Yesterday Natasha Varner of First Peoples: New Directions in Indigenous Studies published a Q&A with me on their blog about BEYOND THE MESAS. In this post I discuss a number of topics, including my reasons for starting a blog and advice for new bloggers. I’m honored by this opportunity, and very grateful to First Peoples for their willingness to feature BEYOND THE MESAS on their website. Here’s the link to the post: http://www.firstpeoplesnewdirections.org/blog/?p=5754
When I started beyondthemesas.com in November 2009, I told myself that I would blog for six months. After that, I would reevaluate whether I wanted to continue.
More than two years later, the blog has received 31,612 “hits” and 180 comments. While some bloggers receive this many hits in one week (or one day), I am grateful to know that a handful of people find beyondthemesas.com useful and perhaps even interesting.
At the very least, the blog provides an alternative to the many bizarre websites out there on the Hopi.
The most popular posts continue to be on Hopi runners and photography. This year, the posts on the Hopi and Navajo water rights issue received a lot of attention.
Many thanks to people back home and those beyond the mesas who dropped by this past year to read my blog. I look forward to another productive year of blogging in 2012.
Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert
A few weeks ago I heard the words “If so, please consider…” coming from my living room. I looked around the corner, and to my surprise, I saw my oldest daughter sitting with my lPad on her lap. My blog was open on the screen. When I asked what she was doing, she simply replied, “I’m learning about Hopi.”
Beyond the Mesas 