Ryan Tafoya-President

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Ryan Tafoya is from the Jicarilla Apache reservation and grew up in Dulce, New Mexico. Ryan currently works as Marketing Manager for The Hopi Foundation (HF) and also provides contract communications services. He previously worked as Marketing and Special Events Manager for the Hopi Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) and also has prior experience in wildland firefighting, maintenance, construction, warehouse management, and accounting. Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in English-Communications from Fort Lewis College in 2012. He is a member of the Hopi Food Co-op and volunteers for the Hopi Farmers’ Market. Although he has never served on a board, he has experience in working with nonprofit boards in his work with HEEF and HF. Ryan’s interests include reading, foreign languages, writing, being outdoors, woodworking, strengthening Native communities, humor, music, art, video games, journalism, driving, and helping others. ​

 

Alyssa Fredericks-Vice-President

Alyssa is a Roadrunner/Mustard Seed from Sichomovi Village. Alyssa graduated from Ft. Lewis College with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science Athletic Training and aMaster of Science in Athletic Training. She currently holds two jobs as a Parent Educator and an Athletic Trainer at the Hopi Jr/Sr High School. She is a member of Hopi Food Co-Op and an active volunteer at the Hopi Farmers Market. Alyssa is married to Ryan Tafoya, and is the mother of 3 young sons. She is a gardening novice and loves to be outdoors (camping, hiking, swimming). Alyssa loves to travel and try new things, and enjoys photography and sketching​

 

Valerie Nuvayestewa-Treasurer

Valerie Nuvayestewa is Hopi/Tewa, Corn clan, from the village of Tewa. She has worked as an Elderly Coordinator for the Village of Tewa Administration in Polacca Arizona and also as a part-time Americorps under the University of Arizona, Hopi Agricultural Extension Agent, in which she assists in gardening and growing programs with STEM education related to this area. Valerie is a former Diabetes Prevention Educator, Department of Health and Human Services and is an alumnus of the Hopi Foundations’, Hopi Leadership Program (HLP) which was designed to grow strong, effective and culturally grounded professionals at Hopi by using a model based on Hopi culture and western education. She has received certifications in Diabetes education and is a Native Youth Fitness trainer and Health Coach. Valerie is also a current Community Advisory Board (CAB) member for the Natwani Coalition, a non-profit group that helps support agricultural sustainability in the Hopi community; she is a member of the Hopi Food Co-op, a board member of Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture, and the Unite to End Violence-Native Women’s Empowerment Group, She has recently been added to the Land Healers Foundation, whose protection of traditional cultural and environmental knowledge is restoring faith in healing themselves and their sacred lands. Knowing that ensuring continuity of ancestral values is essential to the future of indigenous communities, Valerie draws from her unique background and experiences growing up with a traditional lifestyle on the Hopi reservation where she incorporates Hopi knowledge and nutrition within the schools and communities. 

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Maree Mahkewa-Secretary

Maree Mahkewa is a recent graduate of Northern Arizona University (NAU) receiving her B.A. in Environmental Sustainability Studies and minoring in Psychology and Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Her Hopi name is Paaqupmana which means Bamboo/Reed Girl. She is a member of the Hopi Nation and comes from the Corn Clan in the Village of Tewa. Maree is part of the inaugural cohort of the Center for Native American Youth’s Ambassadors for Land Conservation. Maree is focused on developing a community-based Fellowship Program focused on supporting Land Stewardship. Maree is also involved in many community-based projects such as the First Mesa Inaugural Earth Day Clean-Up and the First Mesa Erosion Control Project, initiatives to beautify and steward Hopi Ancestral Lands.

 

Darrance Makwesa Chimerica, Board Member

Makwesa Chimerica is Fire Clan from the Village of Bacavi. He is an accomplished artist and father who continues to uphold Hopi culture and traditions. Darrance is a homeowner in the Hopi Tutskwa Sustainable Homeowner Program, and has been an avid supporter of HTPI’s work for decades and is an active contributor to our board membership.