Crossing Worlds Hopi Projects

Cross-Cultural Education Programs

Cross-Cultural Education Programs
We sponsored Ramson Lomatewama to make a presentation on the Life Cycles of Hopi youth in Sedona. A very informative visual presentation, after which he fielded many questions from the audience.

We sponsored Ramson Lomatewama to make a presentation on the Life Cycles of Hopi youth in Sedona. A very informative visual presentation, after which he fielded many questions from the audience.

Cross-cultural exchange

Verde Valley, Arizona (Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, archaeology sites)

Provide support and coordination to bring traditional Hopi people to the Verde Valley (which is part of ancestral Hopi homeland) for Hopi learning enrichment, to share Hopi cultural programs with the public and generate public support for projects at Hopi.

Yellow Fox Dancers at VVAC Fair doing Corn Grinding Song (photo by Sandra Cosentino)

Yellow Fox Dancers at VVAC Fair doing Corn Grinding Song (photo by Sandra Cosentino)

For example:

–Verde Valley Archaeology Center Fair: share cultural information, arts, social dances with the interested public to provide a living connection to the descendants of the people who inhabited this valley for so many millennia. This will add cultural richness to archaeological focus. Benefit Hopis: for example, we sponsored bringing a young Hopi family to this Fair and for them it was a family outing in a positive learning environment (the kids got to go out to an ancestor site and be part of other Fair activities) where they were respected for their knowledge and had a chance to sell their arts to support their life on the remote reservation. We also sponsored bringing a Hopi dance group, Hopi Natwani farm group speakers, and a Navajo weaver to fair.


Hopi group at Sedona prehistoric site—photo by Jackie Klieger

Hopi group at Sedona prehistoric site—photo by Jackie Klieger

–Provide Hopis a chance to learn more about their ancestral sites.

This is done in coordination with the Verde Valley Archaeology Society, Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest and National Monuments.

Photo depicts a Hopi adult and youth group that participated in a weekend ancestor site visit program in October, 2015.

For the Hopis ancestral times and wisdom weave seamlessly with their world of today and, in fact, are directly connected to the Hopi ceremonial cycle of the year. Hopi people view the ancestor sites as the place where the ancestors spirits still reside and provide support for abundance of life.

—Present programs by Hopis and other knowledgeable resource people on Hopi life and culture such as previous ones we sponsored in Sedona to the public on:

  • Hopi Homes, Historical and Today
  • Verde Valley Ancestral Heritage Program co-sponsor with VVAC
  • Life Transitions of Hopi Youth
  • Hopi Winter Heating Crisis by Red Feather non-profit group

Cross-Cultural Exchange at Hopi:

Bring resource people to Hopi. For example, we sponsored several hands-on teaching orchard permaculture techniques seminars led a Sedona orchardist at Hopi. We coordinated with the VVAC in helping set up their historical film presentation.


Service Project-Cultural Learning. Provide the opportunity for qualified schools and other off-reservation groups who can participate in cost-sharing to perform a designated village service project in combination with a cultural seminar, such as one done by a visiting California Waldorf high school group in 2003.

Our goal is to provide some base funding for project coordination, planning and materials. Native peoples benefit by receiving help with needed infrastructure and respect and interest from the outside world.

The village project leader, cooks and cultural instructors receive employment paid from visitor contribution. Visitors gain by experiencing first-hand the enrichment that comes from being part of the the community and making a needed contribution.

California students helping build a bread oven at 1st Mesa.

2003 California high school students learning and helping Hopis make a bread oven.


—Connect Hopi individuals, families, groups with regional resources such as permaculture, home appliances-furniture, firewood and other needed supplies.

photos below:

  • Hopi youth at Garland’s Sedona orchard as part of permaculture-greenhouse instruction led by Mario Valeruz—photo by Jackie Klieger
  • Hopis who brought down a truck and trailer to get mattresses from a Sedona hotel—photo by Sandra Cosentino

 

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