Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 20

ALL EDITIONS A-22 The Arizona Republic Phoenix, Sat, March 30, 1S74 i Hopi artist Milland Lomakema finishes a painting depicting the Hopi origin that will be placed in the Hop! Cultural Center and Museum at Second Mesa fopi museum holds heritage 3aJI jy By JOHN SCHROEDER Northern Arizona Bureau Hopi artworks are displayed in the museum 4 SECOND MESA "We should perpetuate, retain and preserve what is good in the Hppi way of life from the ancient times." That was the dream of Fred Kabotie, a Hopi artist and educator. The dream is becoming a reality. It is embodied in the Hopi Cultural Center and Museum, perched on the high, wind-swept Second Mesa on the Hopi Reservation. The center, which opened in 1970 after years of work by Kabotie, provides a beginning for preserving the Hopi heritage and an unusual way of life for generations to come. A short distance from old Oraibi, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States, the distinctive, Hopi style pueblo structure contains the museum, a motel, a restaurant and arts and crafts shops.

Although the museum is temporarily closed until tourism picks up around Easter Sunday, the restaurant, motel and shops are open. The small museum holds a fine collection of Hopi kachinas, art work of historic interest, displays of Hopi weaving, pottery, basketry and copies of historic documents and photographs. One display is devoted to the accomplishments of Louis Tewanima, the swift Hopi runner who gained fame in the 1912 Olympic games in Norway. Kabotie also founded the Hopi arts and crafts silversmithing cooperative guild, which is located nearby. He is the only Hopi listed in "Who's Who," and serves as president of Hopi Cultural Center Inc.

In the early 1960s Kaboti spearheaded efforts to build the center, "because the Hopi tribe is the only tribe of this age which still retains ail its old culture while other tribes have lost theirs." A woman he met aboard an airplane on one of his many trips back East expressed keen interest in the project. he was the late Mrs. Sarah Folsom, State Superintendent of Public Instruc-' tion, who, with Rep. Sam Steiger. was instrumental in getting funds for the center.

Eventually $800,000 was obtained. Eighty per cent of the money came from the federal government and 20 per cent was matching funds from the Hopi tribe. Kabotie said money is still a problem in attempts to develop the museum. Since its opening, improvements have come slowly, financed by a sprinkling of grants including one grant to train a curator for the museum. The man picked for the job is a Hopi, Terrance Talaswaima, 33.

He is training at the museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, which has loaned items to the center from its collection. Talaswaima said the museum is more of an arts and crafts center providing a limited explanation of Hopi history. He said he hopes to display not only "things" but ideas "what are behind these things and how do they affect our lives." Both Talaswaima and Kabotie hope the museum will be used as a research center, not only for Anglos but for Hopis. The two men say the center's stated objective is to serve "as an educational and scientific institution, dedicated to the preservation, advancement and diffusion of knowledge of Hopi Indian culture through the research center and library." They also hope the center can serve as a clearing house for scholarships to Hopi youth because of its affiliation with various foundations and other organizations. Although the center is small and its collections far from complete, it marks a major milestone for the Hopis in preserving an unusual way of life.

ih ft af til? 1 1 hJy" I I 0 1 Sidney Sekakuku, a Hopi from Oraibi, welds silver rings at the Hopi arts and crafts cooperative guild at Second Mesa. Republic Photos By John Schroeder fred Kabotie adjusts a Kachlna doll In the museum rngpH x. -J -ft i 5 1 The Hopi Cultural Center and Museum, hlch opened In 1171, has a Distinctly Hopi style of architecture add will preserve the Hopi heritage and customs.