On Friday, April 21, Mom was the first one at the Gallery. She usually has been for the past 40 years. She would unlock the building, get the lights on, fire up the computer, and get the Gallery ready for business.

Yes, there is a day to recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage. It is the day after Thanksgiving. The month of November is Native American Heritage Month.

A Study of Navajo Concha Belts, one of the most impressive and beautiful books on handcrafted Navajo silver jewelry ever written, has recently been published by Don Richards and his wife, Karen.

Mike Ryan has spent years, working with his partner and co-author, Phillip Chambless, studying the magic blue stone that has been the hallmark of Indian jewelry in the Southwest.

Nothing is more interesting to history buffs than hearing tales told by those who lived them. Jack Turner is a fifth generation Durangatang (slang for Durango Native), who is committed to preserving those memories.

Charlie Daniels is not slowing down! This fall, he came out with a great new book, “Let’s All Make the Day Count—the Everyday Wisdom of Charlie Daniels” and a new album, “Beau Weevils — Songs in the Key of E.”

The book is a delight. There is not a more positive person in the world that Charlie. He has surely had difficult times, but he is a guy that looks at the brighter side of life.

The years between 1915 and 1918 were busy ones in the San Juan Mountains. The mining camps were being brought together by rail, roads and telephone lines.

The demise of J. B. Moore is really turning into an interesting topic. Jill Tripp, a friend from Durango brought by the book “Posts and Rugs: The Story of the Navajo Weaving and The Role of The Indian Trader” by H.L James, which was a classic published in 1976. It was reprinted in 2005 with footnotes.

There have been several great books written about American Turquoise, most of them photographic and with basic background on the different mines. But, unless you really are an avid fan of the “Sky Stone,” they don’t do a lot to hold your interest. Now that has changed.