Polingaysi Qoyawayma 1892-1990

Polingaysi Qoyawayma grew up in a Hopi village during a time of incredible change. While most of her family wanted to live traditionally, Polingaysi left to adopt a new way of life. She left her family to live with a teacher’s family where she learned English and converted to Christianity. When she returned, she found that her people were still resistant to her being a teacher and a Christian missionary. She realized that a compromise was necessary and mixed both of her cultures together; for example, she taught Hopis how to speak English through traditional songs. She was a teacher from 1919 until 1954, working with both Hopis and Navajos.