The Navajo learned "Naja" from the Spanish explorers of the fifteenth century. The Spanish would adorn their horses with this talisman as good luck and prosperity.
We began trading with the Native American peoples of the southwest in 1975. Our founder, John Nagle, gave up a life as a pioneer of the supermarket concept to fulfill a life long dream of living in Arizona and "to see what was on the other side of the mountain." Meeting many Native American people along the way, he began sending their art work back to his daughter Kathy's gift shop in his home state of Pennsylvania.
After exploring the southwest in his RV for 3 years, John settled in the small town of Sedona, in Northern Arizona. Having a lot of time on his hands, John took a part time job at a local Indian Jewelry store. Soon, the owner of the shop decided to put the business up for sale. John couldn't resist, and found himself the new owner of The Naja.
Owning a business was not John's original intent in moving to Arizona. Besides, who wants to be stuck running a shop when there is so much country to explore? Knowing Kathy's desire to relocate to Sedona, he offered her the job of running The Naja. Kathy gladly accepted the offer, left her gift shop to her sister Nancy, and moved her family to Sedona in 1981. This allowed time for John to make more friends on the reservation and explore the country he loved so dearly.
In 1985 John retired again (this time for good) and sold The Naja to Kathy and Bill. Kathy and Bill are now thinking of retiring and their daughter, Rebecca, is learning the business.
