Cecil Miles Jr., Master Carver
- Barbara Behrens
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Cecil Miles is a Navajo artist who has been granted permission by the Hopi people to carve Hopi Katsinam. He was taught by one of the most respected carvers, Cecil Calnimptewa Jr., and has developed a distinctive style. His katsina dolls are known for their beautifully crafted faces, which bear a more Navajo influence than traditional Pueblo features.
A gentle and kind soul, Cecil has faced significant challenges in life. At one point, he suffered a severe stroke and spent hours alone before finding help. His recovery is remarkable, and he has since returned to his art with renewed passion. While he once focused on carving Hopi figures, Cecil now devotes his creative energy to depicting supernatural beings from his own Navajo heritage.
What follows is an outsider’s explanation of the intricacies of the Navajo explanations for various beings that Cecil has created and why.
Yeibichai Dancer
For the Navajo, life is carried forward through stories. Wisdom, lessons, and values are not written in books but spoken, shared from one generation to the next. At the heart of these teachings is the Creation Story—the Emergence of the Diné, “The People.” To the Navajo, this story is as sacred as the Bible, a foundation on which the way of life rests.
One theme arises repeatedly in these stories: the pursuit of hozho. More than just harmony or beauty, hozho is a way of living in balance. Life is never free from chaos, disorder, or struggle, but balance does not mean erasing them. Instead, it means walking the line between harmony and disruption, creating beauty in the act of living with both. In this way, beauty is not something merely admired; it is something made, expressed, and shared.
The Holy People, or Yeibichai, stand at the center of this creation. They are guides and exemplars of hozho, yet they also carry its opposites: foolishness, chaos, and even ugliness. This duality reminds the Navajo that harmony is never permanent; it must be renewed, protected, and restored.
Symbols of this worldview appear everywhere: the feathers of birds, the light of the stars, the grains of pollen. All connect back to the Emergence and the Holy People, the Yei, whose presence is honored in ceremony. Perhaps the most striking of these is the Yei Be Chai dance. Here, men and women embody the Holy People, moving in ritual under the careful direction of a Medicine Man. A full ceremonial team includes fourteen dancers: the Talking God as leader, six men, six women, and the Water Sprinkler, God of Precipitated Waters.
Following the devastating fires and floods of 2024 that struck Ruidoso, Cecil felt a deep calling to support this community. Acting from pure generosity, he donated the proceeds from one of his hand-carved dolls—$3,400 in total—to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County Disaster Relief Fund. This heartfelt act came unprompted, a reflection of Cecil’s respect for the land, the people, and the enduring friendships he has found in Ruidoso.
In that same spirit of compassion and generosity, Tanner Tradition donated one of Cecil’s dolls—The Water Sprinkler—to The Spencer Theater for their 2025 fundraising campaign. The hope was that Cecil’s selfless act would inspire others to embrace that same spirit and bid generously. Every contribution helps support essential improvements at the theater, including exterior signage, entrance lighting, and grounds resurfacing.
This piece is a beautiful example of Cecil Miles’ exceptional carving talent. Crafted from a single piece of cottonwood root, the figure represents an important character in Navajo mythology—the Water Sprinkler, a spiritual being associated with celestial waters and rain. In ceremonial dances, the Water Sprinkler is said to dip a fox tail into water and sprinkle it over the earth to bless and nourish it. He is adorned in a skirt featuring an 1800s rug pattern and the iconic Spider Woman cross, symbolizing protection and creativity in Navajo tradition.
Yeibichai dancer is currently available at Tanner Tradition in Ruidoso, NM
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This Yei is one of the 7 male dancers. He carries an offering of corn pollen for blessings, and his kilt is crafted to represent an 1800 rug pattern with Spider Woman’s Cross. Spider Woman is a revered holy deity and a powerful helper to humanity, most notably credited with teaching the Navajo people the intricate art of weaving, using sheep's wool and a spindle and loom. She is a symbol of textile arts and wisdom, inspiring weavers to absorb her skill and creativity. Spider Woman is also a strong protector, a helper to the heroic twins, and a figure who bring balance and beauty to the world. This Yei also has lightning bolts on his arms to represent moisture and rain which are sacred to the people.
Tanner Tradition in Ruidoso is fortunate to have had several other unique carvings by Miles. One of which, entitled Nature’s Blessing, was entered in the prestigious Gallup Intertribal Indian Ceremonial in 2025 where it was awarded Best of Class in Kachinas.
The Creation of Nature’s Blessing
This sculpture depicts the four directions of the Dine’ people. The four colors of the base represent the colored sands from the peaks of the four sacred mountains.
They are:
• White for Blanca Peak to the East
• Blue for Mt. Taylor to the South
• Yellow for San Francisco Peaks to the West
• Black for Hesperus Peak to the North
The area within these peaks is considered Navajo Land by the Dine’ people.
This is Cecil Miles holding his creation, showing the bottom of the base of the piece which details the names of the four mountains depicted.
The corn in the center with the basket symbolizes life and the traditional source of food. Additionally, personal and worldly possessions are kept in the basket, which makes it an important part of this sculpture.
The Golden eagle flying over the land is also a blessing, hence the title of the piece, Nature’s Blessing.
Miles’ work is on display at Tanner Tradition 624 Sudderth Drive, in Ruidoso, NM . www.tannertradition.com
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