Support Increased Economic Opportunities and Improved Quality of Life
in Rural America
Community-Building on the Hopi Reservation
Impact Nugget
Arizona Cooperative Extension’s technical assistance and mentoring
support with the Hopi Tribe grew into the development of a Hopi-run
nonprofit organization known as Hopi Pu’tavi Project, Inc., which
promotes learning, training and business opportunities for the Hopi
people on the reservation, youth in particular. Silversmith shows held
in 2004 generated more than $100,000 in profit, saved local artisans
more than $1,000 each by having a local show rather than traveling to
juried shows off-reservation, and generated a profit of $2,500 to be
used for the 2005 show.
Issue
Community building is the process of developing the capacity of local
people to examine resources, identify a community vision and take culturally
sensitive action to create meaningful change. Extension’s role
is to provide asset-based training and services for community based
organizations that have limited resources to pay for the technical services
that can increase internal capacities. This support allows communities
such as those on the Hopi reservation to focus on economic and cultural
survival.
What has been done?
In a cross-county collaborative effort, Arizona Cooperative Extension
faculty from Coconino and Navajo counties conducted community building
workshops with members of the Hopi Tribe in Mishongnovi to help them
develop a strategic plan for responding to village needs. Cooperative
Extension has been involved with the Innovation Center for Community
and Youth Development there since 1999. Extension's technical assistance
and mentoring support with the Hopi eventually grew into the development
of a Hopi-run nonprofit organization known as Hopi Pu’tavi Project,
Inc. (Pu’tavi means one path. ) Although the Hopi began this as
a capacity-building effort for a single village, it has now grown to
include 13 villages. As one of only two nonprofit organizations on the
reservation, Pu’Tavi promotes learning, training and business
opportunities for the Hopi people on the reservation, youth in particular.
The intention is to provide options that will keep Hopis close to home.
The group sponsors activities on the reservation that will enhance the
Hopi culture and lifestyle.
Over the last few years Arizona Cooperative Extension has facilitated
guided dialogue among community members to promote their targeted actions.
Capacity building training included sessions on strategic planning,
program evaluation, overcoming barriers, gaining community support,
and resource and board development. While part of the work was structured,
an equal portion of the technical assistance occurred naturally, and
included encouragement, local problem solving and story telling.
Cooperative Extension is also using the same intentional community
action techniques to train local indigenous leaders on the Navajo reservation
to be facilitators in community discussions. These leaders are being
mentored as facilitators, helping each other in honing their skills
in promoting native community dialogue and action. They identify pressing
community issues to work on, such as reducing family violence. The facilitators
are also mentoring young facilitators who can take action and convene groups.
Impact
PuTavi members have focused on enhancing the Hopi silversmith industry.
Activities have included training to increase hands-on silversmithing
techniques, workshops on improving computer skills to market products
on the Internet, and the creation of affordable venues for sales of
authentic Hopi arts. Pu’Tavi sponsored a workshop led by a well-known
Hopi artist who saw a need to improve the silversmith skills of artisans
on Hopi. Because silversmiths living on Hopi often cannot afford gallery
show entry fees, Pu’tavi initiated the Tuhisma show, held in October
for local artisans to show their wares on the reservation where tourists
can buy them. Their goal is to encourage Hopi artisans–especially
youth–to participate. Last year was the Fourth Annual Tuhisma
Hopi Arts & Crafts Market to be held on the Hopi Reservation. Sixty-five
Hopi artists participated in the show. More than $100,00 worth of sales
is estimated to have occurred during the two day show. Additionally,
an informal crafts market took place at the Hopi Cultual Center with
about 50 artists selling next to the parking lot. The Hopi Quilting
Guild at Bacavi organized their First Show to coincide with the Tuhisma
Show. Hopi Pu’tavi generated a profit of $2,500 after the show
finished to be used for the 5th Annual Show in 2005. One artisan estimates
that each of the artisans saved at least $1,000 by having a local show,
rather than traveling to juried shows off-reservation.
Pu'tavi sponsors computer classes open to all native Hopi adults and
youth to help them learn the skills needed to market their jewelry over
the Internet. Mainly adults with little or no experience have participated
in these classes. The organization also completed a survey of Hopi farmers
with a $35,000 Community Food Security grant from USDA. Seventy-seven
Hopi farmers where interviewed for the survey.
By focusing and developing their organizational skills through technical
assistance, Pu’tavi members have been able to concentrate on their
program efforts and not be overwhelmed by internal growth and development.
Pu’tavi is seen as a flexible, responsive and unifying effort
to meet multi-village needs, free of clan or village tensions. This
nonprofit organization has been able to develop outreach strategies
to get things done.
Funding
Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development, formerly a division
of National 4-H Council
Fundraisers for So’oh’s Tunatya and Tuhisma.
Grants from Arizona Commission on the Arts, Arizona Community Foundation,
USDA
Contact
Matt Livingston, associate agent
Arizona Cooperative Extension, Navajo County
Hopi Reservation Office
PO Box 1203
Keams Canyon, AZ 86034-1203
(928) 734-3708 office
(928) 734-3609 fax
Email: mateo@ag.arizona.edu
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