KUYI facts for kids

KUYI 88.1 FM is a special radio station located in Keams Canyon, Arizona. It's known as a Native American Public Radio station. This means it's owned and run by a Native American community and focuses on serving the public, not just making money.

KUYI started broadcasting on December 20, 2000. It mainly plays shows made right there in the community. These shows are for the Hopi, Tewa, and Navajo tribes. People in nearby towns in Northern Arizona and the Four Corners area can listen. You can also listen to KUYI online from anywhere in the world!

What is KUYI Radio?

KUYI is a radio station that serves the Hopi Tribe and surrounding areas. It broadcasts on 88.1 MHz. The station's name, Kuyi, means "water" in the Hopi language. This name is very meaningful to the community.

The station plays a mix of music. You'll hear traditional Hopi songs and modern music. It also gets news updates from National Public Radio on weekdays. Other programs come from Native Voice One, a network for Native American voices.

Reaching the Community

As of 2012, about 9,000 people listened to KUYI. The station creates many programs for different age groups. There are classes for junior and senior high school students. These classes broadcast in the Hopi language.

There's also a Sunday morning show just for small children. For adults, KUYI hosts cultural discussions. These talks follow the lunar calendar, which is a part of Hopi tradition.

Keeping the Hopi Language Alive

KUYI plays a big part in keeping the Hopi language strong. One special project is called "The Shooting Stars Hopi Lavayi Radio Project." "Lavayi" means "language" in Hopi. This project works with the Polacca Head Start Center. It helps students learn and use the First Mesa Dialect of Hopi.

All of KUYI's programs are made by members of the Hopi tribe. This ensures the content is truly local and reflects the community's values.

Local Programs and Awards

KUYI offers many local shows. Students from Hopi High School create a weekly teen program. The station also works with the Hopi Health Care Center. Together, they produce a health program for listeners.

Since 2007, KUYI has held "Listeners' Choice" awards every year. These awards celebrate talented artists. In 2010, some award categories included Best Traditional Artist and Best Contemporary Artist. The awards ceremony was held at the Hopi Cultural Center.

KUYI's Role in Emergencies

KUYI is very important during emergencies. Its strong signal, 69,000 watts, reaches far. It travels across canyons and bounces off mesas. This covers the entire 1.5 million-acre Hopi reservation.

Staying on Air During Storms

In January 2010, a big winter storm hit. The Hopi reservation lost power for two days. Even larger radio stations in Flagstaff, Arizona stopped working. But KUYI stayed on the air! It provided important emergency information to four counties.

Helping During Floods

Later in July 2010, floods caused problems for the First Mesa Consolidated Villages. They had no clean water or working sewage systems. For three days, KUYI kept its listeners informed. They shared updates until water trucks arrived to help the community.

KUYI truly serves its community, especially when people need it most.