ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Born, raised & presently residing on the Navajo reservation in the town of To’hajiilee,(Toe-hah-jah-lee) NM, Navajo artisan Dakota Willie was born to make jewelry. And when you got the last name "Willie" & your father is RONNIE WILLIE, there's no way you can escape the art of creating jewelry, because just about everyone in this family makes jewelry & all have made a name for themselves in the industry.(See my listings "Ronnie Willie, Tawney Willie (Cruz), Cooper Willie, Shaminika Willie,Melissa,Rudy & Dakota's grandmother "Mary Pease" who are just some of Dakotas immediate relatives!)

Dakota learned like many Navajo children learn & whether it's the parents, the uncles, aunts or grandparents, in Dakota's case it was his father Ronnie Willie & his mother who took Dakota under their wing when he was only 8 years old & has now been making jewelry for 23 years.

Dakota is an "Artist" & is not just limited to jewelry design, but a good portion of his time is taken up being a clothing fashion designer, who also loves to paint & loves doing anything that's artistic & creative..He specializes in traditional Navajo jewelry & many are made with a contemporary edginess..