The Hopi Arts Apprenticeship is a comprehensive cultural arts educational program taught by master craftsman, Ernie Northurp Jr., on the Hopi Reservation.
This program invites students from all backgrounds to learn traditional Native American silversmithing, Native American flute making, and painting through hands-on experiential learning and elder guidance on Hopiland.
Leaving this apprenticeship, students will become cultural bearers of these traditional Native arts, Hopi culture, and professionally trained in the art form of their choosing.
Full Scholarships are offered to Natives interested in joining this apprenticeship through our Grant Scholarship program. Please apply for this scholarship.
This comprehensive curriculum honors the deep traditions of Native American Crafts while equipping apprentices with both historical knowledge and contemporary technical mastery. Each student's learning journey will be tailored to their skill level and goals.
Silversmith Apprenticeship Curriculum:
The Silversmith Jewelry Apprenticeship is structured as a progressive journey through three levels. Learn traditional and contemporary jewelry making techniques with hands on, one on one instruction, to achieve your artistic goals and professionally refine your craft. Students may enroll in individual levels or pursue the complete 6-week progression.
Level 1: Intro to Silversmithing 2 weeks | $150/day
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Learn foundational techniques in traditional silversmithing under Ernie Northrup Jr.’s mentorship. You will begin working with copper to develop essential skills, techniques, and design principles. As your proficiency grows and you demonstrate mastery, you will transition to working with silver.
Choose your Apprenticeship:
*Basic learning materials and onsite accommodations included. Food and transportation not included.
Level 2: Advanced Silversmithing 2 weeks | $180/day
*Prerequisite: Completion of Intro to Silversmithing
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Deepen your practice with advanced techniques, complex designs, and refined finishing in silver, building on the foundation you've developed through copper work.
Level 3: Stone Cutting & Setting 2 weeks | $240/day
* Prerequisite: Completion of Intro and Advanced Silversmithing (or prior silversmithing experience)
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Master the art of selecting, cutting, and setting stones to complete your silver jewelry pieces.
Complete 6-Week Progression All three levels | $6,720 total
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Progress through the full journey from foundational skills to mastery.
What you will learn:
Foundational Skills
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Sawing, piercing, filing, and surface preparation
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Soldering techniques (sweat, pick, torch control)
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Polishing, patina application, and oxidation
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Design principles, pattern transfer, and tool maintenance
Traditional Native American Techniques
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Hopi overlay - sawing, layering, and oxidizing signature designs
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Stamping and repousse - traditional symbol interpretation
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Stone setting - bezel, channel inlay, chip inlay, prong, and flush setting
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Tufa stone casting - traditional sand-casting method
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Structural work - ring shanks, cuff bracelets, concho construction
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Specialized forms - squash blossom naja, cluster work, petit point, shadowbox, ketoh (bow guard), traditional bead making
Materials Knowledge
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Metals - sterling (.925), fine (.999), Argentium silver, copper, brass, gold alloys, contemporary metals (titanium, niobium)
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Stones - turquoise varieties (Sleeping Beauty, Kingman, Morenci, Bisbee), coral, jet, shell (spiny oyster, abalone), lapis, malachite, chrysocolla, sugilite
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Material properties - malleability, melting points, natural vs. treated stones, value assessment, ethical sourcing
Cultural & Historical Knowledge
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Traditional Hopi stories, sacred symbols, and ceremonial significance
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Clan symbols and appropriate cultural use
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History of Southwest silversmithing (1850s-present)
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Evolution from Spanish/Mexican influence to Hopi overlay development (1930s-40s)
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Contemporary innovations honoring tradition
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Cultural appropriation awareness and Indian Arts and Crafts Act compliance
Professional Practice
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Photographing and documenting work
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Artist statements and cultural storytelling
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Pricing, marketing, and gallery relationships
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Sustainable studio setup and equipment investment
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Building an independent practice post-apprenticeship.
Flute Making Apprenticeship Curriculum
The Native American Flute Making Apprenticeship focuses on the traditional craft of creating splitwood flutes—instruments hollowed out by hand using time-honored techniques passed down through generations.
Choose your Apprenticeship:
*Basic learning materials and onsite accommodations included. Food and transportation not included.
Nivel 1: Introducción a la fabricación de flautas 1 semana | $120/día | $50 por el kit de materiales básicos
Master the more advanced hand-hollowing technique used to create the interior chambers of traditional split wood flutes. This deeper level of craftsmanship requires precision, patience, and a refined understanding of wood and sound.
Level 1: Intro to Flute Making 1 week | $120/day | $50 Basic materials kit
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Learn the fundamentals of traditional flute construction under Ernie Northrup Jr.’s guidance. Discover the techniques for selecting wood, shaping, and finishing instruments that carry the voice of ancestral knowledge.
Level 2: Advanced Flute Making - Hand-Hollowing Technique 1 week | $120/day | $75 Basic materials kit
*Prerequisite: Completion of Intro to Flute Making
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Master the more advanced hand-hollowing technique used to create the interior chambers of traditional split wood flutes. This deeper level of craftsmanship requires precision, patience, and a refined understanding of wood and sound.
What you will learn
Foundational Skills
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Wood selection, moisture content, and grain direction
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Hand tools (chisels, gouges, scrapers) and power tools (drills, saws, routers)
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Measuring, layout, bore calculations, and finger hole placement
Traditional Construction Techniques
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Bore creation - drilling, reaming, consistent air column diameter
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Two-chamber design - True Sound Hole (TSH) and Slow Air Chamber (SAC)
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Splitting and joining - traditional bore methods, gluing, clamping
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Finger holes - spacing, sizing, undercutting for accurate notes
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Nest and block - totem/fetish carving, airway channel, block fit
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End treatments - foot and mouthpiece finishing
Tuning & Finishing
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Pentatonic scale tuning, pitch adjustment, octave balancing
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Electronic tuning and ear training
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Surface preparation, sanding, and shaping
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Oil finishes (tung, linseed, walnut), burnishing, sealing
Decoration & Embellishment
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Wood burning (pyrography), carving, and relief work
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Inlay techniques - turquoise, shell, stone, metal
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Leather wrapping, beadwork, feathers, natural dyes
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Fetish/totem carving with cultural meanings
Materials Knowledge
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Wood species - cedar, walnut, cherry, maple, bamboo, river cane
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Wood properties - density, resonance, workability
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Decorative materials - turquoise, coral, shell, leather, sinew
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Sustainable and ethical sourcing
Playing the Flute
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Breath control, embouchure, fingering patterns
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Vibrato, ornamentation, traditional playing styles
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Traditional songs, storytelling through music
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Meditation and ceremonial uses
Cultural & Historical Knowledge
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Origins and traditional uses across Native nations
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Courting flute traditions and ceremonial significance
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Regional variations (Plains, Woodlands, Southwestern)
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Cultural respect and appropriate use of sacred knowledge
Professional Practice
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Quality control, pricing, documentation
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Workshop setup and independent practice
This curriculum honors the sacred tradition of Native American flute making while developing skills in woodworking, tuning, and musical expression.
Native Artifact Wood craving Curriculum
The Native Artifacts Wood Carving Apprenticeship teaches the sacred art of carving traditional wooden pieces that honor ancestral knowledge and cultural expression.
Level 1: Intro to Wood Carving 1 week | $150/day
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Learn foundational carving techniques, tool handling, and design principles under Ernie Northrup Jr.’s mentorship. Begin creating your first pieces while honoring traditional methods and cultural significance.
Level 2: Advanced Wood Carving 1 week | $150/day
*Prerequisite: Completion of Intro to Wood Carving
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Refine your skills with more complex designs, advanced carving techniques, and deeper exploration of traditional forms and spiritual meaning.
Choose your Apprenticeship:
What you will learn:
Foundational Skills
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Wood harvesting, preparing, and seasoning
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Carving tools - knives, chisels, gouges, rasps, files
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Basic techniques - roughing out, detail work, undercutting, traditional proportions
Traditional Carving & Construction
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Wood preparation - cleaning, splitting, drying cottonwood root
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Body carving - head, torso, arms, legs (one-piece and jointed styles)
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Features and regalia - masks, snouts, beaks, headdresses, tablitas, kilts, sashes
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Accessories - bows, rattles, staffs, shields, ceremonial objects
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Assembly and finishing - joining, gluing, pegging, surface preparation
Natural Paint Making & Application
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Traditional pigments - earth ochres, clay, charcoal, minerals
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Plant-based colors - flower petals, berries, roots, bark
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Binders - yucca juice, egg tempera, natural adhesives
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Brush making - yucca fiber brushes and traditional tools
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Application techniques - base coats, detail work, layering
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Color symbolism in Hopi cosmology
Embellishment & Detailing
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Feathers (eagle, turkey, parrot), leather, fur, fabric, yarn
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Natural materials - shells, seeds, corn husks, horsehair
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Metal accents - silver, tin, bells
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Fine details - fingers, toes, jewelry, body paint designs
Cultural & Historical Knowledge
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Origins as teaching tools and spiritual significance
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Historic evolution and village style variations (First, Second, Third Mesa)
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Ceremonial calendar and traditional gifting protocols
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Sacred knowledge boundaries and Hopi creation stories
Artistic Development & Professional Practice
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Traditional vs. contemporary styles
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Advanced techniques - complex undercutting, realistic features
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Cultural sensitivity and appropriate representation
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Authentication, pricing, marketing, gallery relationships
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Indian Arts and Crafts Act compliance
Weekend Apprenticeships
Bamboo Flute Workshop | 1 weekend | $300
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Learn the fundamentals of bamboo flute making in an intensive weekend experience. Perfect for those with limited time or those exploring the craft before committing to a longer apprenticeship.
Drum Making Workshop | 1 weekend | $600
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Master traditional drum making techniques in an intensive weekend apprenticeship. Learn drum construction, hide preparation, and the spiritual significance of this ancient instrument.
Native Artist Grant Scholarship
Mission: Keep tools in the hands of the natives to tell their stories
This grant scholarship supports an in-person training with Ernie Northrup Jr., on the Hopi Reservation. Materials, hands-on instruction and accommodations are fully included with this grant scholarship. Additionally, upon completion of this program with honors, graduates are given the tools to set up their own professional workshop and various opportunities to sell their work in selected tradeshows and events.
This grant scholarship is given to Native American artisans who are dedicated to their craft, eager to learn and show passion for being the future cultural bearers of Native American stories and traditions.
An artistic and cultural journey with Ernie Northrup
Meet Your Teacher
As a storyteller, Ernie Northrup Jr. serves as a living repository of ancestral wisdom.
Ernie's artistic journey began on the Hopi reservation, learning from his grandfather and community elders in his daily life.
For over four decades, Ernie has mastered traditional and modern silversmithing techniques that has brought him success around the world. In his art and storytelling, Ernie weaves together knowledge from his reservation upbringing and boarding school experiences. His petroglyph-inspired images are carved into tufa stone to create molds for molten silver and precious stones. He enhances pieces with local spiny coral and turquoise, creating jewelry that connects to the land's spiritual significance. His art illustrates different spirits and deities important to Hopi Nation.
Beyond metalwork, he crafts traditional Native American flutes and performs music carrying Hopi vibrations across generations. His kachina doll carving represents his most spiritually significant work—sacred figures embodying Hopi memories and cosmovision, learned from his grandfather during a near-death spiritual experience in his youth.
His philosophy transcends technical instruction—students develop relationships with living Hopi stories and craftsmanship's spiritual significance.
This builds cultural pride, provides pathways to economic sovereignty, and ensures cosmovision transmission across generations.
Ernie lives on the Hopi reservation where his home operating trading post and workshop serves as a cultural sanctuary for artists to share their work with pride, and for the public community to connect with Hopi heritage. It is a place of active cultural resistance, fighting Indigenous identity loss while creating economic sovereignty opportunities for native artists.
His educational impact creates a multiplier effect: each student becomes a wisdom carrier, perpetuating technical skills, cultural knowledge, and spiritual understanding for future generations.
Check out our on-going art & craft fundraiser.
Make a donation to the Hopi Arts Apprentice Program.
Purple spiney coral collar
silver Tufa Stone Model -Hopi Wisdom Piece - lightning
Adversity and hardship continue to remain on the Hopi reservation. The traditional artistry that holds these cultural memories are at risk of being lost with each passing generation. Becoming an artist and craftsmen gives economic opportunity and cultural empowerment to Natives living on the reservations. When you support this program, you are making a direct contribution to native communities and the arts.
Your support matters
"Take the breath of the new dawn and make it apart of you. it will give you strength. " - Hopi Nation
Visiting the petroglyphs on Hopi-land, one is transported to ancestral histories of humankind. Here, we are reminded how art actively holds the essence and keys for story telling beyond language and time.
The rich culture of Hopi still strongly holds the memories of their ancestors. It is alive in their ceremonial practices, their songs, and in their art forms.
Spanning many mediums from painting, carving and silver smithing jewelry, the stories told of Star People, peace, and planting, are embedded in the art and the hearts of the people who create it.