What an afternoon with a Hopi elder taught me about presence, history, and the possibility of lasting connection. In March I spent a week on the Hopi reservation in Arizona. I was part of a group of about 20 people, there by invitation, with an organization called Sumi Nungwa. We camped on the land of Hopi potter, Dee Setalla. The mission of the Sumi Numgwa organization is simple and beautiful. This was my first time going to Hopi. Before the trip, our Sumi Nungwa leaders tried to prepare us...

Myra Albert is a Hopi elder who lives in the village of Hotevilla on Third Mesa in Northern Arizona. Her sister, Norma, and...