Ki:Him @ Indian Market
The Ki:Him (O’odham word for village) where visitors can engage in many hands-on activities. Some of these activities are especially suited to children of all ages. These include learning how to use an authentic bow and arrow; an atlatl to throw spears; creating a clay pot; making a beaded bracelet; incising a petroglyph, making paper masks; painting miniature gourds; learning how to hoop dance and so much more. Visitors will also be able to watch piki bread being made and taste it when it’s finished. They will also be able to taste cooked tepary beans and juices made from native fruits.
Piki bread is a renowned Hopi specialty food. Although it can be made from white, yellow, or even pink corn, piki made from blue corn is considered the finest and most traditional type.
To make wafer-thin piki, it’s necessary to prepare a smooth, cohesive batter. Fine-ground corn flour is first mixed with plain boiling water and then allowed to rest while its fiber content softens and its starches swell. The resulting soft dough is then thinned with alkaline ash water to the consistency of crêpe batter.
Piki bread is baked on a piki stone, a hand-smoothed, highly polished rectangular sandstone slab raised on four legs. The stone is heated to around 700°F by building a juniper or cedar fire underneath it. Crushed melon or squash seeds are scattered on top to release their oil as they heat. After the charred, oily seed residue is rubbed over the stone’s surface to season it, the stone is brushed clean and piki baking commences.
The piki maker uses her bare hand to quickly smear a paper-thin layer of batter across the surface of the stone in a neat rectangle. As soon as the batter sets and the edges begin to lift and brown, the sheet is peeled off and set aside on a tray. When the next rectangle of batter has been smeared on the stone and begins to set, the original sheet is placed on top of it to warm and soften slightly.
As soon as it becomes pliable, the top sheet is folded into thirds, rolled up into a slightly flattened cylinder about the size of a corn cob, and placed on a serving platter to cool and become crisp. This process is repeated until the serving tray is piled high.
To make wafer-thin piki, it’s necessary to prepare a smooth, cohesive batter. Fine-ground corn flour is first mixed with plain boiling water and then allowed to rest while its fiber content softens and its starches swell. The resulting soft dough is then thinned with alkaline ash water to the consistency of crêpe batter.
Piki bread is baked on a piki stone, a hand-smoothed, highly polished rectangular sandstone slab raised on four legs. The stone is heated to around 700°F by building a juniper or cedar fire underneath it. Crushed melon or squash seeds are scattered on top to release their oil as they heat. After the charred, oily seed residue is rubbed over the stone’s surface to season it, the stone is brushed clean and piki baking commences.
The piki maker uses her bare hand to quickly smear a paper-thin layer of batter across the surface of the stone in a neat rectangle. As soon as the batter sets and the edges begin to lift and brown, the sheet is peeled off and set aside on a tray. When the next rectangle of batter has been smeared on the stone and begins to set, the original sheet is placed on top of it to warm and soften slightly.
As soon as it becomes pliable, the top sheet is folded into thirds, rolled up into a slightly flattened cylinder about the size of a corn cob, and placed on a serving platter to cool and become crisp. This process is repeated until the serving tray is piled high.
Ki:Him Demonstration Schedule
Schedule of Ki:him Activities:
Ki:him (community village) Saturday, December 11th Schedule.
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Storytelling with Violet Duncan (Taino/Cree) and with Melvin and Rosa John (Kehewin Native Theater) in front of the pit houses located on the Heritage Trail. Visit them at Booth K10. They will teach visitors how to make theatrical masks at the table beside K10.
11:50 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Gourd Painting with Arturo Ramirez at Booth number K13.
11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Kachina Carving with Kevin Horace Quannie (Hopi) at Booth K9
12:20 - 12:50 p.m. Atlatl. & Bow and Arrow, and arrowhead making discussion by Amil Pedro (Cahuilla Quechan, Gila, Maricopa) at Booth K6. Throughout the day, Amil Pedro and his assistants continue the demonstration and hands-on activity at Booth K6 located along the Heritage Trail. (Visitors will be able to use a bow to shoot an arrow or use an atlatl to throw a spear or throw a rabbit stick)
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Velvet Button of Ramona Farms (Akimel O’odham) and Linda Taylor (Hopi): Ms. Button will have cooked tepary beans for tasting at Booth K2. Ms. Taylor will be demonstrating the making of piki bread adjacent to booth K2 in an area designate K1A. Ms. Taylor will have piki bread available for tasting.
1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Melanie Sainz (Ho-chunk Nation of Wisconsin) at Booth K5 where she will discuss and demonstrate beadwork. Visitors will be invited to create a beaded work of jewelry and be free to take the finished work with them.
1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Emily Malone (Navajo) discusses and demonstrates Navajo weaving techniques in the open area in front of their booth K11 . Emily invites those interested in continuing to work on projects to visit her and her daughters all part of the Spider Rock Girls at their Booth K11.
2:20 - 2:50 p.m. Tony Duncan (San Carlos Apache, Arikara, Hidatsa) will demonstrate and teach kids how to do the hoop dance in front of the pit houses located on the Heritage Trail. Tony Duncan will have a variety of hoop sizes to accommodate those who wish to learn. Visit with Tony at Booth 10 or at his booth in the entertainment area.
3: 00 - 3:30 p.m. Ron Carlos (Salt River Pima-Maricopa) will discuss and demonstrate local pottery techniques at booth K3. Jacob Butler (Salt River Akimel O’Odham) will discuss and demonstrate the art of shell etching. Hands-on activities will be available at booth K1.
Throughout the day:
Visit with Arturo Ramirez (Ute) at Booth K13 where he will demonstrate gourd painting. He has gathered over 200 miniature gourds for visitors to paint and take with them.
Randy Kemp (Choctaw/Euchee/Muscogee-Creek) will offer painting demonstrations at Booths K8A & K8B. Randy Kemp will direct hands-on community painting. One 4’ X 4’ painting will be completed on each day of the Indian Market. The final paintings will be on display at the Museum.
Linda Taylor (Hopi) will be demonstrating piki bread making and offering samples to visitors to taste.
Market Closes at 4:00 p.
Schedule of Ki:him Activities:
Ki:him (community village) Saturday, December 11th Schedule.
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Storytelling with Violet Duncan (Taino/Cree) and with Melvin and Rosa John (Kehewin Native Theater) in front of the pit houses located on the Heritage Trail. Visit them at Booth K10. They will teach visitors how to make theatrical masks at the table beside K10.
11:50 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Gourd Painting with Arturo Ramirez at Booth number K13.
11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Kachina Carving with Kevin Horace Quannie (Hopi) at Booth K9
12:20 - 12:50 p.m. Atlatl. & Bow and Arrow, and arrowhead making discussion by Amil Pedro (Cahuilla Quechan, Gila, Maricopa) at Booth K6. Throughout the day, Amil Pedro and his assistants continue the demonstration and hands-on activity at Booth K6 located along the Heritage Trail. (Visitors will be able to use a bow to shoot an arrow or use an atlatl to throw a spear or throw a rabbit stick)
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Velvet Button of Ramona Farms (Akimel O’odham) and Linda Taylor (Hopi): Ms. Button will have cooked tepary beans for tasting at Booth K2. Ms. Taylor will be demonstrating the making of piki bread adjacent to booth K2 in an area designate K1A. Ms. Taylor will have piki bread available for tasting.
1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Melanie Sainz (Ho-chunk Nation of Wisconsin) at Booth K5 where she will discuss and demonstrate beadwork. Visitors will be invited to create a beaded work of jewelry and be free to take the finished work with them.
1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Emily Malone (Navajo) discusses and demonstrates Navajo weaving techniques in the open area in front of their booth K11 . Emily invites those interested in continuing to work on projects to visit her and her daughters all part of the Spider Rock Girls at their Booth K11.
2:20 - 2:50 p.m. Tony Duncan (San Carlos Apache, Arikara, Hidatsa) will demonstrate and teach kids how to do the hoop dance in front of the pit houses located on the Heritage Trail. Tony Duncan will have a variety of hoop sizes to accommodate those who wish to learn. Visit with Tony at Booth 10 or at his booth in the entertainment area.
3: 00 - 3:30 p.m. Ron Carlos (Salt River Pima-Maricopa) will discuss and demonstrate local pottery techniques at booth K3. Jacob Butler (Salt River Akimel O’Odham) will discuss and demonstrate the art of shell etching. Hands-on activities will be available at booth K1.
Throughout the day:
Visit with Arturo Ramirez (Ute) at Booth K13 where he will demonstrate gourd painting. He has gathered over 200 miniature gourds for visitors to paint and take with them.
Randy Kemp (Choctaw/Euchee/Muscogee-Creek) will offer painting demonstrations at Booths K8A & K8B. Randy Kemp will direct hands-on community painting. One 4’ X 4’ painting will be completed on each day of the Indian Market. The final paintings will be on display at the Museum.
Linda Taylor (Hopi) will be demonstrating piki bread making and offering samples to visitors to taste.
Market Closes at 4:00 p.
Sunday December 12th Schedule
1Ki:him (community village): Sunday, December 12th Schedule
11:50 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Ramona and Brandy Button of Ramona Farms (Akimel O’odham) will be discussing the propagation and cultivation of the nearly extinct tepary bean and how it has been saved from extinction by Ramona’s father and his family. They have accelerated its recovery to the point of making it commercially viable. They will discuss its uses, nutritional values and share recipes as well as samples of the cooked beans. They will sell their home grown beans and flour that was introduced to the Southwest Indian diet in the 600’s at their Booth K2.
12:20 - 2:50 p.m. Ron Carlos (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community) will demonstrate making pottery using the paddle and anvil technique where clay is shaped by paddling it rather than using the coil technique or the pottery wheel. Visitors will be invited to create a pot in this way at Booth K3 and will be able to take the pot with them.
1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Jacob Butler (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community) will talk about how shells became a part of desert peoples art medium and demonstrate how to make shell necklaces using a pump drill. He will also exhibit examples of shell etching and explain the process of etching. Visitors making shell necklaces will be invited to take their finished work with them. Meet Jacob at Booth K1.
1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Dave Morris (Choctaw) will demonstrate rock art (petroglyphs) using traditional stone tools. Dave will invite interested visitors to participate in hands-on activity making incised petroglyphs on painted Plaster of Paris shards at the work table in his Booth K9.
2:20 - 2:50 p.m. Anthony Belvado (San Carlos Apache) will demonstrate how agave fiddles are made at Booth K4.
3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Zacharia Ben (Navajo) presents a talk and demonstration on sand painting at Booth K7.
Throughout the Day:
Visit with Melanie Sainz (Ho-chunk Nation of Wisconsin) at Booth K5 where she will discuss and demonstrate beadwork. Visitors will be invited to create a beaded work of jewelry and be free to take the finished work with them.
Visit with Arturo Ramirez (Ute) at Booth K13 where he will demonstrate gourd painting. He has gathered over 200 miniature gourds for visitors to paint and take with them.
Randy Kemp (Choctaw/Euchee/Muscogee-Creek) will offer painting demonstrations at Booths K8A & K8B. Randy Kemp will direct hands-on community painting. One 4’ X 4’ painting will be completed on each day of the Indian Market. The final paintings will be on display at the Museum.
Linda Taylor (Hopi) will be demonstrating piki bread making and offering samples to visitors to taste.
4:00 p.m. Indian Market closes.
*Times and activities are subject to change.
11:50 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Ramona and Brandy Button of Ramona Farms (Akimel O’odham) will be discussing the propagation and cultivation of the nearly extinct tepary bean and how it has been saved from extinction by Ramona’s father and his family. They have accelerated its recovery to the point of making it commercially viable. They will discuss its uses, nutritional values and share recipes as well as samples of the cooked beans. They will sell their home grown beans and flour that was introduced to the Southwest Indian diet in the 600’s at their Booth K2.
12:20 - 2:50 p.m. Ron Carlos (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community) will demonstrate making pottery using the paddle and anvil technique where clay is shaped by paddling it rather than using the coil technique or the pottery wheel. Visitors will be invited to create a pot in this way at Booth K3 and will be able to take the pot with them.
1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Jacob Butler (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community) will talk about how shells became a part of desert peoples art medium and demonstrate how to make shell necklaces using a pump drill. He will also exhibit examples of shell etching and explain the process of etching. Visitors making shell necklaces will be invited to take their finished work with them. Meet Jacob at Booth K1.
1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Dave Morris (Choctaw) will demonstrate rock art (petroglyphs) using traditional stone tools. Dave will invite interested visitors to participate in hands-on activity making incised petroglyphs on painted Plaster of Paris shards at the work table in his Booth K9.
2:20 - 2:50 p.m. Anthony Belvado (San Carlos Apache) will demonstrate how agave fiddles are made at Booth K4.
3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Zacharia Ben (Navajo) presents a talk and demonstration on sand painting at Booth K7.
Throughout the Day:
Visit with Melanie Sainz (Ho-chunk Nation of Wisconsin) at Booth K5 where she will discuss and demonstrate beadwork. Visitors will be invited to create a beaded work of jewelry and be free to take the finished work with them.
Visit with Arturo Ramirez (Ute) at Booth K13 where he will demonstrate gourd painting. He has gathered over 200 miniature gourds for visitors to paint and take with them.
Randy Kemp (Choctaw/Euchee/Muscogee-Creek) will offer painting demonstrations at Booths K8A & K8B. Randy Kemp will direct hands-on community painting. One 4’ X 4’ painting will be completed on each day of the Indian Market. The final paintings will be on display at the Museum.
Linda Taylor (Hopi) will be demonstrating piki bread making and offering samples to visitors to taste.
4:00 p.m. Indian Market closes.
*Times and activities are subject to change.
