Timothy Nuvangyaoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timothy Nuvangyaoma
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| Chairperson of the Hopi Reservation | |
| Assumed office November 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Herman Honanie |
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| Born | 1970 (age 54–55) Keams Canyon, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Politician, firefighter |
Timothy Nuvangyaoma, born in 1970, is an important leader for the Hopi Tribe in Arizona, USA. He is the chairperson, which means he is the main tribal leader. Before becoming a politician, he worked as a firefighter.
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Early Career and Public Service
Before entering politics, Timothy Nuvangyaoma worked as a wildland firefighter. This job involves fighting fires in forests and natural areas. He also gained experience in finance. Additionally, he volunteered his time at KUYI, a radio station that serves the Hopi community.
Political Journey and Leadership
Timothy Nuvangyaoma began his political career by running for the position of chairperson. He aimed to become the leader of the Hopi Tribe.
Becoming the Hopi Chairperson
In 2018, Timothy Nuvangyaoma ran for chairperson against the person who held the office before him, Herman Honanie. Nuvangyaoma won the election by a large number of votes. He officially became the chairperson on December 1, 2018.
Key Actions as Chairperson
As chairperson, Timothy Nuvangyaoma has focused on several important issues for the Hopi people.
Improving Health and Well-being
Nuvangyaoma strongly supports the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. This program helps to lower diabetes rates among Native American communities. Since 2013, this program has helped many Hopi people.
Bringing Cultural Items Home
He has also led efforts to bring back important cultural objects to the Hopi Tribe. These objects were taken from sacred Hopi sites long ago. They are now kept in museums around the world. In October 2018, some of these items were successfully returned from the Finnish National Museum. This was a big step in preserving Hopi heritage.
Community Support During Challenges
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nuvangyaoma worked to help his community. In March 2020, a new water well was installed in Oraibi village. This project was funded by the CARES Act, which provided money for pandemic relief. He also spoke out about protecting his community members. He stated that he did not want them to be used as "test models" for new things unless they were proven safe.
Working with National Leaders
In October 2020, Nuvangyaoma met with national leaders, including Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. This meeting was part of the 2020 presidential campaign. After their discussion, Nuvangyaoma and other tribal leaders supported the Biden-Harris team. A few weeks later, the Hopi Tribe received a large grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This money was given to improve water quality on the reservation. Nuvangyaoma wanted to remove arsenic from the tribal water supply.
