Namingha, Priscilla

Priscilla Namingha was born into the Hopi-Tewa world as the daughter of Rachel Namingha Nampeyo and Emerson Namingha in 1924. Her grandparents were Annie and Will Healing, her great-grandmother Nampeyo of Hano. Priscilla learned how to make pottery from her mother and her great-grandmother.

Priscilla always made her pottery using the methods, styles and designs taught her by her mother and great-grandmother. Among her favorite designs were eagle tails, stars, migration patterns, birds, parrots, dragonflies, feathers and clouds.

Priscilla’s work is found in private collections around the world and in museums such as the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff and the Hopi Cultural Center Museum at Second Mesa.

Priscilla also taught her children the traditional Hopi-Tewa art of pottery making. Among her children were Bonnie Sahmie, Randall Sahmie, Jean Sahmie, Nyla Sahmie and Rachel Sahmie. Her son Andrew married Ida, a Dineh woman, and Priscilla taught her how to make pottery, too. All of them became award-earning potters but only Nyla and Ida are still active.

Priscilla passed on in 2008.