Navajo Perspectives on Wallenda High Wire Walk

Discovery channel did not show the Navajo, Hopi and environmental protestors who were present near the high-wire walk which was held over the Little Colorado River gorge on Navajo land. 

The Tribe was able to get Discovery Channel to do promotions of their tourism resources and to pave the entry road and parking lot to their Little Colorado overlook park.  But many local area Navajo and Hopi residents had a different perspective.

Mr. Tso's (leader from the nearby local Navajo community of Cameron) comment about gambling with life in sacred lands eloquently portrays the traditional perspective.

Local Area traditional Native people views:

"A group of protesters expressed concern over the "circus like" atmosphere of the event. The group included members of the Cameron Chapter, Save the Confluence tribal members, members of the Hopi Tribe and one member of the Supai Tribe who traveled the furthest to support his fellow Navajo and Hopi tribal members in the protest against Wallenda taking such a risk over their sacred land.

Milton Tso, Cameron Chapter president, spoke to members of the media on Sunday at the protest campsite near Cameron.

"Navajos are supposed to cherish life," he said. "But is this how we are now presenting ourselves as Navajos to the world? That we are willing to allow this man to gamble with his life over one of our most sacred places? All for the sake of tourism dollars?"

See more here:

Official Tribal comments:

"Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and Vice President Rex Lee Jim were on hand to congratulate high wire artist Nik Wallenda after he successfully walked across the Little Colorado River Gorge on a two inch steel cable on Sunday evening near the Grand Canyon.

Wallenda's tightrope walk, which was near the Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park, was broadcasted live on the Discovery Channel to 217 countries throughout the world."

Navajo Chairman Shelly congratulating Wallenda

"I want to congratulate Nik on his successful walk. I want to thank the Discovery Channel, NBC and all the workers who made this event successful. This is an example of what can happen when we work together.

I am pleased that the Navajo Nation was a part of this project and that we helped Nik achieve one of his lifelong goals. It was exciting to Nik walk on the tightrope with windy conditions and I am happy that he was successful.

The worldwide audience was able to see the Navajo Nation and now we invite you to come Navajo land. Come see the pristine landscape for yourself, with your own eyes, you won't regret it.
We invite travelers near and far to come experience Navajo land,"

See more here

Life Transitions of Hopi Youth

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Hopi boys at a social dance by Sandra Cosentino

$10 Sedona Public Library 7 - 9 pm Meeting Room 3250 White Bear Road Sedona, Arizona

Hopi girl at a social dance by Sandra Cosentino

To the Hopi an individual goes through multiple life cycles or symbolic life cycles.  With every cycle the individual grows in an number of ways. In this visual presentation, Ramson will discuss a number of topics relating to the development and growth of a child into an adult.  He will also speak on the concept of educating students using traditional values.

Ramson Lomatewama is an eloquent and engaging speaker on Hopi culture in relation to today's world. He is a mentor at the Hopi School and retired adjunct professor of sociology (North Central College, Naperville, Illinois). Ramson is a published poet, cultural anthropology consultant, farmer, and artist who participates in Hopi traditional culture. Ramson is a traditional-style katsina doll carver who has developed a unique contemporary hot glass art based on ancestral images which are a "contemporary expression of Hopi spirit and belief."   He  is a board member and mentor for Hopitutuqaki, The Hopi School, at Hotevila, Arizona (on Third Mesa on the Hopi Indian Reservation) which is dedicated to developing an educational process derived from Hopi Indian philosophy, values and methods:  "Hopi students come from a Hopi environment and culture. They are also part of larger environments and cultures, culminating in world (or Universal) environment and culture. The task of students is to prepare to enter those environments ready and willing to contribute."

For more information:

Sponsored by the Crossing Worlds Hopi Project, which conducts service projects at Hopi and cross-cultural education opportunities since 1999 and

Verde Valley Archaeology Center.  Ramson's Hopi glass art will be on display March 29 - 30 at the Verde Valley Archaeology Fair in Camp Verde.