The
Ortega family has been trading with the Southwestern Indians since
the early 1800`s . Today Armand Ortega and family are still actively
trading and operating many trading posts throught the Southwest.
When shopping with Ortega`s , the customer buys with complete confidence
from one of the oldest and best known names in the Indian Arts & Crafts
business .
Armand Ortega is a well-known
and respected Indian Trader, the product of four generations
of life among the Indians of the Southwest. His expertise in
the field
of native American arts and crafts stems from this life-long
experience, during which he learned the intricacies of turquiose,
became fluent
in the Spanish and Navajo languages, and developed a deep understanding
and respect for Indian culture.
"These people, their customs, and their arts and crafts are
a vital part of our daily lives," says Mr. Ortega. "In
the mid-1800s when my great-grandfather, Santos Ortega, brought goods
onto the reservation in horse-drawn wagons we first began actively
trading with the Navajos."
These simple beginnings evolved through the years into a number
of Ortega-Owned Indian Stores and Trading Posts throughout the country.
Mr. Ortega is also owner of the El Rancho Hotel/Motel which was made
for the western movie film stars in 1936. Over 80 western movies
were filmed in this area and the stars stayed in the hotel while
filming. The El Ranch Hotel/Motel became a national historic site
in 1987, and has been fully restored by Mr. Ortega.
While Ortega's has become one of the nation's largest suppliers
of handmade jewelry, its standards of quality has not been lowered. "We
bring to the consumer a wide variety of high quality Indian jewelry, " says
Mr. Ortega. "And we always guarantee our Indian Jewelry to be
Native American handmade, with authentic materials."
