Hopi of the Year

By C.S. Degener Editor FLAGSTAF Growing up on First Mesa, Frank Dukepoo learned the Hopi ways and he learned about agriculture. Indirectly, he was learning about science, a field that would ultimately provide him with his profession. Some may ponder the compatibility of science, with its cold image of laboratories and analytical thinking, and the deeply spiritual heritage of the Hopi people and other Native Americans. But, not Dukepoo. "(Science) is the essence of life. As a kid I really enjoyed (watching) the process" of things growing, he said. Ironically, some of what he witnessed would later be confirmed by his studies.

"My dad, as a farmer, was a first-rate agronomist and a first-rate geneticist," Dukepoo noted, recalling how his father would caution him about where to plant certain seeds. Dukepoo, who teaches biology at Northern Arizona University, earned acclaim for his study on "Albinism among the Hopi,"

which he said is now considered a classic paper in genetics. However, his academic pursuits didn't always produce glowing results. After earning a variety of scholarships, Dukepoo headed south to Arizona State University where he fell victim to many of the distractions that face young adults away from their familiar surroundings for the 1st time. One by one the scholarships were revoked as his grades sank below the minimum requirement. When the final notification arrived, he walked out of his dormitory to mull his options. "I had $1.65 in my pocket and I threw it at the Memorial Union," he recalled. Dukepoo, who had hopes of becoming a doctor or a dentist, decided he would start from scratch if he was to start over. "I had two ways to go -- up or down. I got down on my knees and asked for guidance," he

We only received the Front page of this paper. If anyone has the other pages, I will add them to this page. Thank you . . . Rick

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