Emily Malone

Emily Yazzie Malone is known for her striking classic Burntwater weavings as well as unique Teec Nos Pos and Blanket Revivals in vegetal colors.

“Yá'át'ééh, hello, my name is Emily Malone. I am from the Spider Rock area of Canyon De Chelly, Arizona. My mother is Rose Yazzie, and I am the youngest of four sisters. For the past 50 years, I have been a masterful Navajo rug weaver. From a young age, relatives have told me the importance of caring for livestock. Now that I own my own flock of sheep, they are vital to my weaving. Since 2012, I have owned and cared for my sheep. Each morning before starting my day, I head to the sheep corral, where I feed and give water to the sheep. As I have been taught from a young age, taking care of your livestock and home, in return, you would be blessed with harmony and health. In return for caring for my sheep, I can use their wool in my weaving and other wool projects. In doing so, I have created different projects out of the wool from my flock, such as felting. As easy as it seems, shearing a sheep and cleaning, washing, and carding the wool is a long process many donot know about. With each annual shearing, the quality of my wool consistently exceeds my expectations, and I keep it all for my following weaving tasks. As I care for my sheep, I would not trade it for anything else. It is a common saying among Navajos known as Dibe ei Iina, meaning sheep is life.

Weaving has provided me with an income for food and clothing. It has taken my family
and me to new places, and we are lucky to have met many people. We work together, and the weaving gives us focus and keeps us grounded. Weaving has taught me discipline and a sense of math and business. But even more than that, it is the essence of my being. My weaving provides counsel. I speak to it while I work, and it gives me a sense of serenity when no one else is around. I think about my weaving while eating and before I go to sleep. Weaving gives me a spiritual connection to the world and life around me.

I thank the Diyin Dine’e, the Holy People, every day for blessing me with great talent.” 

- Emily Malone, 2026