Herding Sheep for Wool to Create Navajo Rugs
The Dine' herded the sheep for survival. The sheep are vital part of the Navajo traditions. They have to herd the sheep to make sure that the predators would not harm them. The primary sheep used for the Navajo rugs are Navajo Churro sheep. The Navajo Churro sheep have thick wool and are good for making wool.
During the late 1800's, the Navajo Churro sheeps were almost extinct because of government efforts to rid of them because they were seen as a vital part of the Dine' People. The Navajo Churro's have managed to survive extinction and are now a federally recognized protected species. They have federal tags on their ears to identify them that they are federally recognized Navajo Churro sheep.
