Goldtooth Begay
Navajo Nation - Navajo County
Inducted in 2011
Had it not been for the foresight and dedication of men like Goldtooth Begay and Dr. Lyle McNeal, founder of the Navajo Sheep Project, the Navajo-Churro sheep might have been lost forever. Goldtooth's pivotal role in this preservation effort is a testament to his dedication and love for his culture and heritage, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his contributions.Although still rare, the breed is making a comeback through their endeavors.
Goldtooth, also known as "The Cowboy," was born on New Year's Day in 1896 in the community of Castle Butte, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation. He was of the Red House (Many Goats) Clan, born for the Towering House Clan. His maternal grandmother was of the One That Walks Around Clan, and his paternal grandmother was of The Red Check Clan. His mother died, giving him life, so Goldtooth was raised by Grey Rock Woman, his paternal aunt, in Na'ah' dih Canyon near White Cone, Arizona. Since there was no formula in those days, his nourishment came from the rich milk of the family's goats sucked through felted sheep's wool.
Raising and herding sheep and cattle and training horses was a way of life for the young Navajo boy. His vast knowledge of animal husbandry came from his family and by observing his animals. By the time he was young, he had accumulated a good-sized herd, thanks partly to his father, Hasteen (The Man) Goldtooth. Following tribal tradition, he gave his herd and more to his wife and her family as a wedding gift. He and Mary were married traditionally and spent the next 69 years together.
One of the most challenging periods in Goldtooth's life, and that of the others living on the reservation, came in the 1930s when the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the federal government slaughtered much of the Navajo's livestock, reducing the considerable wealth to the point where he had to leave the reservation and find work on the railroad. During this era of livestock reduction, most of the Navajo-Churro, the Navajo's sacred sheep, and the original domestic sheep of North America all but disappeared. However, Goldtooth's resilience and determination shone through as he continued to fight for the preservation of the Navajo-Churro sheep breed.
The year 1986 was pivotal for Goldtooth and his family. Mary was invited to do a weaving demonstration at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Goldtooth accompanied her and explored the hallways and lecture rooms to pass the time as he waited. He couldn't believe his eyes when he stopped by a room where Dr. Lyle McNeal, a premier sheep expert, was giving a presentation on the old-time Navajo-Churro sheep. As part of the presentation, there were images of the sheep of Goldtooth’s childhood. Goldtooth learned that Dr. McNeal was in the process of revitalizing the Navajo-Churro sheep breed. The Churro was the first sheep brought to the New World in 1598 by Spanish explorer Juan de Onate. From their chance meeting in Minnesota, the two men developed a long-term relationship, which led Begay to adopt Dr. McNeal into his family.
"Goldtooth and Mary taught me a great deal about life, the cultural values of the sheep, and the resources provided to sustain the lives of the families. Like them, most families lived in remote areas without water, power, sewer, and phone service," Dr. McNeal wrote in his letter nominating Goldtooth Begay to the Arizona Farming & Ranching Hall of Fame. For decades, the two men searched for examples of Churro sheep in remote areas throughout the reservation. "I was amazed that even in his later years, he was still able to ride horseback and work a horse and ride in rough country," McNeal wrote. "He knew 'Mother Earth' far better than many of my academic colleagues and understood what good land management required of a livestock producer."
The Navajo Sheep Project, a crucial initiative designed to establish a gene pool sufficient to restore the breed and reintroduce the Navajo-Churro sheep to the reservation, has been instrumental in the breed's revitalization. Similarly, Goldtooth's encouragement of his daughters to start the non-profit organization Dine' bi lina (Navajo Lifeways: DBI) to support traditional herders and weavers and educate Navajo youth about their tribal heritage and their original sheep breed, has been a beacon of hope for the future of the breed.
Goldtooth Begay continued to be an active supporter of ranching and farming for the Navajo people and his family until his death on November 19, 2002, at the age of 106. His legacy lives on through his daughters, Lena, Sharon, Alta, and Rita, his son Herbert, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Photojournalist Stacia Spragg-Braude's book To Walk in Beauty (2006, Museum of New Mexico Press) documented Goldtooth Begay's family history.
