Figurine, ca. 2000

From the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

Sheila Antonio, Navajo, Gift of Yara and Gerald Pitchford

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, 59954/12

Photography by Addison Doty 

This beaded figure depicts a World War II “code talker.” Though many are familiar with the remarkable success of the Navajo code talkers in WWII, many other Native people were also instrumental in the Marine Corps’ efforts. The “code” was often the soldier’s everyday Native language, but more complex codes were also developed by Navajo and Hopi people. This figurine is miniature is size, only reaching two and a half inches tall, an example of the beader’s remarkably delicate work.

Credit: Addison Doty


Note: Representative image at left is often cropped for display purposes. Downloaded high-resolution images are not cropped.