Helen "Featherwoman" Naha

Helen “Featherwoman” Naha (1922-1993) was born in Hano on First Mesa, Arizona, the ancestral location where Tewa and Hopi people blended and intermarried in the aftermath of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. As such, she was Hopi-Tewa herself. She began making pottery as a teenager, learning from her mother-in-law Paqua Naha (First Frog Woman) and sister-in-law Joy Navasie (Second Frog Woman). Initially, she followed the style of her in-laws, but she was eager to seek her own direction. She was inspired by pottery remnants discovered in the ruins of Awatovi, an ancient Hopi village on First Mesa. These motifs included the Awatovi star and bat wing patterns, which she recreated on her hand-coiled whiteware vessels. She is often credited for revitalizing interest in these ancient Awatovi designs. Early on, her pottery featured stark black and white designs, but as she progressed, she began creating polychrome (multi-colored) pieces highlighted by red hues. Experimentation and practice furthered her distinct style, and her hallmark Hopi and Awatovi decorated pots finished with a high polish gained attention and demand from collectors. Because Helen would sign the bottom of her pots with a feather, she became known as “Featherwoman”. As the matriarch of her family, Helen also passed her knowledge and skill down to her kin; her children, Rainy, Burrell, and Sylvia Naha, as well as granddaughter Tyra Naha, are also all renowned potters. Helen spent her life pursuing her craft, becoming a deeply respected pueblo potter whose work earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including the exclusive “Helen Naha Memorial Award for Excellence in Traditional Hopi Pottery” by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.