot of elders. During the pandemic we got tremendous support, because we had to move everything online. And once we did that, we were able to open up and sell to people all over the world. We are one of the best ways people could help those on the reservation provide food and firewood.”Some of the authentic, Navajo hand-woven rugs that will showcase at the Adopt-A-Native-Elder’s holiday boutique next weekend at Deer Valley Resort will feature contemporary Christmas scenes. Credit: Photo courtesy of Adopt-A-Native-ElderWhile the number of elders have grown since COVID, many others have died, Myers said.“We have lost 140 elders, and some of them were the rug-show elders,” she said. “So, it’s been pretty sad for us.”Myers thanks Catherine Bradley, Deer Valley banquet manager, for her help in facilitating Adopt-A-Native-Elder’s return to the resort.After Alterra Mountain Company bought Deer Valley five years ago, the rug show was put on hold, according to Myers.“Catherine, who used to work with us with the rug show, had been talking to Alterra because at most every resort they own, they have programs to help native people,” she said. “So Catherine put our show back in front of them.”“This boutique embodies the true spirit of the season — the tradition of giving,” Bradley said in a statement. “Through our partnership with the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program, we’re able to honor and support the dignity and traditions of the Navajo community. We invite our guests to join us in making an impact while discovering the beauty of handcrafted art and culture.” Hand-woven rugs by Navajo elders,such as this by Miriam Whitehair will be part of the Adopt-A-Native-Elder’s holiday boutique that runs Dec. 20-22 at Deer Valley Resort. The money raised will help purchase food, firewood and yarn so those elders who live on reservations can get through the winter. Credit: Photo courtesy of Adopt-A-Native ElderMyers wrote a proposal for the boutique, which mentioned how much the elders needed firewood, food and yarn, and the proposal was approved a few weeks ago.“That gave me enough time to let our elders know, and for us to get the yarn to them so they could weave so they could have money for Christmas,” she said. “A lot of them have been working on rugs and jewelry that we get every day.”Some of the works are posted online at anelder.org/Navajo-Rugs-and-Jewelry.“So if people can’t make it to the boutique, they can go there and see all that there is to offer,” Myers said.This year’s boutique also serves as a prelude for next November, when the full rug show and sale returns to Deer Valley, Myers said.“While the elders won’t attend this year, we plan to bring everything back — the powwow, the veterans ceremony — next year, and all the weavers and their families will attend,” she said. “So, this holiday boutique is kind of an announcement about our coming back as a full rug show next year, 2025. That’s the real exciting part for us.”Adopt-A-Native-Elder Holiday BoutiqueWhen: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 20-22 Where: Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge Cost: Free Web: anelder.orgThe post Adopt-A-Native-Elder returns to Deer Valley with a holiday boutique appeared first on Park Record.