Quest 6
demonstration of how you have "put your self out there"
Senior Project: Hopi Trip
As with tradition, our senior project this year was visiting the Hopi Indian Reservation. It was one of the most memorable, amazing places I have been blessed to experience. Twelve students, juniors and seniors, and two staff, Mindi and Annalise, went on this trip. The reservation was located in northeastern Arizona; we stayed in the Kykotsmovi Village. Our host family was very understanding and helpful with everything. Lee was the father, Diana was the mother, Sonny, Nate, Kenzie, and Vee were the children. The children’s ages ranged from 16 to mid twenties. We stayed there from Saturday March 19 to Friday March 25, and were lucky because of the time we visited there were many ceremonies.
That night, we arrived and were told that having a cell phone out in public was forbidden for us, and that if inside and asked to put it away there was no back-talk allowed. My friend Diana and I helped make this sweet paste wrapped in cornhusk for the Cachinas. Our first full day, we saw two dances that involved the Cachinas. They were ceremonial dances to ask for moisture, whether it be rain, snow, or hail. At the dances the Cachinas passed out food of all sorts: colored popcorn, delicious cookies, candied corn on the cob, bags of chips, peanuts in their shell, fruits and vegetables, and many more. That night, we visited Lee’s plot of land that he used for planting. Many yucca plants were on the outskirts of the property, and all of the girls had to dig up 2 hefty ones. The next 3 days following, we girls each wove ourselves a basket. To prepare for weaving we had to pull apart, de-string, cluster into groups according to size, burn poisonous tips, and then dye the yucca. Diana and her friend Michelle taught us all of the above, and how to weave a basic diamond pattern. All in all, we spent around 20 hours through the whole process with 11 of us. I was very proud of my basket because of the persistence and patience I used, until the very end where I was the last one. Bree and I were told we made the best baskets of everyone.
The next day, Wednesday, we visited 1st Mesa, the oldest of three, and went to a gift shop where I bought a “Don’t Worry, Be Hopi” hat for my dad and a collection of Cachina postcards for my mom. Later that evening, we went hiking up the hill behind their house. There was the most exceptional view of the whole village and beyond. Though some drama did proceed, the mother Diana gave words of wisdom, “try not to take it into your own hands, because every person that has done something wrong has it come back ten-fold.” I felt sick to my stomach from the way the hours before had taken it all out of me, the mother Diana gave me blue cornmeal and mixed it with water. It worked better than Pepto-Bismol, and she gave me a plastic baggie of it to bring home. Our last full day, Thursday, we visited their ranch where they raised cattle. We ate one of the cows from a couple weeks before, right in front of the other cows! It somewhat ironically made it taste even better. That night, the mother Diana gave my friend Diana and I the recipe and supplies to make the sweet paste wrapped in cornhusk from the first night.
We woke up around five a.m. on our last day, and packed everything up. As we said our goodbyes, we were invited to come back any time. I cried when I hugged the mother Diana, then as a farewell blessing the father Lee burned Cedar. Each of us went up and he washed the smoke all around us. Driving away I was tearing up, but happy knowing that I am going to visit them this summer with Diana and Kyi. Us three grew really close to Nate and still talk to him through facebook and text message.
That night, we arrived and were told that having a cell phone out in public was forbidden for us, and that if inside and asked to put it away there was no back-talk allowed. My friend Diana and I helped make this sweet paste wrapped in cornhusk for the Cachinas. Our first full day, we saw two dances that involved the Cachinas. They were ceremonial dances to ask for moisture, whether it be rain, snow, or hail. At the dances the Cachinas passed out food of all sorts: colored popcorn, delicious cookies, candied corn on the cob, bags of chips, peanuts in their shell, fruits and vegetables, and many more. That night, we visited Lee’s plot of land that he used for planting. Many yucca plants were on the outskirts of the property, and all of the girls had to dig up 2 hefty ones. The next 3 days following, we girls each wove ourselves a basket. To prepare for weaving we had to pull apart, de-string, cluster into groups according to size, burn poisonous tips, and then dye the yucca. Diana and her friend Michelle taught us all of the above, and how to weave a basic diamond pattern. All in all, we spent around 20 hours through the whole process with 11 of us. I was very proud of my basket because of the persistence and patience I used, until the very end where I was the last one. Bree and I were told we made the best baskets of everyone.
The next day, Wednesday, we visited 1st Mesa, the oldest of three, and went to a gift shop where I bought a “Don’t Worry, Be Hopi” hat for my dad and a collection of Cachina postcards for my mom. Later that evening, we went hiking up the hill behind their house. There was the most exceptional view of the whole village and beyond. Though some drama did proceed, the mother Diana gave words of wisdom, “try not to take it into your own hands, because every person that has done something wrong has it come back ten-fold.” I felt sick to my stomach from the way the hours before had taken it all out of me, the mother Diana gave me blue cornmeal and mixed it with water. It worked better than Pepto-Bismol, and she gave me a plastic baggie of it to bring home. Our last full day, Thursday, we visited their ranch where they raised cattle. We ate one of the cows from a couple weeks before, right in front of the other cows! It somewhat ironically made it taste even better. That night, the mother Diana gave my friend Diana and I the recipe and supplies to make the sweet paste wrapped in cornhusk from the first night.
We woke up around five a.m. on our last day, and packed everything up. As we said our goodbyes, we were invited to come back any time. I cried when I hugged the mother Diana, then as a farewell blessing the father Lee burned Cedar. Each of us went up and he washed the smoke all around us. Driving away I was tearing up, but happy knowing that I am going to visit them this summer with Diana and Kyi. Us three grew really close to Nate and still talk to him through facebook and text message.
Interim
1st Quarter:
I worked with Heidi from Heidi Hat, helping her cut patterns and learned a lot about the business of fashion design.
2nd Quarter:
I worked at the Wyly Art Center, in Basalt, volunteering hours in exchange for use of their supplies to work in my Journaling With Images (JWI) journal. I helped make cards for different occasions and helped prepare for a group that came in.
3rd Quarter:
Senior Project: The Hopi Trip. I helped our host family with everything that was asked of me and more, all the while having a once in a life time experience.
I worked with Heidi from Heidi Hat, helping her cut patterns and learned a lot about the business of fashion design.
2nd Quarter:
I worked at the Wyly Art Center, in Basalt, volunteering hours in exchange for use of their supplies to work in my Journaling With Images (JWI) journal. I helped make cards for different occasions and helped prepare for a group that came in.
3rd Quarter:
Senior Project: The Hopi Trip. I helped our host family with everything that was asked of me and more, all the while having a once in a life time experience.
Friday Outings
Teams Course- All Staff
Anderson Ranch- Mindi
College Tour- Mindi
Anderson Ranch- Mindi
College Tour- Mindi