Coming Home: A Hopi Resistance Story
Honyouti tells the story of his kwa’a (grandfather), who was forced to attend a boarding school when he was a boy. At that time, the US and Canadian governments took Native American children away from their families and made them accept new names and stop speaking their own languages. The story shows the difficulties and problems these children endured at school. After a time, the author’s grandfather returned home without having given up his love of the Hopi language and culture. He became a farmer, taking good care of his plants and of his family.
Coming Home is told in both English and Hopilavayi, the language of the Hopi. The illustrations are traditional Hopi painted wood carvings created by the author, who was taught the craft by his father and grandfather. The images are vibrant and beautiful. End materials and photographs offer information about the Hopi language, the forced confinement and education of Hopi children, the author and translator, and traditional Hopi wood carving. An important story. Ages 6-8.
