SeventhGenerationFundAttendsthe2012

HopiAgricultureandFoodSymposium

OnJuly30thand31st,theSeventhGenerationFundforIndianDevelopmentattendedthe2012HopiAgricultureandFoodSymposiumattheHopiDaySchoolinKyotsmovi,AZ.TheSymposiumwashostedbytheNatwaniCoalition,aprojectofTheHopiFoundation.TheHopiFoundationisalong‐standinggranteeandsisterorganizationoftheSeventhGenerationFund.OurorganizationwashonoredtoattendandparticipateinthiseventasarespectfulguestandsupporteronHopiterritory,forwehavebeeninvolvedwithtraditionalfoodsystemsworksinceourinception.WeareevergratefulandPindittrulyrewardingtoseetheprogress,thefruitsofourcolleagues’labor,andthehardworkthattheNatwaniCoalitionandtheHopiFoundationcomefullcircleandcontinuetomanifest.

ThethemeoftheSymposiumwas“Natwani.”NatwaniisaHopitermthatmeansproduceorvegetables,butitismorecomplexandspeciPicallyinvolvestheprocessesofplanting,harvesting,processing,huntingandthegatheringoffood.Natwaniembodiesthedelicate,sacredandinextricablephysical,culturalandspiritualrelationshipsbetweentheEarth,food,andthePeople.TheSeventhGenerationFundhadthehonorandtheopportunitytoeatdelicious,healthytraditionalHopifoodssuchaspiki,sweetcornandwatermelon,tomeetamazingpeople,makenewfriendsandengagewiththecommunity.OurorganizationparticipatedinaseriesofsitevisitstoHopiTutskwaPermaculture,Tuupeplalwa(cornbaking)andSustainableLiving,andavisittoacorn/beanPield.MaxTaylorandLeonardTalaswaimafacilitatedthecorn/beansitevisit.MaxandLeonardsharedtheirknowledgeandexperiencesabouttraditionalHopifarming,andhowhavingpositive,healthyrelationshipswithyourself,yourcommunity,yourculture,theland,foodandyourplantsareessentialtobeagood,successfulfarmer.

Theeventalsoconsistedofaseriesofopensessiondiscussions,suchasOutsideSeedsandHopiFoodandFarmingPolicy.Duringthissession,facilitatedbySusanSecakuku,theSeventhGenerationFundhadtheopportunitytoparticipateinadiscussionabouttraditionalHopifoodandfarmingpolicy,mainly,traditional(Hopi)versusnon‐traditional(non‐Hopi/Western)attitudesandpractices,theincreasingdisconnectbetweengenerationsand

communicationbetweenthem,andthecomplicityandcomplacencyinadoptingpahaanapractices.ManycommunitymembersinthesessionagreedthattraditionalHopifoodshouldenhanceHopilifeandmakethecommunityhappy.Inaddition,commitmentshouldbevaluedandHopiteachingsareengagedinactivity.CaringfortheEarth,forthePeople,andsharingwhatyouhavearefundamentalprinciplesandvaluesofHopilife.Withtheimplementationandintroductionofoutsidesourcesofseeds,foodsandfarmingpractices(suchasatractor),thesevalueshavebeenobfuscatedanddistorted.

OnceagaintheSeventhGenerationFundwashonoredtoattendandparticipateinthe2012HopiFoodandAgricultureSymposium,asarespectfulguestandasanardentsupporteroftraditionalfoodsystems,farmingpracticesandsustainableliving.