UNICODE SAGE AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS
Unicode has been meeting with an increasing number of farmers in the highly traditional Hopi village of Lower Moencopi. We hope to continue meeting, and working, with a growing expertise of farmers from multiple locations, both in, and out of Hopiland.
Unicode has also been approached by a farmer Hopi who has volunteered to help the Foundation’s work with a tractor, and his own expertise. We thank such kind persons, deeply, and look forward to working together on many future programs. Many warm Hopi citizens have opened our eyes to genuine kindnesses. In speaking with some Hopi farmers, Unicode has also developed an interest to aid expansion and some existing Hopi Small Farmer programs.
Foundation projects seeks to cultivate the use of traditional organic seed stock. Unicode works to cultivate relationships with area learning institutions in order to seek collaborations. Unicode, and the Native American Center at Northern Arizona State University, NAU, in Flagstaff, have been working to create a project that brings university students up to the Mesas to volunteer for Hopi and Unicode projects. Unicode envisions working with NAU graduate students to develop energy efficient organic and healthy farming systems. The idea was brought to Unicode that the work on the Mesas would have a special merit for University coursework. The potential for interaction between university students and the Mesa population could potentially be a potent, symbiotic, force. This program, in its details, could contribute, in turn, to work with existing graduate programs such as agriculture, geology, engineering, architecture, and anthropology students to learn and aid in the work to relearn the Native American wisdom for a viable and sustainable culture.
At the heart of this traditionally Native American engineering is the seed bank. Seeds could be used to aid struggling villages elsewhere in the world, as well. Teaching kids how to grow their own food can give a person a sense of freedom, independence and have the potential for economic benefit. Small farmers markets can aid communities in creating a diversity of produce, which could help feed one village at a time. NAU has partnered in the past with the Navajo tribe to combine solar energy with water pumps. Unicode is currently assessing a program to work with NAU to develop such a program for Hopi water sources in Arizona
Unicode Foundation is also interested in working hard to develop strong bonds that can connect children with Hopi farmers. Hopi youth have taught through broadcasted programs on Kuyi, Hopi radio, and online, the importance of organic food on earth, and the challenges of competing with GMO’s, or genetically modified organisms such as seed crops.
Children from within and outside of the current Hopi community can learn the techniques and history of Hopi dry farming, to grow their own food organically, using sustainable energy sources and drip irrigation. Building a meaningful environment for a community stands on the foundation of ecological respect. Unicode will work with communities most challenged by poverty to regain a respect and understanding of the land and how to reduce pollution and actions that result in negative impacts on rebuilding a healthy sustainable culture for all people.
