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Benn Pikyavit, Paiute tribal teacher & National Park Ranger from Pipe Spring NM, Arizona, spoke about how his ancestors lived with the land.
Many people have called the Grand Canyon home long before it was a national park.
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Hopi tribal teacher Debra Onsae shared the story of learning for a girl growing up by the Good Way.
Archeological evidence dates back to about 800AD when the first Ancestral Puebloans (aka: Anasazi) camped in shallow caves along the Colorado River corridor.
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1st & 2nd Attendants to Miss Hopi 2009
The Hopi people living in northeast Arizona share ancestry with the Ancestral Puebloans.
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Hopi artist & teacher Ramson Lomatewama talks about the concepts of Kachinas.
Many continue to teach their youth the old ways while encouraging growth and creativity into the now and beyond.
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Hopi Derrick Suwaima Davis & young son performed the Eagle Dance
This youngster absolutely stole the show.
David Nighteagle has made and played the flute since 7 years old.
David brought children and adults out of the audience to set the beat with drum and rattles.
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Navajo flute player Milton Tso
Demonstrations went on throughout the day including Kachina carving, basket weaving and soap making from the Yucca root.
Derrick performed the Hoop Dance with Ryon Polequaptewa accompanying
The canyon visitors seemed to enjoy all the events over two days and most got up and danced in a circle after the Hoop Dancing.
That looks like a great day. Interesting to hear the stories and to experience the culture of different native groups.
Very interesting post. I was looking for a photo of Miss Hopi 2009, but only saw her attendants. The little boy doing the eagle dance is precious!
I would have loved to see that.
I have really been looking forward to seeing this Gaely and it is a fantastic post.
These people have so much to teach us about living off and on the land. They had so much respect for everything in nature and I am please to read that they encourage and teach their children their traditions.
The Kachinas go back a far way too and are beautifully made. Don't the Navajo also make them?
I loved the two video clips but you could have videoed the whole two days for me. 🙂 That Hoop Dance is fantastic. Do you know the significance of it?
I do hope you are going to post most of these two days for us. 🙂
Thank you so much for this.
Wonderful wonderful post! I have spent a lot of time over the years connected to people of the plains cultures, in Canada, but know very little of the southwest – thanks for such a delighful tour!
I missed the whole thing because I had to work at the entrance station, then we had to go to Flagstaff. I hope I can see it next year. I am particularly interested in the dancers. Did they explain any of the significance of the dances or did they just dance?
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Very interesting post,indeed.
Bye
This is a great post Gaelyn..I love to see the heritage preserved. Here it's all about casinos and I wonder what the ancestors think of that…
You have some wonderful shots here. That top one esp. just really caught my eye. Thanks too for the snippet of music.
I'm wondering… with so much to see in the world, if I will ever find my way home again, or is the road my home?
Another "must see" noted in my book!
Sunshine Coast Daily Photo – Australia
Ten years I lived in the area and never got to this. The date corresponded with one of my busiest times of the year. Now I live far, far away.
Still, I have two David Nighteagle CDs and if I listen to them and close my eyes ….
Hi Gaelyn,
What an excellent post. Your photos, show interesting, educational, and entertaining speakers, dancers, and exhibitors during Heritage Days. I have attended a similar event in WY and enjoyed the experience. Your Hoop Dance video is great! Thanks for sharing.
Fascinating to learn about different cultures and traditions. Your hoop dance video was great. I had only seen still photos of the hoop dance before, and didn't realize how amazing it is. Also loved the flute music video.
Love your pictures. Very informative too. Thanks for sharing.
Oh what beautiful photos. I especially love the one of Benn Pikyavit, Paiute. The mountains are breathtaking!
I would very much have enjoyed attending this festival. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Wow that was great Gaelyn, thank you for sharing. They have often Native American dancers in San Diego where we often go to. And also in the area of Yosemite (even a museum of the Natives inside the Nat. Park. I love their art.
It must have been a very successful event judging from the pictures of people there. Nice post. Most interesting.
I have the issue of "breast feeding" on my main blog today Pick a Peck of Pixels
I really love these type of photography..Great informative post with nice photographs and lines…
thanks for sharing…
Very interesting. I wish I could have been there. Love the flutes and drumming. I am glad you were there to share with us. MB
I would love to one day travel through the USA and at some stage get to experience the cultures of the native American people.
Great pics! Looks like a great day!
the videos were great!
Jeff and I were in Arizona and saw some Hoop dancing..Loved it.
Must catch that again sometime! ♥♥
hi there gal
Yes its me, rain stopped here , the blog is AMAZING!!
love the whole thing – and what perseverence that would take
WOW
I'm glad the national park is doing this, giving some recognition and respect to the native peoples. That little girl with the eagle wings is so cute!
That Hopi dancing is amazing. I love the flute playing…so haunting!
I truly enjoyed this post, especially the videos. The hoop dance was wonderful. Thank you for sharing the day with me.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sara
http://pianonotes.info
Hello, I am happy to see your blog!… My little cousin is Miss Hopi First Attendant. I have not been able to see her due her duties as First Attendant, but it is nice to see a picture of her doing so… I hope to read more of your blogs as time goes by..
Thanks for the pictures.