I'itoi Ki: Maze of Life

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Gerald Dawavendewa (Hopi & Cherokee)

Also known as the “Man in the Maze” it is one of the more well-known designs that is found in O’odham culture. I’itoi Ki: or I’itoi’s House refers to the Creator called Elder Brother who travels a circular path to his home. This path also represents a person’s own journey through life, each turn symbolizing a life-changing event. At the end of the maze, an alcove allows one to reflect on one’s life before journeying onward to the center. Behind the maze is a Hohokam image with a water motif representing the rivers and rain that is vital to a desert people.