Our first Director and leader of the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office (HCPO), Leigh J. Kuwanwisiwma, made his final journey from this earthly world on February 17th, 2025. While it is not considered a Hopi practice to be “memorialized”, it is with respect and humility that we offer this remembrance of his life.

Leigh was born in 1950 and was a member of the Third Mesa Tep’wungwa (Greasewood) clan from Paaqavi Village. Most of his life was spent among his people and culture, learning the vast array of Hopi knowledge and philosophy, much of it from his Kwa’a (Grandfather). Little did he know, his upbringing would serve him well in his role as the Director of the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office, which he assumed in 1989.

It is in this position that Leigh made some of the most significant advances for Hopi people within the fields of Archaeology and Anthropology. Although he was not academically trained in these areas, his keen mind enabled him to learn, understand, and then translate back into Hopi, the numerous questions and issues brought before Hopi from outside researchers. His life-long involvement in Hopi culture helped him to engage with and learn from knowledgeable Hopi people from all of the 13 villages. He earned the respect and trust of many community members, who later came to assist him in his professional work.

Leigh was not afraid to speak up, and advocated for adherence to traditional teachings, sometimes at the peril of losing his job. Among his many achievements, he fought hard to protect ancestral landscapes such as the Grand Canyon and Nuvatukya’ovi, standing up against the Snow Bowl Ski area and their plans to make artificial snow from the City of Flagstaff’s reclaimed water. He fought to have a seat and vote in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, as the Hopi Tribe was the first tribe to be a cooperative member for the adaptive management program.

Leigh served a key role in the 1934 litigation against the Navajo Nation, and sought for the continued practices and protections of Hopi eagle practitioner’s rights. He was a champion for protecting Hopi Intellectual Property rights, and he led the way in having NAGPRA items housed in museums tested for pesticides and other toxic chemicals. At the heart of his work, was preserving Hopi culture, and protecting the well-being of Hopi people.

In addition, he was an accomplished writer, and was an author of numerous books and scholarly journals. He encouraged many of us to learn to do the same, and sought to have Hopi authorship be at the forefront of research about our own culture and history. He wanted the Hopi voice to be heard.

In support of this goal, Leigh initiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Northern Arizona University Anthropology department to help train Hopi college students in different capacities within the Anthropology fields. It is because of Leigh’s support and encouragement that we now have our own Hopi people trained and experienced in Archaeology and Anthropology.

For those of us Hopi who were mentored under his leadership, and who are now left to carry on the work he started, he will be remembered as a caring and understanding boss. He often knew when his staff were overwhelmed by the responsibilities of the work we did, and he would hold impromptu staff breakfast meetings at his home to lessen the stress of work.

He also enjoyed hosting spur of the moment “brown bag luncheons” with Hopi tribal staff, teaching about Hopi Culture, religious societies, moon phases, kinships and so forth. Leigh took every chance to share his knowledge, and it is because of his selfless acts that many of us are much more informed about Hopi traditions and values.

It is well known that Leigh was a friend and colleague to many outside of Hopi, and he is fondly remembered from those experiences. To many of us he was also a son, brother, uncle, and father, and his family is thankful for the many teachings spoken of around the dinner table. For many young men in his home village of Paaqavi, he was a kiva leader and spiritual mentor, helping us to learn and navigate the complex world of Hopi ceremonies and their meanings.

Leigh was also a devoted and accomplished dry-farmer of corn, beans, squash and melons, carrying on the traditional practices of our ancestors. It was out in his corn fields that many of us, Hopi and non-Hopi, would learn and experience the true Hopi values of reciprocity, cooperation, hard work, respect, and humility.

Among his other gifts, he was a talented and prolific song-maker, and he could always be counted on to compose a song or two for upcoming ceremonies. Many of his songs are still sung today, and they invoke the spiritual values and metaphors of which his essence is now a part of.

This is Leigh’s legacy, and it will carry on in the work we still do, as well as in the prayers of present and future generations of Hopi people.

Kwah-kway Itah’kwatsi.

Uma Nahongvitotani.

~Lyle Balenquah, Hopi Archaeologist.

~Stewart B. Koyiyumptewa, Hopi Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.

~And a grateful Hopi People.

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“I appreciated working for Leigh. He had confidence in me to perform my assignments. The first assignment he gave me was to oversee the Hopi Oral History Project.” ~Stewart B. Koyiyumptewa.

“Without my Taha (uncle) Leigh’s support, I would not be who I am today. I am grateful for his guidance in my personal and professional life.” ~Lyle Balenquah.

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“Out in the West, at Nuvatakya’ovi, the Blue Clouds are forming, and beginning to make their tracks to us, where they will bring the gentle rains for our crops.”

“Out in the East, at Kiisiwu, the White Clouds are forming, and beginning to make their tracks to us, where they will leave the land glittering with pools of shiny water.”