TRADITIONAL WISDOM & INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
This project aims to usher in a new era of community re-building and recovered community for Soöngopavi, "the mother village" of Hopi Nation, Arizona to ensure success of the sovereign Hopi Nation in their critical and endangered charge to keep all life sacred and safe upon our Mother Earth and within the entire cosmos.
We stand with these people, who have accepted the responsibility for maintaining the balance of this world through their reverence and faithfulness by performing the full ceremonial cycle given to them in ancient times. Their cultural survival may be seen as crucial to the survival of all life on our planet as the "tipping point" is upon us today.
Program Description
One Light Global in partnership with sovereign elders and children of the Hopi Nation and Soöngopavi Village Arizona, are bringing to life a project to preserve traditional wisdom and practices, to restore food security and support cultural, ecological and economic revitalization
The Hopi nation encompasses over 1.5 million acres and is made up of 12 villages on three mesas. The ancient traditional mother village of Soöngopavi (Shungopavi) has a population of approximately 2,000 people. It is here that this project has begun and will assist in preserving and honoring endangered cultural wisdom and ancient ways of living, while implementing sustainable and innovative technology to meet modern day needs.
The project aim is to bring the vision of the children and elders to fruition including:
the planning and building of new infrastructure and community garden
incorporating natural, new and traditional building methods and design
facilitating/ create opportunity for elders to teach and preserve traditions
support traditional agricultural practices and environmental stewardship (traditional dryland farming, seed saving, traditional plant use and cultivation)
include culturally appropriate new agriculture practices
language preservation
ensure continuation of important traditional cultural arts
creating cottage industry and entrepreneurship opportunities
new regenerative and innovative technology and design
restore plant biodiversity and restore food sovereignty
advance equity and cultural knowledge
create community and multi- cultural sharing
acknowledge culture bearers
The project will assist to strengthen and revitalize sacred Hopi cultural practices for the generations to come through the sharing of traditional indigenous wisdom, practices and community building.
Through this project, a new future path for the youth that both honors tradition and supports economic independence, resilience and innovation is evolving.
Implementation
Our first building made possible by the generosity of our donors is a multipurpose frame house where the children of Soöngopavi can now gather to reconnect with ancient ecological knowledge, to be a part of cultural preservation and revival.
The next steps in our collaboration include the expansion of infrastructure, construction of a traditional building, building of a Superadobe seed storage dome, tree planting, funding the teaching of traditions from within the Village and the revitalization of farming and food security.
The children will be able to access new skills and knowledge in a shared pride encompassing a much larger synergistic effort. True, positive values will be realized in the midst of the children’s significantly challenged, current cultural realities affecting all where they live---the Hopi mother village, Soongopavi, the reed up through the spring - a sovereign nation of ancient people with reverent traditions.
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Impact Goals
Preserving a peaceful, regenerative community model and wisdom tradition and creating a prototype model for other communities
Eliminating dependence on outside aid, environmentally harmful resources, and value-conflicted solutions
Food security and land regeneration through combining ecological wisdom with modern permaculture practices, reciprocal relationship with animals and stewardship
Intergenerational reconnection, providing youth with ongoing opportunities to learn and preserve their language, wisdom and traditions and share those with the world.
Ongoing commitment to successful outcomes through collaboration, partnerships and community building
Outcomes
Raising of seed funding for the initial stages of program through fundraising to provide a multipurpose safe space for the children of Shungopavi.
Hugely successful volunteer community weekend: Superadobe seed dome workshop and build, chicken house and coop construction, installation of water tanks for irrigation, construction of large greenhouse for year round food production.
Engagement of Hopi youth through involvement in community building and hands on learning.
Cultural sharing and community building
Provide materials, space and stipends for the teaching of traditional Hopi belt weaving and other traditional practices.
Ongoing classes and revitalization of traditional weaving techniques and practices.
Successful seed grant applications courtesy of Native Seed Search for village food provision and children’s stewardship of seed grant project outcomes including reporting and seed saving.
Collaborations and community building with individuals and groups such as Unify, Cal-Earth Super adobe graduates and independent filmmakers
Provide 2 large rain water collection tanks, irrigation supplies, solar kits, seed raising supplies, tools and equipment through fundraising campaigns.
Community involvement through volunteer event(s)
Assist funding of traditional medicinal plant use booklets in Hopi language
Speaking events to raise awareness and change misconceptions around native peoples and culture
Acknowledge culture bearers
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Interested in Sharing the Light?
If you are local and interested in getting involved, please …
“This project is for you as well as us. We are here to bridge cultures, to become One again with respect and love for all living things in the world. We are sending out prayers for Peace to all people. In our hearts and thoughts we are blessing everyone in coming together as One. We must do away with negativeness and come together with each other, the stars, the land and all Life. Blessings in all directions, and to all people.”