FACILITATOR

Donna is from Hotevilla and is Pipwungwa (Tobacco Clan). She started as a Hopitutuqaiki board member 18 years ago and became a mentor. She is currently the Facilitator for Hopitutuqaiki and has many years of work experience in private non-profit and local tribal sectors. She is trained in mediation and is also a professional consultant.

Today, Donna focuses on being an artist, quilter, designer & mentor. She resides in Hotevilla with her husband, a renowned wood sculptor, and carver.

“I hope to guide the process of rejuvenating fading culture and loss of languages so our future Hopi generations can participate and articulate Hopi well, all the while acknowledging our current elders and those who’ve come before us on this vital journey.”

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Valarie Harris is Alwungwa (Horn Clan) from the village of Sitsomovi. She is currently the Program Coordinator for Hopitutuqaiki, and as a Program Coordinator, she organizes classes and assists mentors in planning lessons. She also handles registration and community outreach projects within the Hopi villages and other locations.

She began as a mentor for sewing classes: Shawl Making, Traditional and Contemporary clothing making (Hopi Ribbon Shirt, Skirts, and Aprons), and Applique.

Valarie is also a designer of traditional and contemporary clothing. She continues to attend art markets and accepts special orders. Her use of color and pattern has resulted in a unique style for which she has become known.

“My work with Hopitutuqaiki has allowed me to grow not only in the workplace, but it has also encouraged me to grow as a Hopi woman. When here, I am reminded of the Hopi values of Suminangwa and Hita’nangwa. We come together for the good of all and continue to do the work for the benefit of all.” “Eskwali, I have learned so much here. I will continue to pass along what I have learned to my family.”

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Sakhongnoma is from Munqapi Village and is a member of the PaaIswungwa (Water Coyote Clan). Her journey with Hopitutuqaiki began in the spring of 2023 as a student. Currently, she works with Hopitutuqaiki as the Office Assistant. Sakhongnoma pursued her education in Indian Country Criminal Justice and graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree. She plans on furthering her education while in the meantime working with Hopitutuqaiki because Hopi culture and traditional arts are important to her. “While I had a loving, nurturing childhood and young adulthood, I had some traumatic experiences that unfortunately were unavoidable. I had anxiety and PTSD as a result. Learning how to sew, bead, and draw made me value traditional and contemporary arts and culture even more because it helped me ground myself and it still is a healing method for me today. My roots and way of life help me cope. This is why I feel it’s important for me to work with Hopitutuqaiki. This place is meant to be a part of my healing journey. I want to contribute my knowledge so I can help our people heal through learning and teaching our Hopi culture and arts so that they may pass it on to help others as well.”

MEMBER

Ramson is the first and only full-time Hopi Glassblower, a traditional katsina doll carver, jeweler, published poet, and consultant. He is also an educator on several levels. Early in his career, he was a middle school and high school teacher and served as adjunct faculty at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, for many years. Ramson currently teaches glassware for Hopitutuqaiki, an arts apprenticeship program located on the Hopi reservation. Ramson earned his B.A. degree from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont, in 1981.

MEMBER

Mary Lynn Duwyenie, Hopi Artist and Educator from the Village of Mishongnovi, is a Butterfly Clan member. She came from a family of traditional Hopi artisans and grew up seeing art in her daily life. Mary’s art tells Hopi history in creative expression works with meaning and personal symbolism of life. She is also a teacher at Hopi Jr./Sr. High School.

MEMBER

Marvin Pooyouma is skilled in textile weaving, which he learned from his grandfather and passed down to future generations. Marvin has taught weaving classes at Hopitutuqaiki for years and is a master teacher. Marvin is from the Corn Clan of Hotevilla.

MEMBER

Robert “Bob” Rhodes has lived and taught on the Hopi and Navajo reservations since 1971. He has served as a teacher from preschool through graduate school, researcher, administrator, and consultant. His book, Nurturing Learning in Native American Students, has been used throughout the nation. Other publications include two additional books and 15 articles. Bob is the founder of Hopitutuqaiki and has led a team of Hopi individuals in creating what’s now the Hopi Arts Program and Language Immersion Preschool. His dedication and vision are being carried throughout the school. Bob resides in Hotevilla with his wife, who is a renowned jeweler.

MEMBER

Sonwy is Hopi and a member of the Sun-forehead clan. She is an Internal Auditor for a tribal community in Southern Arizona and has 20 years of experience in the regulatory and banking industry. She has been a board member of Hopitutuqaiki for over a year. She gained an interest and passion for Hopi language immersion through her father, Leigh Kuwanwisiwma. Seeing direct results from Hopitutuqaiki’s Preschool Language Immersion program through her children’s participation has motivated her ambition to ensure Hopi children can continue learning the Hopi language.