Ricky Coochwytewa

Hopi Silversmith, Bear Clan — “Talahongnaya” —  Artist’s Hallmark: Bear paw symbol

With the rising light of each dawn, Ricky Coochwytewa—whose Hopi name Talahongnaya means “Posting the Prayer Feathers with the Sun”—carries forward the legacy of one of Hopi’s most respected artistic families. Born in December 1951 into the Bear Clan, Ricky is the son of Victor Coochwytewa, the legendary Hopi silversmith whose work earned him every major honor in Native American arts, including being named an “Arizona Indian Living Treasure” in 1994. Ricky’s mother, Margaret Coochwytewa, was the Bear Clan Matriarch and Firekeeper of the village of Shungopavi. Their home—known as the Bear Clan House—was a place of healing, welcome, and sacred responsibility.

Ricky recalls observing the many ceremonial and communal duties his parents performed, and that heritage continues to inspire his life and work. In 1970, at age 19, Ricky was initiated into the Wuwuchim ceremony—the sacred passage into Kachina Ceremonial Life. He was later inducted into the Snake Society, a rare honor reserved for the pure of heart. Members of the Snake Society participate in one of Hopi’s most sacred rituals, dancing with live rattlesnakes and releasing them in the four cardinal directions to carry prayers into the world. Ricky also participates in solstice ceremonies, helps prepare pahos (prayer feather offerings), and has sponsored both the Buffalo and Bear Dances.

As a silversmith, Ricky is best known for his powerful interpretations of Bear motifs, drawn from the healing and protective symbolism of the Bear Clan. His designs, often rendered in both silver and gold, reflect a deep sense of purpose and tradition. “I want the Coochwytewa name to continue in the tradition of distinction in design and outstanding achievement of fine Hopi overlay jewelry,” he says. “I take my time—I’m not in a hurry. I want to go deeper into the gold work, develop my designs, and challenge what’s been done before.”

Among his favorite motifs are the Bear, symbolizing healing and protection, and the Turtle, a symbol of rain—an essential blessing for Hopi dry farmers and a nod to his father’s Water Clan heritage. Ricky continues the tradition of farming, growing corn in the fields of Shungopavi, honoring the ancient connection between land, sustenance, and spirit. “Corn is our nourishment, our living source,” he says. “The reward of the harvest is worth all of the effort and prayer we put into it.”

Ricky also builds upon designs created by his father, including the Starblower, which he and Victor called “The Lightbringer.” He explains: “The Starblower is that Light that is in everyone’s life. It comes in simple things—health, waking up to a new day and praying to the sun that greets you, enjoying one day at a time, living in the Light of that moment, and being grateful.”

Ricky Coochwytewa—Talahongnaya—truly lives up to his name. With each carefully crafted piece of jewelry, he honors the past, celebrates the present, and brings light to the future.