The Hopi Cultural Preservation Office (HCPO) is very supportive of Mesa Media’s work to enhance Hopi language opportunities. They co-sponsor events and grant permissions to utilize their archive of historic photographs. Director Leigh Kuwanwisiwma reviews all Mesa Media publications for cultural sensitivity prior to print. He also participates in Mesa Media events.

The Office’s broader focus is to oversee all cultural projects on the Hopi Reservation. They have a huge job of coordinating with outside agencies, graduate students and professors and museums. A task team of Hopi elders from each village oversees all work and advises on cultural sensitivity. It is from this information that Leigh reviews Mesa Media’s work.

http://www.kuyi.net
http://www.hopifoundation.org

The first Hopi radio, KUYI, made its on-air debut on December 20, 2000. In Hopi, “kuuyi” means water. Water is life. KUYI has certainly become part of everyday life on the Hopi Reservation and beyond. Hopi radio offers a new way to tell stories, an age-old Hopi tradition. Morning broadcasts are spoken in the Hopi language and the music during these first hours of the day is primarily traditional, including songs from local Hopi musicians. Listeners are also exposed to the ideas and music of many other cultures during programs such as Native Voice. Hopi radio helps young people to learn respect for Hopi tradition as it preserves the language and culture in a modern format. KUYI broadcasts songs and stories from Mesa Media and announces all of our events to the broader community. Askwali!

KUYI functions as a non-profit group under the Hopi Foundation. Their mission is to “have a positive effect on the lives of the people living on the Hopi Reservation and in surrounding communities through the public discussion of issues and events that will enlighten the community.”

The mission of the Museum of Northern Arizona is to inspire a sense of love and responsibility for the beauty and diversity of the Colorado Plateau through collecting, studying, interpreting, and preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage. Every year, the museum partners with Native American artists, educators, and professionals at the Heritage Program Marketplaces. Mesa Media displays and distributes CDs, DVDs, books and other learning materials each year in the marketplace. Ferrell Secakuku served on the MNA Board for two years. The Museum also grants permissions to Mesa Media to utilize historic photographs from their archive.