Last Words from Hopi High
For nearly a thousand years the Hopi people of Arizona have lived on the same three mesas and for all that time they've spoken the Hopi language. But now elders and youth alike say the language is dying.
2010 / Brett Myers / Youth Radio, USA
For nearly a thousand years the Hopi people of Arizona have lived on the same three mesas and for all that time they've spoken the Hopi language. But now elders and youth alike say the language is dying.
There are many hurdles standing in the way of preserving Hopi -- the great distances between the eleven villages that make up the Hopi community, the distinct dialects in each of those villages, and for Hopi teens, the choice between preserving their traditional culture or adopting a modern lifestyle.
Last Words from Hopi High was produced in 2009 by Brett Myers of Youth Radio/Youth Media International, in collaboration with the students of Hopi High.
All photos by Brett Myers/Youth Radio.
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Brett Myers (@BrettMyers) is a Senior Radio Editor for Reveal at The Center for Investigative Reporting. As a Story Doctor at the 2019 Third Coast Conference, Brett will meet one-on-one with producers to treat their story ailments.