Shields, Ethel

Ethel Shields was born into Acoma Pueblo in September 1926. Her parents were Toribio and Delores S. Sanchez. Katherine Lewis was her sister. Like Katherine, Ethel learned to make pottery from her mother as she grew up.

For several years as a child, Ethel was educated at the Albuquerque Indian School but by the beginning of World War II, she was working with her mother daily. She often spoke about selling pottery with her mother on the side of Route 66 between Grants and Gallup, before the road was even paved.

Ethel married a jeweler, Don Shields, and they and their family ended up living in Tucson for twelve years. Ethel was employed at the Indian Center there during that time. They returned to Acoma in 1976.

At first Ethel made traditional Acoma jars, bowls, seed pots and plates, like she’d learned to make from her mother. She started making storyteller figures in 1975. For several years her storytellers got larger and larger, with more and more children. She made nativities, Christmas ornaments and miniatures, too.

A bit later in life she made a visit to Mesa Verde and was impressed by the original Anasazi pottery displayed there. She was most impressed with the canteens and the effigies. On her return to Acoma she started making her own modified versions of Anasazi and Tularosa turtles, birds and canteens. She also innovated storyteller pitchers with faces, and arms and legs full of babies.

Ethel was a participant in the Santa Fe Indian Market for many years, earning multiple ribbons. She taught her daughter, Charmae Natseway, and her daughter-in-law, Judy Shields, how to make pottery.