Hopi elder gets anthropology degree (fwd)

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Hopi elder gets anthropology degree
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 11, 2006) -- When Ferrell Secakuku was a boy
growing up on the Hopi reservation, his elders encouraged him to get a
modern education as a way to preserve his tribe's culture. Now
Secakuku, 68, is graduating from Northern Arizona University with a
master's degree in anthropology to do just that.

"As an anthropologist my aim is to preserve the value of the Hopi life
and to help record traditions so they may pass to future generations,"
Secakuku said. "I'm really concerned that our culture is dying away
because our young people are not learning our traditions and language."

Secakuku is one of 2,600 students to graduate this week during four
commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. March 12 and 13 in the J.
Lawrence Walkup Skydome on the university campus.

Secakuku, a member of the Hopi Snake Clan and Hopi Tribal chairman from
1994-1997, received his bachelor of science degree from NAU in 1964 and
decided to pursue a master's in anthropology to not only help safeguard
his experiences, but "to develop formal research skills to use when
investigating the Snake Clan, religion and societal roots," he said.

Secakuku's research at NAU confirmed his beliefs that Hopi cultural
roots, especially Snake Clan ceremonies, took shape in Mexico. His
thesis: "Hopi and Quetzalcoatl: Is there a Connection?" explores the
connection of Mesoamerican linguistic and religious ceremonies with
Hopi history.

"While working on my degree I had the opportunity to travel down to
Mexico with my professor, Dr. Miguel Vasquez. I saw many similarities
of the Snake Clan culture at the Teotihuacan pyramid," Secakuku said.
"The pyramid was built around A.D. 200 to honor the serpent
Quetzalcoatl—a symbol of power and religious ritual in that area. I
believe the Hopi brought that religion from there. We still practice it
today."

Secakuku notes other commonalities among the Hopi and Mesoamerican
cultures, including language connections and the belief that the Maya
and Aztec also emerged from an underworld to this world. He is
currently writing grants to fund further research.

"It's very amazing to discover some of these similarities that I have
come across. It really goes to show we must have shared life together
at one time," Secakuku said.

Secakuku, born and raised in the village of Sipaulovi, is a businessman,
a farmer, a fine art painter and a Hopi elder who prepares his clan's
religious ceremonies. He speaks about his life to students at NAU and
community events. He's cultivating a nonprofit business, Mesa Media,
Inc., to produce and market Hopi teaching language CDs and DVDs, and he
is looking forward to graduation so he can spend more time at home.

"I've been working on my degree for two and a half years. The only time
I've left Hopi was for educational purposes. At first, it was very
foreign being here. I was away from the Kiva, the planting of corn, and
I had to learn how to really read and write," Secakuku said. "Now I am
ready to write about what I know so it will be remembered."

Chris Downum, an associate professor in anthropology, said, "Ferrell's
thesis defense was historically important not just for NAU but for the
discipline of anthropology. It marks the transformation of Hopi as
subject to Hopi as scholar and expert. Non-Hopi anthropologists have
taken so much from the Hopi over the past century, it was very
gratifying to see Ferrell find his voice as an anthropologist and tell
his part of the Hopi story in his own words."

-NAU-

CONTACT:
Diane Rechel
NAU Office of Public Affairs
(928) 523-0611
Diane.Rechel at nau.edu