Clark Tenakhongva

From the Hopi village of Hoat'Ve'La on Third Mesa, traditional singer, artist, and radio show host Clark Tenakhongva shares the Hopi vision of life through his original songs. Reflecting the prayerful and gentle way of life lived by the Hopi for centuries, these songs convey the heart and spiritual landscape of this ancient people. The songs are sung in Hopi but translations are included in the liner notes. Clark plays the Hopi drum, deer hoof rattles, and bells throughout the record. These powerful, reverential songs are about the Hopi way of life, with titles such as 'Mystical Clouds,' 'Rain Dancing,' 'Rainbow Prisms,' and 'Zuni Cloud Burst.' The Hopi emerged from the Third World into this current Fourth World. This life is therefore referred to as the Fourth Way of Life for the Hopi. As groups of people, along with animals, moved from the third to the fourth way of life they were offered an ear of corn by Maa'saw.. Other people took the largest ears of corn, leaving Hopi with a short blue ear of corn. Hopi knew that life in this fourth world would be difficult and that we must learn a way of life from the corn plant. Cultivating corn has therefore been a profound experience for them and has shaped their lifeway, which is based on humility, cooperation, respect and earth stewardship. Tenakhongva was born at Keams Canyon, Arizona, in 1957 and hails from the village of Hoat've'la (Hotevilla), 'Place of the Cedars,' on Third Mesa. He is of the Rabbit and Tobacco clans and spent his youth attending elementary and middle school on the Hopi Reservation. After high school and attending college, Clark joined the military, becoming a part of the U.S. Army for the next 10 years. During his service, Clark married Ann Youvella from Walpi Village on First Mesa. Together they have four children, Michael, Samuel, Carlene and SiMana, who joins her father on traditional percussion on this recording. Clark passionately follows the traditions of the Hopi, participating extensively in the Kiva ceremonies, village ceremonies and other related cultural and spiritual activities. He has been actively involved in tribal government and is currently employed with the federal government in the office of the Veterans' Outreach Services. As an artist Clark has been carving Katsina dolls since the age of 12 and continues to focus on carving his unique traditional style dolls. His work has been featured in many magazines, books and other publications and has won awards at the major Native American shows and markets. He mentors young carvers and travels frequently in the U.S. and abroad demonstrating carving and providing lectures about his work and the Hopi people.