Lomakema, Claudina

Claudina Lomakema was a Hopi potter from the village of Sichomovi. She was an active potter from 1970 to 1982. Some of her work can be seen at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. She primarily made yellow ware jars and decorated them with traditional black and red designs.

Claudina was a member of the Kookopwungwa (Fire Clan) of Sichomovi. Sichomovi was settled in the late 1600s CE by people from Walpi, migrants from Zuni and descendants of the Asa people from the Canyon De Chelly area.

Sichomovi was built only a few feet from the village of Hano. Hano had originally been built by the Asa people but they abandoned it and left for the Canyon de Chelly area around 1600 CE. They stayed there for more than 50 years. At Canyon de Chelly they lost their traditions and their language, then some of them returned to First Mesa to start over again. By the time they returned, Hano was occupied by recently arrived Southern Tewa families from the Rio Grande Valley.

The Kokop (Firewood) clan and the Coyote clan were among the founders of the ancient village of Sikyátki. Kokopnyama, a more ancient village on Antelope Mesa, was also a home of the Kokop clan. Speculation is that the Kokop may have been originally a Towa-speaking clan and may have been descended from a clan of the Fremont people.