More about GERI HONGEVA . . .

Star Wars & Language Preservation

• Navajo Star Wars, The "Navajo C-3PO” - Her most famous claim to fame is her voice-over role as C-3PO in the Navajo-language dub of Star Wars: A New Hope. 

  (PBS): Hongeva is featured in the PBS "Native America" series, where she discusses the cultural impact of voicing C-3PO and the importance of preserving the Navajo language.

• Looking for Leia

  (Vimeo): In Episode 5, "What We Preserve," she joins other voice actors to describe the process of translating and dubbing the film.

• Museum Exhibit Feature: She appears in a YouTube video for the Museum of Northern Arizona regarding the exhibit "The Force Is With Our People," where she showcases her handmade C-3PO costume.

Key Roles & Career

• Tourism Leadership: She serves as the President of the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association and works as a Tribal Content Developer for the American Indigenous Tourism (AIT).

• Cultural Advocate: Hongeva spent years with Navajo Parks & Recreation and has worked extensively with Northern Arizona University (NAU) on Native American cultural preservationfor a total of 8 years.

• Entrepreneurship: She is the founder of Native Moto Tours, a business designed to lead motorcycle tours across the Navajo Nation and Arizona, blending her passion for riding with her Navajo cultural lifestyle.

• Media & Outreach: She has held roles as a public information officer, media representative of the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation for 8 years, and an executive casino host at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort for over 12 years. Hongeva is also an free lance writer for Navajo Times and Navajo-Hopi Observer newspaper bringing the news of her community to frontline news.

• Cultural Impact: She is a recognizable figure at screenings and cultural events (like the Heard Museum or Twin Arrows Navajo Casino screenings) where she and the other voice actors are honored as "heroes" for their work in language preservation.

• Public Appearances: She has been invited to attend the local "Comic Con" style events across the Southwest to sign autographs and speak about the project. 

• Media Spokesperson: As the media representative for Navajo Parks and Recreation, she was the primary contact for global media during major events like Nik Wallenda’s Skywire walk.

• Documentaries: She has been featured in numerous documentaries and news segments (including PBS’s Native America) promoting the Navajo Nation. 

• Monument Valley Hot Air Balloon Event : She played a vital role in initiating the event and coordinating the event, which brought hot air balloons to fly over the iconic Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

• Navajo Nation Fair: She also extended ballooning sports to other tribal events, such as the Navajo Nation Fair Hot Air Balloon Night Glow.

• Geri Hongeva served as the Public Information Officer for Navajo Parks and Recreation during high-profile events in Monument Valley, including collaborations with Red Bull Air Race.

• Geri worked closely with Peacock Productions (the former in-house production company of NBC News) in 2013 for the television special Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda

  The Collaboration for Skywire

  • Media Liaison: In her role as the Media Representative for Navajo Parks and Recreation, Hongeva was the primary tribal contact for the production team.

  • Logistics & Permitting: She coordinated with Peacock Productions (which produced the event for the Discovery Channel) to manage the environmental and cultural clearances needed for the high-wire walk over the Little Colorado River Gorge.

  • On-Air Presence: During the live broadcast, which reached millions worldwide, she served as a key spokesperson to highlight Navajo culture and tourism to the global audience.

Community Leadership & Awards

• Recognition: In 2021,she received the Women in American History Award from the DAR for her contributions to Navajo cultural innovation and education.

• Visibility: Her leadership in the Navajo Hopi Honor Riders and the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association (AAITA) keeps her highly visible in tribal politics and community service. 

In short, while she may not be a household name globally, within the Navajo Nation and the broader Indigenous community, she is a well-known figure celebrated for bridging the gap between traditional culture and modern media.

International Media Highlights

• "Navajo Star Wars" Global Phenomenon: Hongeva’s role as the voice of C-3PO in the Navajo-language dub of Star Wars gained worldwide attention. Major outlets like TIME and USA Today covered the project as a landmark effort in indigenous language revitalization.

• Skywire Live & Nik Wallenda: As the media liaison for Navajo Parks and Recreation during Nik Wallenda's 2013 high-wire walk, she was the primary tribal contact for an event broadcast to millions of viewers in 178 countries. She managed the international press corps and appeared in coverage by global networks like CNN and Discovery Channel.

• Documentary Features: She is a frequent contributor to international documentaries exploring Native American life, most notably appearing in the PBS series Native America, which is distributed globally.

• Tourism Advocacy: Her work with the American Indigenous Tourism Association & Destination Native America involves marketing tribal destinations to a global audience, positioning her as a leading voice for Indigenous tourism on the international stage.