Barbara Poley has faithfully seeded the Hopi way of life for decades with community-minded dedication. She gathered strength from Hopi values and skills that her parents instilled in her to overcome marginalization, earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, and live a life of service.
Barbara’s two decades of leadership at the Hopi Foundation brought forward the educational ethics of her ancestor, the revered chief Loloma. Among many contributions, she developed a leadership curriculum that has empowered dozens of Hopi thinkers, doers, and dreamers to heal and guide others. She instituted a truly dynamic and respectful way to work with people in their own communities. The next generation of leaders is rising throughout Hopi,
growing strong with Barbara’s guidance toward self-determination.
Barbara moves into the next phase of her elderhood, putting energy toward expanding the fundamental idea of caring for one another across generations. “When we have self-identity and have our values as our shield,” she reminds us, “We create resilience for our Hopi way of life, taking into context the many present changes in society that we have been dealt. The renewed strength of our people will lead toward our survival for generations to come.”
