Here's your chance to see some great artwork and beautiful landscape in Sedona, Arizona. Explore Hopi and Days Inn Kokopelli invite you to our Art Gallery Opening, April 30,2014.

 

 

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!

Explore Hopi would like to invite you to come experience and explore art. Variety of art forms expressed by talented artists. Each is unique and carries their own story. For more information you may call our office at (928) 734-0044 or email hhonani@explorehopi.com.

 

 

An art form that is both personal and educational....Hopi Quilting

Hopi Resource Enforcement Services
Paaqavi Inc.
 

Quilting is just one of many outlets for Hopi women to express their creativity that involves cultural concepts and daily life. The Paacavi Inc strives to revive and preserve this unique art form for the Hopi women. The annual Quilt Show in Paacavi Village is one avenue of showcasing the quilter talents and  educating on the art form of quilting, while bringing in revenue for the quilters themselves. The quilters gather to focus on one main idea for a quilt then collaborate and dedicate their time to making this project come alive to exhibit for all to see. This grant funded project serves to support these amazing Hopi quilters to use the highest quality fabric and tools, while holding classes to teach new techniques to enhance the already talented quilters.
The annual Quilt Show is set to take place on March 28th-29th,2014 in Paacavi Village. For more information on this unique project and to learn more you may visit the Paacavi Inc website at: http://paaqaviinc.wordpress.com/.

HOPI CALENDAR: March- "Osom'muya"

 

Artwork by: Dickson Silas
"Prayer for Good Life"

As the planting season nears for the Hopi, the month of March is a time for continued prayers through kachina songs and dancing. During this time, the Hopi villages have night dances that take place in the kivas, which are underground ceremonial chambers. Kachinas come bearing gifts of food and seeds. Their songs are prayers carried out in hopes of a fruitful planting season for all. The dancing creates a harmonious atmosphere for all life forms and to bring rain for nourishment.

 

The photo featured is available for purchase through our consignment page on the Explore Hopi website at: www.explorehopi.com.

A script from Hopi history: Louis Tewanima

Louis Tewanima
louistewanima.org

Running is an ongoing tradition for Hopi and is an essential component in ceremonies that symbolize the prosperity of all living things on earth. Many traditional Hopi stories tell of different aspects of running, endurance, and strength of Hopi men and now women. Sharing the story of one Hopi man, Louis Tewanima, sheds another light on one of many positive moments in Hopi history that the Hopi people are proud of.

Louis Tewanima was from the village of Shungopavi, located on the Second Mesa. He was bearstrap clan, born and raised in Shungopavi village. He was one of many children that was forced to go to school in 1906. Seeing that Hopi was going through a difficult time where they constantly fought against the white mans ways, Louis was one that was against the white mans way of life. Eventually, Louis was sent to Carlisle, Pennsylvania for school. This is where Louis started running to keep from becoming lonely and missing home. Competition became apart of Louis's running and would often compete with Jim Thorpe, who also attended school in Carlisle. After competing in track meets and winning many races, Louis eventually made it to the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. During this time he won the silver medal in the 10,000 meter race and set a U.S record for his race. He held that record for 52 years, until it was broken by Billy Mills in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

In 1973, to honor Louis, an annual "Louis Tewanima Footrace" was started and is held in the village of Shungopavi, that still continues today. This committee is made of family members of Louis and they strive to keep the tradition of running and the memory of Louis alive amongst the Hopi community and visitors alike. 

A page from Hopi history- Hopi Men and Alcatraz

 

Photo courtesy of Hopi Cultural Preservation Office
 

This story is one of those few talk about or don't have knowledge of. Reason being that it was yet another sad and trying time of the Hopi. Although this event is in the past, Hopi leave it there to move on and pray for better in fulfilling their life purpose of being earth stewards. History of Mormon pressures on the farming community of Moenkopi triggered the arrests of several Hopi men and sent to Alcatraz prison. In the late 1860's Mormons made their presence known in hopes of converting the Hopi into the Mormon faith. After gaining initial permission from Hopi to farm on a plot, the Mormon began to expand permanent establishments. By the 1870s and 1880s the Mormons slowly began taking over more farming areas. This began the friction between the Hopi farmers and Mormons. By the 1890s, the Hopi lost valuable farming land and their complaints to the government went unnoticed. Around this same time, a new village chief was ordained in the village of Orayvi. His name was Looloma of the bear clan. He was proactive in addressing these issues in Moenkopi and took matters into his own hands. Chief Looloma held a meeting with the clan leaders of Moenkopi village and told them that they had every rite to take back their traditional farm lands. Once this took place, the Mormons quickly confronted the Hopi farmers and sought out the  government for help. The government saw this opportunity to so call "teach Hopi a lesson", and soliticed the military from Ft. Wingate and Ft. Defiance. After discovering the "ring leaders" of the Hopi resistance, the military charged and took into custody Yukima and Lomahongniwa of Orayvi. Overall, nineteen men were charged with "seditious acts against the U.S, Government". This Alcatraz story exemplifies the treatment of the Hopi people by the U.S Government and the extent to which the Government used false and concocted charges to imprison Hopi men....men who only wanted to live their Hopi way of life. 

Hopi Calendar

February- "Powamuya"

 

Shalako
Artwork By: Frank Honahnie, Jr
Photo Taken By: Lyle Balenquah

The month of February serves as a time for purification and renewal for Hopi. The bean dance occurs at this time and is when the katsinam return and prepare for the upcoming planting season. Katsinam are the spiritual beings that represent all life forms of this universe. Hopi prayers are carried out by the katsinam in hope for rain, long strong life for all living things, and good crops. The katsinam appear bearing gifts for the children. The young girls receive dolls, or "tii'hu". These dolls resemble and serve as a reminder of katsinam to which each holds essential sentimental value. Young girls learn to take care of their dolls as a way of preparing them for motherhood.  The young boys receive bows and arrows so that they prepare and learn how to hunt. This is a beginning of the "kachina season", where they will make appearances through the months, up until July.

Photo is of Hopi consignment art by Frank Honahnie, Jr. This piece and two others are up for purchase on our Explore Hopi website at www.explorehopi.com.

EXPLORE HOPI EDUCATIONAL SERIES

A time for new leaders....
 
 A new year means new beginnings, on Hopi, it is a time for new leadership to carry and represent the Hopi people. The Hopi Tribal Council is fairly new and has come against many obstacles. The Council came into existence in 1936. There have been a couple times where the Council has gone through reconstruction and came close to dissolving completely. Since then, they have taken another breath and continue to preserve and protect the Hopi people, while maintaining the balance of living in "two worlds". Thursday January 16, 2014 will be a day recognized by many. Its Hopi Inauguration day! We welcome Herman Honanie (Chairman) and Alfred Lomaquahu (Vice-Chairman), to sustain the Hopi people in the best way possible.  

 For more information on Hopi or for opportunities to explore Hopi, click here:           www.explorehopi.com

 

EXPLORE HOPI CONSIGNMENT FEATURING: FRANK HONAHNIE JR.

 

 

 

My Father

For more information on this art piece, purchasing, and artist's bio, go to www.explorehopi.com!

Explore Hopi now has products for purchase online. Check them out today @ ExploreHopi.com!!

 



 

Hopi Dawa (Sun) Long and Short Sleeved T-Shirts

 

 

The Hopi Dawa t-shirts symbolize Dawa, the sun spirit, believed to have formed the first world from Tokpela, or endless space. In Hopi tradition, Hopi pray to Dawa for blessings of a good long life for all living things. Dawa is the creator of life of all living things.

HOPI Kiva Print T-Shirt

                                               

 

This Hopi T-Shirt has imagery of Hopi homes and kivas. The Kiva, an underground ceremonial chamber, is where some ceremonies take place.

 

 

 

Hopi Dawa Military Hats

 

 

 

DAWA Ball Caps

 

 

Hopi Dawa Backpack

 

 

 

 

HOPI Dawa Water Bottles

 

 

 

 Explore Hopi Water Bottles

 





 

 

Explore Hopi Travel Mugs

Get your exclusive Hopi merchandise today! Explore Hopi would like to thank you for your support!


 

 



Explore Hopi interviewed our own Ron Scheuerman, General Manager, Hopi Travel Plaza. We stopped in at the Travel Plaza located at the “Eastern Gateway to Hopi,” took some pictures and found out a little about the history, discussed what’s new and got some ideas for possible plans being considered for the future. We also met Nellie Coronado, the Hopi restaurant manager.

Ron Scheuerman, General Manager, Hopi Travel Plaza

Hopi Travel Plaza Restaurant

Hopi Travel Plaza

Can you give us just a little basic background on this facility and your involvement here?

Ron: “It has been Hopi-owned since 2002. The facility itself has been here since 1978. I’ve been with the Corporation [Hopi Tribe Economic Development Corporation, HTEDC] since February 2013.”

What are some of the main parts of this business and opportunities here at Hopi Travel Plaza – and are there other things that stand out for you?

“Our market is travelers and the local community. We continue to evaluate other services that will appeal to these consumers.” Ron explained they do get truck drivers, but that is not the majority, the heart or the main focus of the Hopi Travel Plaza’s business.

The Travel Plaza is really a mini mall with multiple shops and food services as well as a fuel station. “We like to think given all that we have to offer, we are worth the drive.”

“When one visits the Plaza they will find a travel gift shop, a knife shop, a sit-down restaurant as well as fast food (Burger King) and a salon. Under the expert direction of our Hopi manager, Nellie Coronado, the restaurant has new menus and a new paint scheme. New menu items are Hopi hot beef and a Native taco as well as a native dessert. The banquet room has been recently remodeled and now can accommodate 30 comfortably.”

The Hopi Travel Plaza also has all services found in a traditional travel center including a large convenience store and truck repair. Hopi Travel Plaza also has a Conoco gas station and sells gas, diesel and propane. There is a full-service diesel shop with full time mechanics on duty 24/7. With a propane tank recently added, the Plaza now has the ability to fill up RV tanks.

The management sees the Hopi Travel Plaza and Holbrook to be a destination place. Holbrook has native dances every night. They feel that there may be opportunities to bring some of those dances to the Travel Plaza as well as other events. This could create the ability to offer other services such as a RV Park. Ron stated “We are thinking about putting in an RV park. We still need to do the market study but there may be a market void that the Travel Plaza can fill. With the Petrified Forest nearby the two RV parks in Holbrook fill up fast. The question is, can the area support a third?”

One opportunity Ron is exploring with a Hopi theme is a walk-through Hopi Museum including a Hopi Visitor Center as an added attraction to the Holbrook area and amenity at the Travel Plaza. “We are also looking at possibly bringing a Hopi artist on site, and we are also looking into actively selling Explore Hopi packages. That will bring the Hopi cultural and educational experience to those stopping by.” Per Ron, “My thought with Explore Hopi is you can start here, buy the package while spending some time at Petrified Forest, go to the Hopi Cultural Center then finish at Days Inn Kokopelli in Sedona. “This way you get to experience Hopi as well as many other Arizona attractions all in one vacation.”

The Plaza is focused not only on the future but improvements in the present. Ron stated that the restrooms are slated to be remodeled hopefully by the first of the year and they have added new services over the last six months such as DVD rentals, fresh fruit cups and hot pizza made to order. “With nearly 700 visitors a day to the Hopi Travel Plaza we are focused on offering them the best in convenience, plus shopping and an eating experience. This will separate us form the competition and help us grow our business.”

You are exploring other things to promote and themes to help market this Hopi Travel Plaza?
“We have talked about a lot of things already. With all the added services and shops, we now have to develop a branding strategy to draw people in.” One of the things under consideration is a Route 66 theme. I’ve met with Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest National Monument, the Holbrook and Winslow Chambers of Commerce and we’ve talked about different things. We know that in Australia and Germany the Route 66 theme is huge – folks fly into Chicago or to the western end in California they rent a Harley and they drive the route. The numbers of travelers on motorcycles that come through Holbrook average about 14,000 per year. We all agree the western side of Route 66 has a great marketing strategy because of Grand Canyon. But we have a lot to offer: Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Explore Hopi, of course, and Meteor Crater.”

The Hopi Travel Plaza has a huge atrium. Per Ron “My thought is the possibility of a visitor center where people can come and get information for all of these activities you can do in Eastern and Northern Arizona. We want to say: stop in here and get all your information, to get travel ideas for Arizona.”

What are things you really like about this job, what gets you excited about being here?

“It’s a great challenge. It’s exciting for me and our team: the opportunity to take something that was struggling and lacked direction and make it into the shining star of the HTEDC portfolio through offering world class service to our customers… I take much more pleasure to step back and look and say: We built that.”

                          

Explore Hopi Director Invites You To Visit Hopi

Check out the link on You Tube to see an exclusive interview with Explore Hopi Director, Clarice Tafoya. You can also get more information on planning you trip to visit at www.explorehopi.com.

                                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exvU-lu8H1M

EXPLORE HOPI AND MANY OTHERS ENJOY HERITAGE SQUARE EVENT!!

    Check out the photo gallery in that the Navajo-Hopi Observer..click on the link below!
   Asquali/Kwa-kway to NHO for stopping by our booth.


http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/main.asp?SectionID=99&SubSectionID=930

Don't forget to come visit us at the 4th Annual Hopi Festival, Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff, Arizona. This event to take place September 28th and 29th, 2013.
Click on the link below to get more info from HTEDC's own Lisa Talayumptewa!! See you there!

http://www.naztoday.com/living/2013/09/native-american-arts-culture-come-downtown-flagstaff/

 

      INDIAN DAY CELBRATION 2013- HOPI CULTURAL CENTER SECOND MESA, AZ 

  

      On September 14-15, 2013, Explore Hopi and the Hopi Cultural Center hosted the 2nd Annual Indian Day Celebration. The two day event was filled with native dance groups from Hopi and Pima reservations, art vendors, and demonstrators.




Hopi Dance Group
Indian Day 2013
 

There was also some musical entertainment provided by the Blue Canyon Band and Shot Gun Riders, both bands playing classical rock and country music. Plenty of people were in attendance to enjoy the event and mingle amongst one another. To close off the whole event, a Clan Run and regular 4 mile run took place. The Clan Run was for everyone to join in and represent their respective clans.


Vendors ranged from local Hopi artists, Santo Domingo artists, and Navajo artist. Demonstrators shared an educational experience by exhibiting the art of Piki making, "Kutuki" or parched corn, jewelry, and kachina doll carving.


"AChem A'al" Indigenous Traditional Pima Basket Dancers
Gila River Indian Community

A great time to take in the Hopi fresh air, scenery, food, and community atmosphere.
Explore Hopi and the Hopi Cultural Center want to thank all those in attendance and hope to build on this event for next year.

If you haven't made your way to Hopiland yet, take some time to visit our website, www.explorehopi.com, and plan your trip today! Asquali Kwa-kway!!