Mesa Media’s Founders

Ferrell Secakuku

 A fluent speaker of the Hopi language, Ferrell Secakuku co-founded Mesa Media in 2004.  He earned his M.S. degree in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University at the age of 69.  His thesis explored the similarities between the Snake Society at Hopi and MesoAmerican snake ceremonies.  Ferrell was involved in many efforts to preserve Hopi culture.  He served for many years as a cultural consultant for the Smithsonian Museum.  He composed the music for the songs on Mesa Media’s learning CDs and wrote all of the songs for the Living Through Hopi Songs CD.  He coordinated the SupawlaviVillage Peach Orchard Restoration Project, which seeks to reunite Hopi people with agricultural practices associated with springs.  During his four-year term as Tribal Chairman, Ferrell helped conclude the Hopi-Navajo land dispute and acquired $30 million for the Hopi Health Care Center.  Ferrell was a true leader in both the modern business world and as an active member in ceremonies at Supawlavi Village (Second Mesa).  In July 2007, Ferrell passed away after several months of illness, but his vision to provide opportunities for Hopi people lives on.

 
Anita Poleahla

            President and Co-founder

 Anita Poleahla co-founded Mesa Media in 2004.  Since 2003, she has taught the Hopi language in the Hopi Public School System, which in addition to her work as the Hopi Lavayi Curriculum Developer has provided experience in developing classroom curriculum and teacher training materials. She earned two M.S. degrees in Public Administration and Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.  In 2008, she was honored for her presentation at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society conference as a Sequoyah Fellow.  Anita develops curriculum and co-wrote many of the lyrics for the songs on Mesa Media’s learning CDs.  Anita was raised in a traditional home at First Mesa and is a fluent Hopi speaker.

Mesa Media’s Executive Board of Directors

Greg Glassco

            Vice President and Grants officer

Greg Glassco coordinates many of Mesa Media’s grant writing efforts, public announcements, and events planning.  He received an M.S. degree in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University while working on a farming revitalization project at Bacavi Spring on Third Mesa.  Greg is a professional archaeologist and currently works for the Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe in their office of cultural preservation.  He is an accomplished farmer who exchanges knowledge of cultivation and seed collection with native people all over the Southwest. 

Jim McCormack

            Media Specialist and Treasurer

Since 2002, Jim McCormack has produced all of Mesa Media’s CDs and DVDs.  He established Second Mesa Recording Studio at the base of the Hopi Mesas in 1997.  There, Jim assists many Hopi artists, including Anita and Ferrell, with CD recording, editing and production.  He has lived on the Hopi Reservation for over 11 years and currently works as a vernacular media specialist for a local ministry. 

 
Jim McCormack uses his portable recording equipment ro document Hopi language for Mesa Media, here at the 2009 openhouse.

Kristin Huisinga

            Secretary and Grants officer

Kristin Huisinga assists Mesa Media’s President with daily operations including CD orders, event planning, and bookkeeping.  She earned a M.S. degree in Botany from Northern Arizona University and co-wrote the book River and Desert Plants of the Grand Canyon.  Since 2001, Kristin has worked for the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office on Grand Canyon ethnobotany studies.  In the summer months, she works as a river guide for Arizona Raft Adventures on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. 

Mesa Media’s Advisory Board

Mesa Media's Advisory Board provides a forum for knowledgeable Hopi community members to offer their perspective on our projects and organizational goals.  Many of our learning materials were developed directly from ideas and needs brought to us directly by the people. 

Hopi advisory board members review and advise on Mesa Media’s educational resources, their cultural appropriateness and their ability to meet the needs of the Hopi people.  We involve Hopi board members from a variety of villages on all three Hopi Mesas.  Each mesa has its own dialect, with its own nuances, yet each is rooted in the basics of the Hopi language.  Therefore, each Hopi individual is diverse in their understanding of the language but also in their teachings from the village, clan, religious society, and relatives.  Mesa Media’s goal is language revitalization and our Hopi advisors know what resources help their family learn to speak their language.

Bonnie Secakuku

Bonnie Secakuku is passionate about revitalizing the Hopi language, saying that "all parent have a say. Tell them what you want for your child."

Daryl Pahona

Daryl Pahona is a fluent Hopi speaker from Walpi Village on First Mesa.  He is from the Fire Clan or KooKoop and has many responsibilities as a clan leader.  His Hopi name is Saqhongva, which was given to him by his godfather who is from the Bamboo clan.  This name means standing tall and strong.  Daryl is also a father and grandfather. He says "The Hopi language is very important to me in that it is our identy.  It serves as our passport to our next life.  Like those before me I feel that it is a duty/responsibility to pass this on so our future generations may reap of its fruits and prosper as we have from our forefathers efforts."