HEEF Member: Sheilah Nicholas Earns Ph.D in American Indian Studies from University of Arizona

Dr. Teresa L. McCarty, Professor of Education Policy Studies at Arizona State University announced that Sheilah Nicholas of Songoopavi, successfully defended her dissertation in American Indian Studies (AIS) at the University of Arizona (UofA) on May 8, 2007. The new Dr. Nicholas is the first Hopi to have earned her PhD in American Indian Studies from the UofA. The UofA is only one of two universities nationwide which offer the PhD in AIS.

Dr. McCarty who served as Chair of Sheilah's Dissertation Committee stated that the dissertation "Is truly a stellar piece of scholarship, beautifully written and meticulously researched using ethnographic methods. Entitled "Becoming 'Fully' Hopi: The Role of the Hopi Language in the Contemporary Lives of Hopi Youth - a Hopi Case Study of Language Shift and Vitality," this is one of the few studies of Native youth language ideologies. It is also one of a handful of such studies by a Native scholar." The dissertation committee consisted of Drs. Theresa McCarty, Tsianina Lomawaima, Emory Sekaquaptewa, Mary Jo Tippeconnic Fox, and Yetta Goodman.

Sheilah is the former coordinator of the American Indian Language Development Institute , a teacher and a teacher educator. For the past two years, one of her main projects was assisting the Hopi Tribe Cultural Preservation office to coordinate and implement the Hopi Lavayi Institute. The Hopi Lavayi Institute, based on the Hopi reservation, offers teachers, teacher aides and Hopi community language instructors an opportunity to experience unique insight to teaching Hopi Language. The 2007 Hopi Lavayi Summer institute in currenly being in Kykotsmovi, AZ.

A founding member of the HEEF, Sheilah's undergraduate and Masters degrees are from the UofA in Special Education and American Indian Studies. She is from the Sun Forehead Clan of Songoopavi. Sheilah and her husband Joseph have three children, Sarah, Seth and Rachel.

HEEF Hosts American Indian College Fund

On May 8th & 9th, the HEEF and the Hopi Foundation hosted the American Indian College Fund's (AICF) Southwest tour group. Each year, the AICF offers tours for their donors to visit various tribal colleges in different regions of the United States. For the first time ever, a visit to Hopi was also included as a part of their Southwest tour through New Mexico and Arizona.

After a guided tour through the village of Walpi by HEEF Marketing/Special Events Manager, Sam Tenakhongva, the group was treated to an evening of entertainment provided by Miss Hopi 2006-07, Tiffany Bahnimptewa, who sang Hopi songs and explained the significance of her traditional clothing. They also heard a lecture about Hopi history from former Tribal Chairman, Ferrell Secakuku, who is also a recent graduate, and recipient of HEEF funds, with a Masters Degree in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University, all while enjoying traditional Hopi cuisine. The evening ended with the HEEF and the Hopi Foundation sharing information on their current projects and programs.

The following day the group enjoyed the morning with local Hopi artists in the village of Shungopavi on Second Mesa at the home of HEEF President, Monica Nuvamsa. The group was able to interact and learn about several different art forms of the Hopi through demonstrations from artists Elmer Satala (jeweler), Valerie Kahe (potter), Leora Kayquoptewa (basket maker), Griselda Saufkie (basket maker) and Brandon Dacawyma (doll carver). The group also enjoyed and witnessed traditional food preparation by Monica Nuvamsa who prepared piki (traditional flat bread made on a heated stone with blue corn meal) and a kutuki (parched corn) demonstration over a wood fire by Virginia Joseyesva.

On behalf of the tour group, AICF Executive Director, Rick Williams expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and experience on Hopi. HEEF Board Member, Eileen Egan, from the village of Oraibi, and National Donor Relations Officer for the AICF was instrumental in bringing the AICF, HEEF and the Hopi Foundation together to forge new friendships.

From the Director's Desk

As summer comes to a close we begin to feel the anticipation build as our children and families prepare to begin a new school year. Soon big yellow school busses will begin crisscrossing the Hopi reservation carrying excited children to their respective schools. In the meantime, those of us with college students will begin to emotionally and financially prepare to once again "let our children go" as they travel back to college.

Summer 2007 has been good for the HEEF. We continue to receive positive response to the spring/summer "Corn Appeal", we met and made many "friends" at the 2007 Museum of Northern Arizona Hopi Show and Homolovi State Park Suvoyuki Day, hosted guests from the American Indian College Fund and National Indian Education Association (NIEA), wrapped up our first ever video project and helped to introduce a bright young high school student to the world of philanthropy.

As we enter the "back to school" season we find ourselves preparing for our Planned Giving program, 2007 Alumni challenge, 2008 Silent Auction, an event in Boston, MA and of course, preparing to award funding to the Hopi Tribe Grants & Scholarship Program for the Fall semester.

This fall, we are expecting to fund over 100 awards to Hopi students attending colleges and universities across the United States. This would not be possible without the help of you, our generous supporters and donors. We look forward to sharing our continued progress with you.                        

Askwali,
LuAnn Leonard, Executive Director