Red Feather's Community Coordinator for Hopi, Alfred Lomahquahu, discusses his wide variety of experience serving the people, the ongoing housing needs on Hopi Tutskwa (Aboriginal Hopi lands) and how nonprofits can be uniquely situated to meet people where they are. ​

​What makes Red Feather’s work so vital in the community?
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In my experience I haven’t really seen any other nonprofits working towards helping people maintain or improve their homes. Hopi has a lot of vibrant nonprofits and organizations working on a host of issues, but in the housing space Red Feather remains relatively unique.
There is of course the government housing agencies; we have HUD housing here, but they are looking mainly at building new homes. A few years ago they were doing remodeling and renovations of older houses, and they did a pretty good job, but with HUD its always a long wait. It takes at least a year usually to get anything done or get help from HUD. And as with any agency, there is a lot of turnover, so that can make things hard. The problem is you have to basically be an expert in administration and NAHASDA legislation itself to get anything done- and that creates a challenge for anyone on the tribal side to really get the most out of that federal funding.

The other problem we have with the HUD housing is that yes, they may have this money, but they have to spend it on scattered housing, on new subdevelopments, they can’t really do the community housing renovations and repair that Red Feather does.
The whole process of actually getting assistance from HUD can also be challenging for individuals and homeowners. It can be very paperwork intensive and hard to gather all the information needed from the Village administration and other agencies, and this can just be prohibitive for some people. So Red Feather really provides the easiest pathway to help for people. And of course, we can still improve our own processes, we are always working on streamlining it, but it’s so much easier to do that as an independent nonprofit without all the government red tape.

Even for our own Hopi Housing Authority, it can be hard for them to really get down to the bones of what we are doing at Red Feather, because they just don’t always have the staff capacity. The administrative burden can be immense. And they are the main entity out here that focuses on housing. Red Feather is really the only nonprofit that is in the housing space trying to fill the gaps in government housing assistance.

When did you first get involved in this focus on community service?

My first experience of community service was with the military. I was fortunate to be an engineer in the Marine Corps, so a lot of what we did was infrastructure projects in third-world countries. I spent a lot of time in Asia, Africa and the Middle East working on water, sewer and hygiene projects. So that community service mindset has been with me forever. Then working in tribal government, working as a Community Service Administrator, I’ve gotten to see how a variety of different agencies try to tackle these issues.
 
How does your previous experience in tribal government inform your view of Red Feather and tribal housing issues?

After working in tribal government, as the Vice Chairman and the CSA (Community Service Administrator), I wanted to really see how nonprofits work, and see how they fit in the picture of serving the people. As a CSA, your job is really to work for the people and provide services for the community. But their only budget is from the yearly tribal allotments, and that is not a lot. Due to Peabody closing their mine here, 80% of the Hopi tribal budget is gone. So the villages aren’t getting the tribal allotment that they used to get, because the tribe just doesn’t have that money anymore. Unfortunately, the village governments just don’t currently have the capacity to apply for and manage large grants. There just isn’t the administrative capacity to take that on at the local government level.

So that’s where nonprofit organizations can come in and really shine. Red Feather doesn’t have term limits and changeovers and has experience managing grants. Our administrative system at Red Feather is set up for that, and so sometimes that allows us, as a nonprofit, to do things for the community right now that sometimes tribal government can’t. Navigating the bureaucratic system is challenging, and on the reservation, it can just take a long time to get things done. This can be good, we have our tribal decision-making processes for a reason, and because we have to navigate these outside systems that were never our systems, but the challenge can but getting things to move quickly.

So outside entities like Red Feather that don’t have to follow the bureaucratic systems of HUD housing or tribal governments can really offer people help in a much quicker, more streamlined way. Any time you are dealing with any elected leadership, things are going to change. Nonprofits also can have this benefit of longevity.

So yes, I see nonprofits as filling a huge gap in services, trying to address a huge unmet need. That’s why we exist. This can be overwhelming at times for staff, but if we have support, it can also be really rewarding.

How do you see this nonprofit structure serving the Hopi community?

Here at Hopi, no other group is doing home repairs, roof repairs, heating services……A lot of the people we are working with are on fixed incomes, so they can’t finance major home repairs. Which they would want to do themselves, but they can’t, it’s just not reasonable for them on a fixed income.

Which goes for many people on the reservation. Most people who stay on the reservation are low-income, because of the lack of jobs. Unless you work for the tribe, or HIS (Indian Health Service) or the schools, but that’s probably only 20% of the population that has a reasonable job, most other people are on social security, using arts and crafts to try and survive, and those are the individuals we at Red Feather are really targeting.

What are the biggest housing needs you see on a regular basis?

Things like roof repairs are so vital, because if your roof is leaking or falling apart, everything inside your house will get ruined too. We get a lot of requests for roof repairs. These are also often really expensive, so harder for people to self-finance. A lot of people are also living in G-sheds, these tiny home shells, because that is what they can afford. Those are the homes that really need help, because a G-shed doesn’t come with wiring, insulation, plumbing, or any type of heating, it’s just a shell. So people are living in these shells. And because they aren’t considered ‘proper housing’ IHS can’t connect them to plumbing and water services. So people can’t really get the services they need. Some villages will hook these types of homes up to electricity, some won’t. But if these people can’t get any water services, Red Feather can at least help them get water storage tanks, install septic tanks, etc.

So Red Feather really is filling in a huge gap, because these are just basic sanitation and hygiene needs.
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Even me, now that I’m back at Hopi, and working full time, it can still be challenging to get basic amenities. I live in a house without power and plumbing too. This is often just part of our life.

Carbon monoxide or CO is an invisible and odorless gas that is produced when any fuel is burned, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. This gas can come from sources such as oil furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, dryers, barbecue grills, car exhaust fumes, wood-burning stoves, gas ovens, and fireplaces. The threat of CO poisoning or death arises if any fuel-burning appliances malfunction.
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It is important to note that every year, about 170 people die from CO production in the United States alone (United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, n.d.). The effects of carbon monoxide can cause damage to the lungs and heart if inhaled. Initial symptoms of CO exposure present as headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. In severe cases, symptoms may progress to mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular function, unconsciousness, and even death. Those who are most at risk of long-term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning are children and the elderly.

Investing in a carbon monoxide detector is the first step towards reducing health risks related to CO. When installing a CO detector, it is crucial to check for a manual to fully understand how to operate the detector and ensure it is properly set up. The detector should be placed in an open area that is not covered by furniture or drapes and not near fuel-burning appliances. It is also recommended to test the batteries every few months and avoid using fuel-burning devices inside the house or being in a car, truck, or motorcycle in an enclosed area.
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If the CO detector goes off, the next steps to ensure safety are to go outside for fresh air, call emergency services, check to see if all persons are accounted for, and refrain from using the fuel-burning appliance that caused the issue until it has been properly fixed by a trained professional. Although there are many things to look out for, all of the steps are necessary to keep not only yourself but also others safe.

"We have witnessed the emergence of the human spirit and collective action that said we would not stand idly by and allow hardship to tear us down.  At Red Feather, we have witnessed the emergence of our programs, which now reach more people than in any years past."​

COVID has brought death, division, and disruption across the entire world.  It has left a deep and lasting wound that will not quickly go away, especially for those who have lost loved ones, struggled with long-lasting physical ailments, or suffered economically. 

If you have followed our work and national media coverage, you know how deeply the pandemic has affected our partner communities. Sadly, this is another chapter in the centuries of hardships they have endured.  Without a lengthy narration about the impacts of colonialism and the vastitudes of continued oppression, one may ask when their suffering will be enough.

However, if we maintain such a perspective, we miss our chance to highlight the Hopi and Navajo people's incredible innovation, fortitude, and spirit.  Call it cliché, but without sadness, we cannot know happiness; without darkness, we cannot know light.  That is why we have chosen emergence as the theme for this year’s annual report.   Since the pandemic’s beginning, we have witnessed the emergence of governments, community groups, nonprofits, and individuals delivering millions of dollars in supplies and services to those in need across our partner communities. We have witnessed the emergence of the human spirit and collective action that said we would not stand idly by and allow hardship to tear us down. 

At Red Feather, we have witnessed the emergence of our programs, which now reach more people than in any years past.  Increased financial support has allowed us to invest in organizational systems to improve the effectiveness of our programs and ensure we are making sound investments in our work.  We are also leveraging our growing reputation of integrity and expertise to gather in solidarity with partners to collectively develop and deploy strategies for resolving locally identified housing needs.

​ As we look to the future, we remain optimistic and hopeful that our partner communities and organizations will continue to emerge from the challenges that weigh us down.  We continue to uphold Red Feather’s vision of a healthy world as an emerging model for others to follow--a world where affordable and safe housing is available to all and where we are all inspired to work collectively to create self-sustaining communities. We hope you enjoy reading about the success of our efforts and extend our sincerest appreciation for the continued trust and support in our work.  

From our house to yours,

​Joe Seidenberg
Executive Director 

'Since we’ve grown our Direct Solutions program, which provides a limited budget for home repair materials for families across both Hopi and Navajo, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of calls and applications. It’s been exciting but it’s also been a lot! Remembering the big picture is essential for me when I get overwhelmed with the amount of demand we are facing, or the amount of calls that come in during the day. People are facing a lot, and this is our way of doing something immediately, of meeting immediate need. The growing of the Direct Solutions program is intended to be that, and in so many ways it is succeeding.

​'Acknowledging and celebrating that re-centers me.
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'Despite the struggles, we are doing so much good work. I mean, we are really doing SO MUCH, reaching so many homes. And sometimes, in the constant drive to do more, we don’t always take the time to stop and spotlight and celebrate what we are doing, which is so important. Because we are reaching a lot of people. When you are as dedicated as we are to trying to help and to serve, it can be overwhelming to come in in the mornings and just see ‘Oh, I have 30 missed calls and 50 new emails’ but the power is in realizing that these are all people we are reaching and people that will be helped.

'I’m a big believer in stopping to recognize accomplishments and celebrate them. The truth is that Red Feather has grown a lot and is doing amazing work, so let’s acknowledge and get joy out of that too, while also recognizing that of course there will always be more work to do.