Navajo Project in Sustainability 2014
Donation protected
The Navajo Field Studies Program is a unique opportunity for students and volunteers to join a highly motivated team of instructors, interns, and long-term volunteers on a humanitarian aid expedition on the Navajo Nation and Hopi reservations.
We deliver supplies and assistance to under-served elders and families at remote locations on reservation land.
As part of the field studies program, we will do much more than just deliver aid.
We deliver supplies and assistance to under-served elders and families at remote locations on reservation land.
As part of the field studies program, we will do much more than just deliver aid.
The four key aspects of this program are learning:
Humanitarian Aid - We will be delivering traditional foods, supplies, and assistance to elders and families of the Dineh (Navajo) and Hopi people. These are the people who keep their native cultures alive by practicing and passing on their traditional ways of life.
Native American Culture - Our host, Sundance Chief Paul Tohlakai leads the Native Culture Program and will be our cultural liaison and interpreter, as well as interpreter to elder Navajo herbalists who do not speak English. Paul’s humor, wisdom and guidance is invaluable to appreciating Native American Culture as it is today. His brother and fellow Sundancer, Amos Begaye, joins us in his efforts.
Permaculture and Water Harvesting - Participants will learn about permaculture design and water harvesting techniques from the ground up, including theory, field assessments, and practical hands-on projects to benefit our Dineh hosts. Potential projects include water harvesting, erosion control using on-site materials, and tree planting.
Sustainable Building - The sustainable building part of the project will be led by our program director, Philip Mirkin, who has worked for many years in the development of Hybrid Adobe. Just this Spring quarter Mirkin led a sustainable sculptural building class at the University of California Santa Cruz where students were able to learn about sustainable design and work with this sustainable material. As part of our program we will be constructing a bathhouse on the grounds of the 900 acre base-camp for our Native American hosts.
Between our base camps we will also have the opportunity to visit many of the stunning geological masterpieces that exist along the way.
Humanitarian Aid - We will be delivering traditional foods, supplies, and assistance to elders and families of the Dineh (Navajo) and Hopi people. These are the people who keep their native cultures alive by practicing and passing on their traditional ways of life.
Native American Culture - Our host, Sundance Chief Paul Tohlakai leads the Native Culture Program and will be our cultural liaison and interpreter, as well as interpreter to elder Navajo herbalists who do not speak English. Paul’s humor, wisdom and guidance is invaluable to appreciating Native American Culture as it is today. His brother and fellow Sundancer, Amos Begaye, joins us in his efforts.
Permaculture and Water Harvesting - Participants will learn about permaculture design and water harvesting techniques from the ground up, including theory, field assessments, and practical hands-on projects to benefit our Dineh hosts. Potential projects include water harvesting, erosion control using on-site materials, and tree planting.
Sustainable Building - The sustainable building part of the project will be led by our program director, Philip Mirkin, who has worked for many years in the development of Hybrid Adobe. Just this Spring quarter Mirkin led a sustainable sculptural building class at the University of California Santa Cruz where students were able to learn about sustainable design and work with this sustainable material. As part of our program we will be constructing a bathhouse on the grounds of the 900 acre base-camp for our Native American hosts.
Between our base camps we will also have the opportunity to visit many of the stunning geological masterpieces that exist along the way.
Organizer
Summer Rose
Organizer
Felton, CA
