Roie Jaque was born of three Native American tribes — Navajo, Laguna Acoma and Chiricahua Apache. Brought up in the ways of the Navajo culture, he speaks, writes and reads the Navajo language, and is enrolled with the tribe in Window Rock, Arizona.

Roie learned to silversmith at an early age and has worked the craft for more than 45 years — 30 of them for Circle JW Products in Phoenix, Arizona. His pieces carry the weight of that lifetime: sterling silver shaped, stamped and set the traditional way, each one signed with his stamp.

He is also a Navajo weaver. His late mother, Alice Raphealito, was a master weaver known for her work. Roie raises his own sheep — shearing, washing and carding the wool, then spinning it into yarn, just as his mother taught.