HOPI

THE HOPI TELLS HOW THEIR ANCESTORS CLIMBED UP THROUGH THREE CAVE WORLDS WITH ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS. TWO SPIRIT MASTERS WERE BROTHERS WHO FINALLY EMERGED FROM THE BROTHERS GRAND CANYON INTO A FORTH WORLD, THE EARTH.

COYOTE OPENED A JAR HE HAD FOUND IN ONE OF THE CAVE WORLDS. SPARKS FLEW OUT AND BECAME STARS. DIFFERENT CLANS FORMED WITH VARIOUS ANIMAL NAMES AND TRAVELED TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BEFORE SETTLING INTO HOMES.

THIS IS ONE CREATION MYTH - THERE ARE SO MANY. THE PEOPLES MIGRATED FROM MANY AREAS TO FORM THE TRIBES. THE PEOPLE MIGRATED FROM MANY AREAS TO FORM THE TRIBE.

THEY HAD ELABORATE RELIGIONS RITES AND USED KIVAS FOR THESE PURPOSES. THEIR KIVAS WERE UNDERGROUND ADOBE CIRCULAR STRUCTURES WITH WOODEN FRAMES AND THEY WERE ACCESSED BY CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER. THEY DEPENDED UPON NATURAL SPRINGS AND RAIN FOR WATERING THEIR CROPS. THESE PEOPLE WERE COOPERATIVE PEOPLE AND WILLING TO WORK WITH OTHERS. THEIR NAMES MEAN PEACEFUL ONES. THEY SPOKE UTO AZTECAN LANGUAGE.

THEY HAD VILLAGES IN ON THREE MESAS, ALL PART OF BLACK MESA. THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR PEACEFUL NATURE. THEY PRACTICED THE HOPI WAY OR A VERY PEACEFUL CONNECTION TO NATURE AND OTHER PEOPLE. TO BUILD THEIR PUEBLOS THEY HAD TO TRAVEL TO FIND WOOD - PINE, JUNIPER, ETC. THEIR WOMEN HELPED SHAPE THE HOMES. THEY ENTERED THEIR HOMES THROUGH A DOOR IN THE ROOF. THE KIVAS WERE STRICTLY USED BY MEN FOR CHAPELS AND RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. WOMEN COULD BE INVITED IN. THESE FOLKS WERE PRIMARILY FARMERS WHO SUPPLEMENTED THEIR DIET WITH SOME HUNTING AND GATHERING. THE MEN FARMED AND HUNTED WHILE THE WOMEN COLLECTED WILD PLANTS AND COOKED THE MEALS. THEY OWNED THE CROPS AS WELL. THE HOPIS RELIED ON RAIN FOR THEIR CROPS AND HAD THEIR FARMS BELOW MESA TOPS SO RUNOFF COULD HELP IRRIGATE THE CORN, BEANS, SQUASH, COTTON, MELONS AND TOBACCO. THEY HAD MANY RECIPES FOR CORN, THEIR MOST IMPORTANT CROP. PIKI IS A THIN BREAD THEY MAKE USING GROUND CORN AND IT LOOKS LIKE SEAWEED WRAPPINGS THE CHINESE USE.

THEY DOMESTICATED TURKEYS, HUNTED DEER, ANTELOPE AND OTHER GAME.WOMEN MADE CLAY BOWLS WITH GEOMETRIC SHAPES. THEY WOVE WOOL AND COTTON BLANKET; MADE BASKETRY FROM VARIOUS REEDS; MADE RABBIT SKIN ROBES; AND FASHIONED TALL LEATHER MOCCASINS. THEY ARE ALSO FAMOUS FOR THEIR SILVERWORK.

THEY HAD CHIEFS AS WELL AS MEDICINE MEN. THEY ENGAGED IN CEREMONIES ALL YEAR LONG IN ORDER TO AFFECT THE WEATHER, FERTILITY OF CROPS, AND ENSURE PLENTIFUL HARVESTS. THEY BELEIVED KATCHINAS WERE SUPERNATURAL SPIRITS IN THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS. ON THE WINTER SOLSTICE THEY BELEIVED KATCHINAS TRAVELLED TO THE HUMANS AND ENTERED HUMAN BODIES STAYING THERE UNTIL SUMMER SOLSTICE. HOPI MEN IMPERSONATE THE KATCHINAS WITH ELABORATE PAINTED MASKS AND PERFORMED MANY DANCES.

NONE OF THE CURRENT HOPI MESAS ARE ON THE EXACT SITES OF THE EARLY 1950'S SITES. TODAY THEY HAVE MODERN DOORS, GLASS WINDOWS AND SOME HAVE ELECTRICITY. THE HOPIS LIVE CLOSEST TO THEIR ANCESTORS. IN FACT, OF ALL THE TRIBES THEY FARM TRADITIONAL CROPS ALONG WITH WHEAT. THEY PRODUCE THEIR CRAFTS FOR TOURISM TRADE. THEIR SILVERWORK IS NOW A SCHOOL ON ONE MESA.

THEY STILL USE THEIR TRADITIONAL RELIGION.THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THEIR TRIBE. ONE GROUP WANTS TO PRESERVE THEIR TRADITIONAL WAYS, WHILE ANOTHER GROUP WANTS TO JOIN MAINSTREAM AMERICA. IT IS AN INNER CONFLICT THAT MANY TRIBES HAVE.

THEIR TRIBAL COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE MONEY FROM THE OIL AND URANIUM OF BIG MOUNTAIN. THE NAVAJOS LIVE ON SOME OF THESE LANDS. HOWEVER THE HOPISWANT THE NAVAJO TO STAY ON THEIR LAND AND NOT BE RELOCATED.

FREDERICK HOXIE