Navajo Relief Auction
Introducing our very first Online Auction raising funds for Navajo Nation Relief!
Let us share a little back story: Nearly a year ago, we started off our third year sponsoring the MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge. This year’s challenge presented a fictional story of a young Native American woman, dedicated to issues affecting indigenous people, at a time she is about to marry. Her mother begins thinking about what wedding gift to give her that also celebrates their heritage, which sparks an idea for a piece of jewelry utilizing family stones sourced from the land.
Which brings us back to the competition: Six designers began working to design a piece inspired by this story and were challenged to incorporate stones donated by CGH, all ethically sourced from Navajo land and surrounding areas.
Now, we reach this year’s new twist! Covid-19 was at an all time high as this competition continued and our Navajo partners began sharing some of the detrimental hardships / lack of resources the Navajo Community was experiencing. This community has become very dear to us at Columbia Gem House, so when both MJSA and the participating designers agreed to extend this competition into a fundraising auction, we were thrilled!
Beginning November 1st, the pieces you see here will be available to bid on www.columbigemhouse.com and 100% of proceeds will go to Navajo Nation in support of resources needed after the hardships suffered from Covid-19.
A huge THANK YOU to the participating designers and to Shawna Kulpa @mjsa_jewelrymaking for all of the hard work and support on this project. Participating designers include:
- Donna Distefano
- Jennifer Dewey
- Dominique Larson
- Dana Bronfman
- Betty Padilla
- Helen Chantler
To find more information about the Navajo Relief Auction or to vote for your favorite design in the MJSA Design Challenge.
Leading up to the auction, stay tuned for more details, direct insights, and spotlights of this year’s participating designers! Visit our Instagram to follow the story @columbiagemhouse
