HOTEVILLA,
Ariz. - It's been ten years since the start of the Hopitutuqaiki
(Hopi School) located on Third Mesa, Hotevilla.
But this year has been the most successful for the Hopitutuqaiki,
with more collaboration with outside support education agencies,
additional funding and more national recognition around the Hopi
summer art school's integration of Hopi values, customs and cultural
strengths in the curriculum.
Sixty-five students signed up for a variety of traditional and
contemporary Hopi art classes last summer. Most of the students
were Hopi, but Navajo tribal members also attended as well as two
non-natives.
In a cooperative venture this year, North Central College in
Illinois used grant money from national corporations to help Hopi
women establish full time arts-crafts businesses.
The Hopitutuqaiki is a school dedicated to developing an educational
process derived exclusively from Hopi Indian philosophy, values
and methods. Hopitutuqaiki uses the students own culture, background
and cultural strengths as the basis for the curriculum and the educational
process.
Hopi students have historically been taught in non-Native schools
using methods and values designed for and derived from an outside
culture.
This year is also the third year that quilting students have
created an "Opportunity Quilt" used to raise money and
awareness for the school..
The newest quilt titled "Katchina Spirits," 61 inches
by 61 inches, features free-motion and paper piecing quilt methods
and took five Hopi women a period of three days to complete under
the guidance of master quilter Linda Visnaw of Lake Havasu.
Last year's Opportunity Quilt was shown in quilting and art
shows, including at the Hopi Show in Flagstaff at the Museum of
Northern Arizona, in Santa Fe during Indian Market, at Prescott's
Sharlot Hall Indian Show and also in Lake Havasu.
"The Hopitutuqaiki quilting classes are really an opportunity
for our Hopi quilters to learn from a nationally recognized master
quilter either through our regular summer yearly class or through
the exclusive Opportunity quilt class. Linda Visnaw is an excellent
mentor and instructor," said Robert Rhodes, Hopitutuqaiki's
facilitator.
Raffle tickets for this year's Opportunity Quilt can be purchased
on-line at the schools' website: www.Hopischool.net or by mailing
a check to Hopitutuqaiki at P.O. Box 56, Hotevilla, Arizona 86030.
Tickets are $1 each or six for $5.
The raffle drawing will take place in the summer of 2015.
The Hopitutuqaiki is supported by the Apex Foundation, the Colorado
Plateau Foundation, the Frost Foundation, the Garlands Indian Gallery
in Sedona, Hopi Education Endowment Fund and the World In Harmony
Foundation as well as many individual donors.
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