Media and Ethnic Identity: Hopi Views on Media, Identity, and Communication

Media and Ethnic Identity carries a Native American perspective to media and its role in ethnic identity construction. This perspective is gained through a case study of the Hopis, who live in northeast Arizona and are known for their devotion to their indigenous culture.

The research data is built on a number of interviews with Hopis of a variety of ages from nine villages. The study also makes use of the results of a survey of a large number of students in the Hopi Jr./Sr. High School. The framework for examining the research data is intercultural communication (both interpersonal and media-mediated) between an indigenous group and a majority from the viewpoint of the indigenous group.

This book provides tools for understanding the experiences of communication between social and political minorities and majorities from the indigenous perspective.

Ritva Levo-Henriksson is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University of Helsinki. She has a Doctorate in Social Sciences from University of Helsinki and is the author of Eyes upon Wings: Culture in Finnish and US Television News.