Navasie, Eunice

Eunice Fawn Navasie (1920-1992) was a Hopi potter from the village of Sichomovi on First Mesa. She grew up learning to make pottery through watching and working with her mother, Agnes Navasie. Her brother, Justin Navasie, married Pauline Setalla and another brother, Perry Navasie, married Joy (Naha) (aka 2nd Frogwoman).

Eunice married Joel Nahsonhoya and they had five children: Dolly Joe “White Swann” Navasie, Fawn “Little Fawn” Navasie, Darrell Navasie, Gregory Navasie and Agnes Nahsonhoya.

Eunice was an active potter from about 1940 to 1990. She worked in black and red on a white background, as well as black and red on buff or yellow backgrounds. Her favorite shapes to make were jars, bowls and wedding vases. Her work earned numerous ribbons at the Gallup InterTribal Ceremonials and at the Santa Fe Indian Market.

Eunice signed all her pieces “Fawn” inside the line drawing of a deer. Her daughter Fawn signed “Little Fawn” inside a deer, too, until Eunice passed on. Then she became “Fawn.”