November 23, 2010
The Hopi Footprints Project will present a film premiere and discussion with Hopi youth and elders on Saturday, December 4 from 2–5 p.m. at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Hopi youth and elders will reflect on Hopi cultural preservation and how they maintain their cultural traditions, while being grounded in their ancestral and traditional cultural roots and living with the pressures of the modern world.
They will give their perspectives on who they are, what their responsibilities are, and how they intend to nurture the biocultural diversity that has been a part of their lives for millennia. A panel discussion with Hopi youths and elders, and facilitated by Dr. George Gumerman, will present their remarkable journeys.
2:00–2:50 p.m. Film Showings:
Hopi Youth Return to Mesa Verde
Hopi Youth Return to Kawestima
3:00–3:50 p.m. Hopi Youth and Elder Panel Discussion
4:00–4:45 p.m. Film Showings:
Hopi Youth Return to Homolovi
Hopi Youth Return to Chaco Canyon
This National Endowment for the Humanities funded project, headed by NAU’s Director of the University Honors Program George Gumerman, Ph.D. and directed by Joelle Clark, addresses the Hopi’s challenging task of retaining their distinct cultural identity, while preparing youths for a fast-paced world of modern lifestyles and different cultures.
Archaeology, elder knowledge, and tribal traditions have provided the foundation for a Hopi youth exhibit at the Museum on the core values of Hopi culture. The exhibit Following in the Footprints of Our Ancestors, which runs through December 31, 2010, presents the youths’ voice on how they maintain their core values amidst threats and challenges to their deeply rooted traditions.
The film premiere and panel discussion are included in admission to the Museum. It is located three miles north of historic downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180. More information is available at 928/774-5213 or musnaz.org. More information about the Hopi Footprints Project is available at www4.nau.edu/footprints.