The Nakotah Blue Corn Project is a program created and managed by the Four Bridges Traveling Permaculture Institute to honor the life and legacy of Nakotah Lomasohu LaRance who loved and cared for all creation. The original seed was cultivated by his own hands. We intend to feed the world with future generations of this seed. By accepting this sacred gift, we are entrusting you with the continuation of this legacy.
Thank you for accepting this honorable task.
Please share your experience growing this corn by completing a short survey at this link.
Growing Nakotah Blue Corn
It's very important to take steps to
prevent cross pollination of this unique varietal.
Nakotah Blue Corn is a very special variety of Hopi Blue Corn that has been cultivated for years. Allowing cross pollination will change the DNA of its original form.
Corn is cross-pollinated by wind-blown pollen from the male flowers or tassels at the top of the plant to the female flowers or silks about midway up the stalk. Each kernel develops from an individually pollinated silk. Kernels develop near the middle and base of the ear first with those at the tip developing last. To avoid cross-pollination, you can:
1. Grow only one variety each season
2. Plant different varieties of corn 150 feet or more apart
3. Stagger planting so that each different type flowers at different times - this usually means planting 4-6 weeks apart.
Nakotah Lomasohu Raymond LaRance
Nakotah was born on Aug. 23, 1989, in Barrow (now Utqiagvik), Alaska. He was a talented Native American hoop dancer and actor.
Nakotah was given the Hopi name “Lomasohu,” (Handsome Star) by his paternal grandmother. His dancing career began as a fancy dancer when he was four years old.
As a child he competed in the youth division of the World Championship Hoop Dance Competition in Phoenix, Arizona. He won three championships in the youth division and three more in the teenage division.
In 2004, he performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2009, Nakotah joined Cirque du Soleil as a principal dancer, touring with them for over 3 years. He also danced at the opening of the Pan American Games in 2015, and performed at an American Folklife Center concert in Washington in 2016.
From 2016 to 2019, he performed in the Brooklyn Ballet’s Nutcracker, mixing his traditional hoop and hip-hop dances. Nakotah toured the ancient lands of the Inca People in Peru and Bolivia in 2017, dancing in public squares and on local and national television
Although he danced around the world in various settings, his passion was passing on that talent to youth. He taught hoop dancing to students at the Lightning Boy Foundation in New Mexico.
Nakotah's commitment to preserving and sharing Native American culture through dance was evident throughout his life. He was quoted in the Santa Fe New Mexican in 2016 as saying “My kids come up and give me a big hug and are so happy to be doing what they are doing.
“Educating others about their world and their tribal heritage and sharing that through performances with other people — to me that’s the payoff.
“To make that contribution to the community through my art, through working with youth,” he added, “is enough for me.”
Tragically, Nakotah LaRance passed away at the age of 30 on July 12, 2020. His legacy as a traditional dancer and Master Instructor continues to inspire those who appreciate the artistry and cultural significance of hoop dancing.
As an adult, Nakotah lived on his family’s farm on Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in New Mexico. The Nakotah Blue Corn that is now being shared with the world descends from the blue corn that was planted by his own hands in 2020 before his passing.
