Carving on Tufa Stone

Hopi Pu’tavi Project, Inc. has been operating on the Hopi reservation as a non-profit organization since 1998. The organization’s mission is to make training, education and business opportunities available to the Hopi people, particularly youth , on the Hopi Reservation, in order to enhance the quality of life and culture.  The organization strives to ensure that these opportunities will not detract from Hopi values, religious purposes or traditions.

Hopi Pu’tavi serves the residents of the Hopi Reservation, a remote, rural community 100 miles northeast of Flagstaff in Navajo County, Northern Arizona. Approximately 10,000 people live in this community and many Hopis return to the community from border towns, Phoenix or Flagstaff, for ceremonies, or to reside again, close to family and traditions. Second Mesa, the location of the Hopi Pu’tavi office, is centrally located on the reservation, 60 miles north of Winslow, Arizona. There are no movie theaters, gyms, banks, or major grocery stores on the reservation. Unemployment fluctuates from 40 to 60 percent and much of the work is seasonal. Hopi artistry employs many men and women who have adapted to a changing lifestyle by becoming artists and selling their work. There are several galleries and studios across the reservation, which has twelve villages in a 90 by 45 mile area. 

Prayer Feather

The name Pu’tavi is Hopi and denotes a path, which is blessed by a prayer feather.  The person who follows this path is to do a good deed at the end, and when the deed is done they may come back along the path to their home.  As they step over the prayer on their return, they are allowed to turn the feather so that the blessings will now flow to their home.

This is the nature of our organization. It was founded to focus on language, traditional arts, vital education and the traditional values and beliefs of Hopi. We strive to create economic opportunities for the Hopi community through one of these focus areas. So’oh’s Tunatya, meaning “Grandmother’s Dream” in Hopi, is a program that Hopi Pu’tavi sponsors. When Roy Talahaftewa, master silversmith at Hopi, brought the idea for the program to Hopi Pu’tavi, it was a natural connection. So’oh’s Tunatya is a training program for Hopi silversmiths. Roy's mother, Evangeline Talahaftewa, was a National Treasure, known for her handmade Coil Baskets. She dreamed of a way for Roy to share his experience and talents with other Hopi artists as a mentor. So'oh's Tunatya began about three years ago, as a tribute to Evangeline, shortly after she passed away.

Fourteen artists attended the first meeting at the studio. Now, an ongoing series of workshops are offered to small groups, 6-8 artists at a time. Artists have come together over So'oh's Tunatya. Other Hopi Artists, such as, Charles Supplee, who has international exposure, and Phil Naavaasya, a pioneer for Hopi in contemporary jewelry, have instructed classes.  Duane Maktima, Denise James, and Michael Kabotie, renowned Hopi artists, have also participated. Over fifty individual artists, from age 15 to 60,  have been served by the program to date.

The organization obtained a USDA Hopi Community Food Grant in 2003, and in partnership with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) and the University of Arizona Agricultural Extension, began a series of outreach surveys and reports on Hopi Food Security.  The most recent is available online at, http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/CCR31/CCR31.pdf

            Hopi Pu’tavi has sponsored an annual Tuhisma Art Show on Hopi each October since the program began to bring patrons to the artists who market their pieces there. Close to 100 artists participated last October. The artists are taking more ownership of the show and assuming leadership in its organization. Tuhisma has created a market of Hopi Art on Hopi Land tha6t contributes not only to the artist's economy, but to all business on the reservation.  This economic boost is much needed in the Hopi community.

The So’oh’s Tunatya program has continued to grow.  So’oh’s Tunatya held Learning Circles sponsored by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. This helped So’oh’s Tunatya to focus on the need for computer and internet skills and services for Hopi Artists.

So'oh's Tunatya's original goals were:

·        Share new techniques among artisans

·        In­spire further creativity for new pieces

·        Provide workshops to teach new and unfamil­iar silversmith techniques

·        Provide training in pricing and marketing techniques for emerging artists

These goals have been accomplished with a core group of 28 artists, and continue to be important goals for incoming artists. Additional goals were incorporated as a result of the Learning Circle program, which included computer access and computer and internet training for artists for vertical marketing.

Hopi Road