Park: Homolovi State Park
Guest: Susan Secakuku, Project Manager for the Homolovi Park Project of the Hopi Tribe
Summary: Listen to overview of events planned for the annual Suvoyuki day, including both events at the park and events in the Hopi community. Learn a little about current archaeological work being done at the park.
Intro Music
Host:
Welcome to the 10th episode of the Arizona State Parks Audio Update. Today we’re talking about Homolovi State Parks in northern Arizona, which is both a recreational camping park and a unique archaeological park that preserves Homolovi, one of a series of ancient Hopi pueblos found in the Southwest. On July 11th, 12th, and 13th, both the park and the nearby Hopi reservation will be celebrating Suvoyuki Day. Our guest today is Susan Secakaku, Project Manager for the Homolovi Park Project of the Hopi Tribe. Thanks for joining us today Susan.
Susan Secakuku:
Glad to be here, thank you.
Host:
Now Homolivi Ruins is a unique place because it’s a partnership between Arizona State Parks and the Hopi Tribe. The park preserves and protects sacred Hopi archeaological sites from destruction while still offering special cultural tour opportunities for the public. So it’s a great introduction to the Hopi culture. How would you translate Suvoyuki?
Secakuku:
Suvoyuki is a Hopi word that simple translated means “join effort.” And this name was initiated as the new open house name for the park about two years ago because it really does symbolize and completely define all the different parties and partners and organizations and interested people who have come together to preserve the park itself.
Host:
Now, the event begins on Friday July 11 with an evening talk. Tell us about that.
Secakuku:
The evening talk will be given by Dr. Chuck Adams who is an archaeologist from the Arizona State Museum which is part of the University of Arizona system. And he was the lead archaeologist for the early research that was done on behalf of the state, before the park became a state park. So he’s very knowledgeable about the large pueblos, 4 large puebloes that make up the park. And his lecture is titled: “Hopi Communities along the Little Colorado River: A View From the Dirt.” Because he’s an archaeologist he will present archaeological information.
Host:
On Saturday the day starts off early with a traditional Hopi morning run at 6 a.m. Tell us more about that.
Secakuku:
The Homolovi State Park has always had a run, it was originally placed in December. And part of the partnership with the park looked at some of the Hopi values and some of the Hopi cultural aspects that we wanted to include as part of Suvoyuki day. Running is a big part of our culture so we wanted to move the run that was originally later on in the year to be a part of this event. It begins at 6 a.m. because Hopis do run in the morning and pay tribute to the rising sun. Plus it’s very hot in Winslow in the summertime so the run begins at 6 a.m.
Host:
And they’ll also be activities after the run, tell us about those.
Secakuku:
Well once the run is over, usually about 7 a.m. in the morning, one of the featured events at the Suvoyuki day is the opening of the sweet corn pit. And this year we are very excited because we have an actual corn pit that’s going to be built. And it’s a permanent pit that will be on the site from here on out. And we’ve scheduled a Hopi farmer to lead the roasting of the pit. And it’s really a way to demonstrate a way in which Hopi community preserve a kind of corn by cooking it in a pit and by that time it’s dry. In this case we’ll eat it all that day very fresh. Shortly thereafter we’ll begin offering tours to some of the cultural sites in the area lead by archaeologists and Hopi people.
Host:
And they’ll also be artist demonstrations, tradition food demonstrations and lectures.
Secakuku:
Correct, that begins around 9 a.m. From 9 a.m. to roughly 4 p.m. throughout the day there’ll be a series of 5 different types of art that will be featured by 5 different Hopi artists: Kachina doll carver, a silversmith, a Hopi weaver, a basket maker and a potter. And they will all be demonstrating techniques, discussing materials, be willing to share with you how they learned and the process really of what it takes to be one of those types of artists. They’ll also be 2 demonstrators showing traditional Hopi food.
Host:
Now on Sunday the event moves into the community and the public can parallel an ancient Hopi migration route by traveling up to the community center at Second Mesa for events there. Tell us about that.
Secakuku:
Correct, on the second day, the Hopi village of Sipaulovi has actually a direct connection to the original peoples who occupied several of the villages at Homolovi park. And the village has initiated their own open house day directly following the Saturday event at the park. And that day basically the Hopi people of the Sipaulovi are the hosts and Similiarly to Saturday they will begin with a morning run at 6 a.m. And then shortly thereafter there will be also be featured artists, not necessarily demonstrators but they are any artist in the community who is interested in selling their wares. It’s a great time for anyone interested to buy directly from an artist and make connections with them. There will also be scheduled tours of the village itself. As well as a lecture, the same lecture offered twice that day titled “Our Story.” Which gives the visitor a good understanding of the founding of Sipaulovi Village and the connection back to Homolovi.
Host:
I’d like to also briefly discuss some of the investigative work that Archeologist Lisa Young with the University of Michigan has been conducting at the park for the past few summers. From now until July 9th, she’s offering an on-site tour of the on-going excavation site at the pit house. This tour leaves from the visitor center at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and will also be offered twice on Saturday July 12. Tell us about the tour.
Secakuku:
Lisa Young is a professor at the university of Michican and she received some financial resources from the National Science Foundation to offer training opportunities to undergraduate students to understand better the science of archaeology. Dr. Young was actually a student of Dr. Chuck Adams and conducted her fieldwork at Homolovi State Park as well, so she has a very long connection and strong interest in the park. Her focus however is in the earlier sites that are located at the park. The park is mainly known for the 4 large pueblos that date from roughly 1250 – 1400 A.D. Her research focuses on smaller occupancies which are called pit house villages. And they usually pre-date the 1250 date from the large pueblos. So she’s looking at another era, or another occupation, or another population if you will of residents at the site. If you visit a tour you’ll be able to see archaeology in the process and understand some of the techniques they use. And the students themselves contribute to you directly what they’re learning. It’s a wonderful way to be exposed to archaeology at the park.
Host:
And finally, how can people learn more about the Hopi tribe and its culture?
Secakuku:
Part of the Suvoyuki day they offer on July 13th is an initiative that the village is creating to offer more understanding for visitors to Hopi. So contacting the village office there is one great way to get an orientation of the opportunities visitors have in visiting Hopi . Their information, their phone and as well as their website will be made available on the Homolovi.com website.
Host:
Susan, thank you so much for joining us today.
Secakuku:
Thank you very much, I appreciate this opportunity to share it with you. It’ll be a wonderful event and I hope everyone can make it.
Host:
Homolovi State Park is located north east of Winslow, Arizona. From interstate 40 state Exit 357 and head north on Highway 87. Go 1.3 miles and the park entrance will be on your left. Events for Suvoyuki day occur July 11, 12, and 13, 2008. For this special event, a shuttle service will also be available from the northeast corner of Interstate 40 and Highway 87. For more information about this event and other upcoming events, visit our website AZStateParks.com. For Arizona State Parks I’m Tye R Farrell.
Music
Commentator:
Arizona State Parks: Managing and serving Arizona’s natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people both in our parks and through our partnerships. Visit us on the web as azstateparks.com.
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