Hopitutuqaiki (Hopi School Inc.)

Kykotsmovi, Arizona

First Nations established the Native Arts Initiative (NAI) in 2014 to provide direct grantmaking, networking opportunities, and training and technical assistance (TTA) to Native-led arts and cultural hubs who are working to preserve and advance traditional Native arts through programming focused on supporting artists and intergenerational sharing of artistic skills and knowledge.

Under the NAI, First Nations provides awarded grantees with organizational and programmatic resources, including direct grants and technical assistance and training. Since 2014, First Nations has awarded more than $3.5 million in grant funds to a variety of eligible, Native-controlled nonprofit organizations and tribal government programs under the NAI.

2023-2025 Native Arts Initiative

About Hopitutuqaiki (Hopi School Inc.)

Hopitutuqaiki (Hopi School Inc.) is a year-round arts magnet school that uses Hopi’s strengths in the arts as the center of the curriculum. The school was founded on the belief that Hopi culture, language, and values offer a natural learning environment where students have a unique opportunity to mature and thrive. The school believes that “every child is like a seed, and if each seed is nurtured, it will grow best in its own plot of earth.” In 2008, the school launched a Hopi language immersion, arts-based preschool as part of the summer program.

How First Nations Will Help

Funding from First Nations will advance Hopitutuqaiki (Hopi School Inc.) efforts to revive and restore traditional Hopi wares, garments, and regalia. Hopitutuqaiki hosts small classes, using a mentoring approach, taught by community experts that incorporate the use of Hopilavayi (Hopi Language) to instruct youth and other community members in traditional basket-making, pottery, textile-weaving, moccasin-making, and more.

COMMUNITY PARTNER Q&A

What does the expression “cultural treasures” mean to you?

It is hard to narrow it down to one thing. Cultural treasures are language, ceremony, environment, and daily life for many of our Hopi people. The word “treasure” is something that expresses value in all of that, especially for our newer generation. Cultural treasures are also a way of life and valuing Hopi life that has always been here. Finally, there are Hopi people who have lived full, meaningful lives who we also consider “treasures.”

What are you most proud of and what does success look like?

What we are most proud of is that teachers have found a way to revive, rejuvenate, and restore language and culture for students, young adults, and elders through the arts. We have acquired great support for our programs from our 12 separate communities, where we have a lot of very skilled artists. Almost every day, a new art form is posted on social media. We are grateful to outside agencies who support us so that we can continue to do this work.

For us, success comes in many forms, like finding a mentor to teach moccasin-making. Or getting someone who has lived in his village for 50 years to do a presentation on how he plants his fields. These situations happen almost daily. We are successful because people are coming to us, asking about the next weaving or glass-blowing class. That’s really what we get excited about!