Clay and Courage: Officer Emerson Ami Finds Peace in Pottery

Ami served as a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officer for 25 years. He retired from that position, but now works as a probation officer for the Hopi Courts.

“I create an array of Hopi Tewa pottery. The process takes a day or two and it’s all done by hand as I shape it, mold it and let it dry. It’s all naturally done,” he said.

Yellows, greens, blacks and whites are the colors he uses in his designs. Ami creates mostly out of his home in Tewa Village on the Hopi Reservation. He used to have a shop at the Hopi Cultural Center, but when COVID hit, he closed it. “When I was at the cultural center, we would get a lot of tourists,” he said.

Today, his art business is experiencing a comeback. Ami makes most of his pottery available through Facebook. However, it is also on display at Homolovi State Park near Winslow. In addition, he works with the Grand Canyon Conservancy to use art booths in Grand Canyon National Park. Sometimes he provides demonstrations at the Watchtower on the South Rim.

Ami also participates in the Native American art circuit. In June, he will be teaching at Idyllwild, California, for his seventh year and is part of the Northern Arizona University Road Scholar program, which takes tourists on the road to Hopi and other places in Northern Arizona to see Native American artwork and sites of interest.

Ami finds great satisfaction in the process of creating and selling unique artwork. “Every time I sell a piece, I feel I’ve won an award.”

He learned the craft of making pottery from his grandmother, who learned from renowned Hopi potter Mark Tahbo.

Born in Winslow, Ami was raised in Dilcon on the Navajo Nation where his parents worked for the Winslow Unified School District. He attended Polacaa Day School, Keams Canyon Day School, and Ganado and Winslow High Schools. After high school, he spent 12 seasons working as a wildland firefighter and then as a Hopi Ranger before going to work for BIA law enforcement.

Fifteen years ago, Ami began making art. “The most challenging part is to keep the shape of the pottery as perfect as I can. There is never going to be a perfect pottery. There is always a flaw, but I’m not going to tell where that flaw is.”

Favorite Saying

Never give up.

Where I Relax

Whenever I go out to the forest, I’m fine.

Daily Ritual 

Just being with my family and getting ready to go to work as a probation officer.

My Superpower

Getting along with people.

Guilty Pleasure

I love piñons. FBN

By Stan Bindell, FBN

Photo by Stan Bindell: Ami showcases his artwork at Homolovi State Park, Grand Canyon National Park and the Native American art circuit.