Komalestewa, Emily

Emily Shupla was born into Santa Clara Pueblo. When she married Austin Komalestewa she moved to Hopi and learned how to make Hopi pottery from members of her husband’s family.

Austin was a grandson of Nampeyo of Hano and Lesou. His father was William Lesou Komalestewa, his mother Vina Tahomana. So Emily married a descendant of Nampeyo and became a Hopi-Tewa potter. William and Austin weren’t recognized so much in the family as the Hopi and the Tewa only recognize matrilineal descent.

Emily and Austin were the parents of Alton Komalestewa, who married Jeanne Shupla. Alton moved to Jeanne’s home at Santa Clara Pueblo and learned to make pottery there from his mother-in-law, Helen Shupla.