MY WORK EXPERIENCE AND FUN IN FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

ONE SUMMER BEFORE GRADUATE SCHOOL I WORKED AT A SMALL MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA DURING GRADUATE SCHOOL.HERE WE SAW SOME FESTIVALS OF THE HOPI AND NAVAJO.  I BOUGHT A SMALL NAVAJO RUG AND WATCHED THE HOPI WEAVE AND MAKE SOME KINDS OF OF THIN PIKI BREAD ON A STONE METATE OF SORTS. 

WE ALSO WATCHED WATCHED HOPIS MAKE THIS KATCHINA WOOD CARVINGS, DESIGNS  INTRICATE POTTERY, TELL STORIES ABOUT THEIR TRADITIONS..  THEIR FESTIVALS HAVE MUSIC  AND DANCES.  THEIR TRIBE IS WORKING TO PRESERVE  LANGUAGE AND AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS.  TODAY THEY HAVE HOPI MEDICINE WOMEN DESCRIBE HOW TO PRESERVE THEIR LANGUAGE AND AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS.

THIS MUSEUM IS NICE ONE AND I WORKED HERE FOR JUST ONE MONTH BEFORE MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.  I ONLY CATALOGUED AND I DID RIDE MY BIKE TO THE MUSEUM EACH DAY.  MY MOM LATER PAINTED A PICTURE OF THE FLAGSTAFF PEAKS - SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS IN OILS FOR ME. MY HUSBAND AND I BACKPACKED DOWN THE CANYON TO THE HAVASUPI CANYON FALLS.

THE MUSEUM NOW HAS ZUNI FESTIVALS WITH ARTS AND CRAFTS, DANCES WITH FAMILIES.  THE ZUNI HAVE A BAND.  THEY HAVE ZUNI ARTISTS AND DEMONSTRATORS.  THE NAVAJO HAVE WEAVERS AND POTTERY  MAKE JEWELRY.  THERE ARE 100 ARTISTS WHO MAKE JEWELRY.  WHEN I WORKED HERE THERE WERE ONLY 5 ARTISTS AND ONE TRIBE IN THE 1980'S.  THEY HAVE DANCE HOOP DANCES AND POLLEN TRAIL DANCES.  THE NAVAJO HAVE AN ETHNOBOTANIST THERE AS WELL IN THE FESTIVAL