Natwani Coalition Launches New Funding Opportunity

2011 Hopi Food & Farming Community Grants

In May of 2011 The Hopi Foundation's Natwani Coalition launched and is managing 13 grantee recipients of the 2011 Natwani Coalition Food and Farming Community Grant program. This is the first year the Coalition has been able to fund Hopi farming projects with grants to assist each project so they can provide a public service through their work in Hopi agriculture, food, and farming. Projects that were accepted were in alignment with Natwani Coalition mission and goals meaning they support the practices and methods of agriculture, food distribution, and food consumption that are healthy for Hopi individuals and communities.

A total of $15,000 was available for Hopi-Tewa agricultural projects that occurred through the summer and will end this month. Each application was reviewed by a team that included farmers, health professionals and youth. The review team ranked each project based on whether it: 1) supports Natwani Coalition mission and goals, 2) project impact, 3) project feasibility and, 4) whether it promoted diversity and access to Hopi communities. Upon review one team member stated, "Many of the proposed projects involved families which is a good and positive way to teach children the concept of working together but also having a larger goal that benefits others." Another member shared, "This grant program helps community members' visions and ideas come to light. It's good to see community members being creative."

Projects funded this year include: Tutuyvi Cistern Project, Dorothy Denet; a project to assist with her family gardens and orchard, adding new secondary pipeline to an old cistern and floor repair; Pink House Family Garden Project, Anthony and Cara Dukepoo; a support farming traditions and life ways for family and extended family; Kykotsmovi Village Fruit Tree Photo Documentation Project, Jonah Hill; a project to assist with inventory and photo documenting of existing fruit trees and orchards that are within the Hopi villages; Fencing Project, Ronald Humeyestewa; a project to support the fencing of a family pumpkin and melon field which provides protection from animals and rodents; Hopi Tobacco Farming Project, Eldon Kalemsa Jr.; a project to support the planting of tobacco for traditional use and to help reduce the use of commercial tobacco; Tractor Planter Repair Project, Kyle Knox; a project to assist with tractor planter repair that will assist with a large family/clan corn field; Greenhouse Gardening and Drip Irrigation, Jolene and Moody Lomayaktewa; a Greenhouse gardening and drip irrigation farming project to achieve a more naturalistic method by maximizing use of natural resources; Bacavi Terrace Garden Project, Elvia Sanchez; a project that supports Bacavi youth with the revitalization of gardening at the Bacavi terrace gardens which have not been in use for sometime; Sipaulovi Natwan Tuwani-Farming Teachings Project, Bonnie Secakuku, a project to begin terrace gardens at the Sipaulovi Springs while teaching youth on techniques and the importance of farming practices; Sekaquaptewa Garden project, Marlene Sekaquaptewa; a project to maintain and support the family with gardening produce;

My Chicken Farm Project, Dianna Shebala; project support to establish and maintain a chicken farm to sell healthy fresh eggs to local people; Hopi Seed Bank Project, Max Taylor; a project to collect corn and bean seeds and teach youth how to maintain and store seeds; 1st Mesa Katsina Clan Field Restoration and Planting Project, Clark Tenakhongva; project support to restore and reestablish the clan/family field(s) to its full potential and harvest capacity to benefit the family, clan and members of 1st Mesa.

The 2011 Food and Farming Community Grants will culminate with the 2011 Food and Farming Community Grant Project Expo on Sept. 1 which will be held at the Hopi Wellness Center Conference Room from 9 am-2 pm. Grant recipients will have the opportunity to share their projects, and what they learned and experienced with the community at large. Door prizes, hands on demonstrations, food and farming information and more will be available.

For information on this Natwani Coalition project or others like this, please contact Natwani Coalition at 928-734-2390 or by email at natwani_coalition@hopifoundation.org. You can also find us on Face book.