The Navajo Hogan Project

I want to improve the rural community where the Navajo Hogan Project is located in a positive way. I would use the Elevate Prize funding to upgrade my office equipment, computer and photography equipment for documentation purposes. I would also improve the roads and make the roads more accessible by putting a layer of cinders down on the dirt roads in the community where my project is located. I would also start building a water harvesting system and greenhouse and I would start building raised bed gardens and during harvest time give the produce to local people who do not have access to fresh vegetables. I would invest in solar power or wind power equipment to supply power for as much of the community as possible.  I also want to be involved in projects that continue to combat climate change. 

1. The Signs of Climate Change

   
   

   • Higher Temperatures.
   • More Droughts.
   • Wilder Weather.
   • Changing Rain and Snow Patterns.
   • Less Snowpack.
   • Melting Glaciers.
   • Shrinking Sea Ice.
   • Thawing Permafrost.
2. What are the effects of climate change?

   
   

   • rising maximum temperatures.
   • rising minimum temperatures.
   • rising sea levels.
   • higher ocean temperatures.
   • an increase in heavy precipitation (heavy rain and hail)
   • shrinking glaciers.
   • thawing permafrost.

My name is Karen Begay and I am from the Navajo Tribe. I attended Northern Arizona University and received my BA in Painting and Art History. The purpose of my organization began with everyone getting tired and frustrated with the pandemic and by creating the Navajo Hogan Project this was the best way I could think of to give back to my community. I have been staying busy during the pandemic with building a traditional Navajo Hogan on my property located in Valle, Arizona. This is located off highway 180 towards the Grand Canyon. My intention and vision is to continue to have art exhibits, educational lectures, musicians, poetry readings, pottery pit firing demonstrations, and ceremonial events on my property where I built a traditional Navajo Hogan. The Hogan should be completed by May 1, 2021. I have several artists and musicians getting scheduled for art exhibits and musical performances starting in May 2021. I would like the organization I started to survive the pandemic. The Navajo Hogan Project organization  has been affected by COVID and is on the verge of being shut down permanently. So I will continue to apply for as many grants as I possibly can. 

The problem I am solving is to get the rural community of Valle, Arizona involved in good positive social distance art exhibits during the pandemic. I also want to help boost the economy in the rural Arizona and help educate visitors and local people about the tribes who live in this area. In the area where the hogan is built we have Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai tribes. Previously this area was inhabited by the Sinagua People and Anasazi Cliff Dwellers around 500AD. My goal is to have social distance art exhibits, weaving and basketry making, silversmithing, beadwork, rug weaving, educational and cultural lectures, poetry readings, artist demonstrations by artists and guest speakers. Demographically Valle, Arizona has a population of 254 according to the census taken in 2019. The main source of income is through tourism. Approximately 1.5 million tourists drive through Valle, Arizona during the peak season April, May, June, and July to see the Grand Canyon. I would like to be able to introduce these visitors to the traditional hogan that I built. 

This is my approach. I started the organization the Navajo Hogan Project.

1. I bought the land and got a permit to cut logs from Coconino Forestry Service. 
2. I received permission to build from Coconino County. 
3. Not very many people in the world have ever stepped inside a traditional Navajo Hogan and I would like to give them the opportunity to experience this especially grand parents and children. The kids would absolutely love it. 
4. I harvested logs from the San Francisco Peaks with help from my apprentice Greg Nez and his brother Donovan Russell. 
5. Start scheduling artists and musicians for art exhibits and demonstrations and lectures. 
6. I plan to advertise for the Navajo Hogan Project through art brochures, flyers, the organization website, and local publications. 
7. Continue booking artists and musicians until the summer months are all filled. 
8. Gravel the community roads so that everyone has better access to their own living spaces. 
9. Build a greenhouse with a water harvesting system.
10. Hook up solar power. 
11. Get a recycling dumpster set up for the community to use. 
12. Become completely self-sustaining. 
13. Purchase and set up a tipi.  

I am doing outrageous uncommon things during the COVID pandemic, by building hogans where there were none.

1. We are dealing with climate change. 
2. My organization has built a completely self sustaining environmentally friendly home/hogan with no pollution. 
3. We use solar power when we need to and we have a water harvesting system for our green house. 
4. We can live in harmony and balance with the land no matter where we are and do our part to protect Mother Earth. 
5. The Navajo Tribe has been building hogans for thousands of years and we will continue to build them into the future.