Visions and Voices

Micah B. Loma'omvaya

My cultural identity is rooted in Hopi culture, and it is a way of life I hope to achieve. The various experiences in religious and social activities through my life instill in me this strong identity. Yet it is not only my self identity, but the acceptance in the Hopi community through initiations into Katsina and Tawtawkyam religious societies. This role within my village of Soongopavi has definitely changed my life for the better. I grew up in two worlds -- Hopi and American. I know Hopi and spoke only Hopi till I began school. Later on we moved to the cities and I spent my academic year there and returned to create a balance between Hopi and American worlds. I have received the best of both worlds and now plan to return for good to where my heart and mind belong, at Hopi.  

One primary reason my parents brought us and remain in the city is for a better education. It is still the reason why I have to make a large commitment away from my family. It is important to me because it creates a well-rounded person who is knowledgeable and not ignorant. I have seen the advantages of a better education and plan to use it for the benefit of Hopi people. Education provides tribes with individual members who can create progress and self-determination by our own hands. We cannot expect to achieve major goals and prosper if we cannot do it on our own terms and with own abilities. I plan on working in three major areas: language, ethnobotany, and repatriation. I want to increase our Hopi language education and preservation for our next generations. In ethnobotany, I hope to provide a source for Hopi to establish records and promote ethnobotanical knowledge. Repatriation for me entails working towards more equality for Hopi rights.  

The emphasis on my experience and learning in Hopi culture is a great focus in my life now and for the future of our children. The knowledge, values, and traditions passed down to me by my Hopi elders, relatives, and friends have changed the course of my life. I have great respect for those who continue these traditions and uphold the values of being "Hopi". "Life is sacred" and I hope that we as Hopi continue to respect this teaching and prosper from it.

Tribal affiliation:  Hopi  Bear Clan, Soongopavi Village 

Image size:  20" x 30"   Medium:  Oil/Pastel