The Hopi Tu I’ Quilters Guild is made up of women, Hopi and non-Hopi who are avid quilters in a cross cultural setting to learn new quilting skills and techniques , to network and to build friendships across cultural boundaries.
A year ago, the Guild was approached by the Chief Ranger, Ronald Honyumptewa who commissioned a textile rendering using the Hopi Resource Enforcement Services logo and badge. The artist, Bruce Monongye of Moencopi village created the original design and is acknowledged in this process.
The design elements are complex and include an image of a Qwa hu (Eagle), Tawa (Sun), Oomau (Clouds), and wing feathers incorporating the American Flag. If you look closely you will see other designs of stars, a black figure, lightening and different feather elements.
Chief Ranger Honyumptewa, explained the meaning of the design. The sun is a deity to which we pray daily and the eagle takes the prayers of the people to the heights in flight. The eagle’s wings incorporate the American Flag to symbolize tribal, state and federal laws that are upheld and enforced by the rangers. The red circle symbolizes and honors fallen law enforcement officers in the line of duty. The stars, clouds, and lightening symbolize the sky world above the physical world, bordered by the four directions as represented by prayer feathers or pahos. The background colors of orange, yellow and blue represent dawn to dusk. Finally, the turquoise color represents the universe overseen by the guardian spirit, Ma’sauu. The HRES badge is incorporated as part of the quilt.
Several quilters took on the challenge of designing the quilt and quilting sessions were held on Hopi to start work on completing the design. The primary quilting technique used in the quilt is called the applique technique. All the design elements are cut out one by one and pieced on the background. For example, each feather is cut out and placed one by one. This is a great technique for Hopi design elements as there is great detail to be portrayed in a Hopi design.
The quilters who completed the quilt are Marilyn Fredericks, Bacavi Village, Eilene Cross of Santa Barbra California and Laura Chancellor of Santa Fe New Mexico. Eileen is a quilting teacher and Laura is a graphic arts designer and works in beadwork.
The final quilt was completed and presented to Chief Ranger Ronald Honyumptewa on September 30, 2014. The textile piece is designed to be used as a banner in parades, to be displayed as a wall hanging or other uses to celebrate and honor the services of all law enforcement officers.
The Hopi Range Enforcement Services, under the leadership of the Chief Ranger Honyumptewa, provide law enforcement services to the Hopi communities and range enforcement services in the Hopi range areas. The HRES Rangers have recently become SLEC certified and the training broadens the scope of law enforcement services to be provided to the Hopi Communities.
The Hopi Tu I’ quilters are honored to present a new visual medium to portray their official badge and as a thank you for their services to the Hopi communities.
