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Basic
Instructions 666 Hopi Affirmation Pages
HOPI: The Real Thing
Below are links to parts
of various Hopi Pages, Red
Highlights by Don, as "foundational
truths". Blue
Highlights are
close to foundationally true, and somewhat on point to now.
The Hopi, or Hopituh Shi-nu-mu, "The Peaceful People" or "Peaceful
Little Ones," call their ancestors Hisatsinom, ("ee-SAH-tse-nom"),
which means the ancient ones.
The Navajo use
the word Anasazi, which means ancient enemies. As Hopi
they have lived in the Four Corners area for at least 1,000 years.
Oraibi, AZ was settled in 1050 and is the oldest consistently occupied
community in North America. Wherever they have lived, the Hopi have
always been the Hopi. It is the scientists who use other names.
A division of the Hopi, first of three prophesied, took place in 1906
when Chief You-kew-ma and his followers were forced out of Oraibi by
a pushing contest and began the new community of Hotevilla.
| The meaning of the name Hopi
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How the Hopi Were Named
This is a very long story, so here are the basics.
When the Hopi were first created they had no name. They were created
with everlasting life and placed upon the earth to live as one, spiritually.
All was provided for them; they did not work for their food, there
was no illness, and they were to live forever.
They were given laws to live by, but they broke them. For this disobedience
they were changed into body and soul, sickness came into their bodies,
and they became mortal.
Some wanted to live simply, but others used cleverness to make things
that were not good for them. Those who wanted only peace emerged into
a new world. In this new, beautiful world the Great Spirit, Maasau'u,
came to visit them and to test their wisdom.
The people were divided into groups, each with their own leaders that
they had chosen. Then Maasau'u placed ears of corn of different lengths
in front of each leader.
As each leader pushed forward to grab the biggest ear of corn the
Great Spirit gave that group a name and a language.
The humblest leader picked the shortest ear of corn, and the name "Hopi" was
given to those people: the little ones.
Hopi means to be humble and peaceful, but if the people do not live
the Hopi way the name will be taken from them.
The Origin
The Hopi base their existence on faith only, and their story is a
fascinating tale of that faith sustaining them: "White men come,
white men go, but we shall always be here."
According to Hopi beliefs, this is the fourth creation of life; the three
preceeding ending in destruction. Each time conflict, which is not a
part of The
Hopi Way, came about as men forgot or denied the plan of
the Creator. The faithful were protected underground with the ant
people, and the kivas of today are representations of those
anthills.
The Hopi creation story is about a succession through underworlds
and each of these is associated with a specific direction, color, mineral,
plant, and bird.
- The First World: "Endless Space" contained the First
People and was a pure and happy universe. It was destroyed by fire.
- The Second World: "Dark Midnight" was destroyed by cold
and ice. The Chosen People survived in an anthill and then climbed
up a ladder into the third world.
- The Third World was destroyed by floods. Spider Woman saved these
ancestors by hiding them in reeds and floating them to dry land into
the Fourth World.
- The Fourth World: "The World Complete." The caretaker
of this world is Masau'u, The Fire God. This world is unlike
the previous three, which have been blocked by waters and ice. In
the past worlds they had been well-provided for, but the fourth world
has proven to be harsh, with deserts, marshes, mountains, and violent
weather. The Hopi say this world is now ending and the Fifth World
has begun.
For a source of research, a book entitled The
Truth has some unusual ideas. There are other articles connected
to this link, and a story of a trip down the Colorado River 90 years
ago which led to the discovery of the Hopi connection with Egypt and
Tibet.
The Journey
The story of the Hopi journeys shows knowledge that is a study in
itself. They speak of struggling through jungles, of building cities
and leaving ruins behind. We continue to trace these connections.
The Hopi say that their ancestors migrated from many places and settled
near the Grand Canyon. Their story is an interesting one that is also
partly covered in the Chaco Canyon
article.
The cliff paintings at Chaco Canyon and Mesa
Verde are guides for Hopi clansmen to follow, and they claim
to have built the snake-shaped mounds in the eastern United States.
A common thread weaves its way across this continent to lend substance
to this amazing story: The "putting on of the horns," which
is the phrase used by the Iroquois to denote attaining chief status,
is also of the Hopi, and many other tribes.
An interesting note to all these connections: Tibet is exactly on
the opposite side of the planet from the Hopi Reservation. The
Tibetan word for "sun" is the Hopi word for "moon." The
Hopi word for "sun" is the Tibetan word for "moon."
Language
There are many relationships with other peoples, both in the area,
and afar, that can be traced by the language. The Hopi language is
of the Uto-Aztecan family, which is closely related to the Northern
Paiute and the Aztecs of Mexico, and the Hopi dialect is Shoshone.
Many Pueblo people along the Rio Grande speak the Tanoan languages,
which are of the second branch of the Azteco-Tanoan group. This is
also the language of the Kiowa. Others in the same area speak Keresan
languages, which belong to the Hokan-Siouan group. The Hopi recognize
a distant relationship with all the peoples along the Rio Grande as
well as with the Pima and Papago. The Kiowa-Apache share a language
group with the Hopi, which leads full circle to the Navajo. An article
connecting all these peoples by language is forth-coming, and far-reaching
research has led to Ireland. There will be many family trees shaken.
A continuing mystery of the area are the Zuni, whose way of life is
very like the Hopi, but who speak a language unlike any other Native
American Indian peoples. Strangely enough, research of the Zuni has
led to a Libyan connection. More to follow.
The Hopi Way
The Hopi Way is one of peace and is holistic; their name Hopituh
Shi-nu-mu, can be interpreted as "The Peaceful Little People." All
of daily life is part of their religion, and their belief is to help
others improve their life.
Twelve clan groups, called phratries, have many clans within
them, each with its own ceremonies and sacred fetishes. Though men
are the religious leaders, the children inherit the clan of their mother.
Though the men own the livestock and the fruit trees, the women own
all the land, even that under the fruit trees. As many as 24 varieties
of corn are grown and due to arid conditions the roots may grow 20
feet down. Each plant has many ears of corn. To supplement the staple
of corn the Hopi gather more than 100 wild plants.
Kivas are the center of religious life and are mostly used by the
men. Stone walls line the underground chambers and a hole sipapu in
the floor of the kiva symbolizes the exit from the ant people's domain.
Religion
Religion is life for the Hopi and binds the village into a solid community.
Most ceremonies relate to rain. Katsinas or kachinas, of
which there are about 350, are the guarding spirits that come down from
their world at winter solstice, remaining in the people until summer
solstice.
Instruction in the Hopi religion begins at an early age for the children.
Dolls called tithu are given them to represent the katsinum. These
are not toys, but reminders. First of these given to the child represents Hahai'i
wuhti, the mother of the katsinum.
Through childhood obedience is instilled by rewards and punishments,
which includes whippings administered by men in katsina masks. To the
children these are the true katsinas. Somewhere between the ages of
8 to 13 the men behind the masks reveal themselves to the child and
so begins their initiation into the adult world; they will become the
men behind the masks.
The religious dances also feature men wearing masks to portray these
katsinas, with the snake dance as the final ceremony. There is a prophecy
tied to the katsina dancers: When the Saquasohuh (Blue Star)
katsina removes his mask in front of the uninitiated all Hopi ceremonies
will end and faith will end also. A renewing will take place in Oraibi,
beginning a new cycle of Hopi life.
Saquasohuh is believed by some to represent the Hale-Bopp comet.
The Wuwuchim ceremony includes a song that tells of this, and
this song was sang in 1914, preceeding WWI, in 1940, pre WWII, and
again in 1961. The Hopi say that the emergence into the Fifth World
of the future has begun.
There are nine prophecies connected with the nine worlds. Four have
been fulfilled by the previous three worlds and the present world;
the Fifth is being fulfilled. The future prophecies are of the worlds
to come, and the world of the Creator, Taiowa, and Sotuknang, the
Creator's nephew.
The Hopi wear their hair in bangs as a window to recognize the True
White Brother, and also as a sign for him to recognize them.
SEE: Ancient
Prophecies
The Ceremonial Calendar
Preparation for the ceremonies begins in the kivas, some of which
are rectangular, with the eastern pueblos kivas being round or oval.
Prayer is offered before the altar, and sacred cornmeal, tobacco, and
feathered prayer-sticks are used in this offering. Tobacco smoke is
rain clouds.
The ceremonial dancers send a prayer to the spirits below by stamping
on a cottonwood covering of the sipapu before coming out to dance.
The Crier Chief comes forth to announce all ceremonies. Kachina dances
begin with the dance leader following "grandfather" into
the plaza. Drummers join in and all move in a counter-clockwise direction,
with the dance leader in the center. In the social dances the singers
and drummers remain apart.
- NOVEMBER: Wuwuchim is a 16 day ceremony which is the first
of a three-part celebration of the creation of the universe. The
religious societies perform the New Fire ceremony in their respective
kivas, and the young men are initiated into the tribe.
- DECEMBER: Soyal is the appearance of the first kachina at
Winter Solstice. He wears a turquoise helmet and walks like a toddler,
representing the rebirth of new life.
- FEBRUARY: Powamu, which means "purification",
includes the bean dance and the initiation of the small children
into the tribal societies. Monsters enter the village and go to each
house, threatening to eat children who have misbehaved, and demanding
fresh meat.
(It is my opinion that these monsters represent hunger and
the lesson of preparing for winter is well-taught.)
In photos I have seen these men are fully dressed in leggings, footwear,
and robes. They are wearing masks with long beaks and many teeth,
and headdresses of feathers. Each was carrying a bow. In the kivas
beans are sprouted and this is the proof of life in the middle of
winter.
(Another opinion: Perhaps these beans are sprouted by holding them
under the armpits. Sprouting seeds doubles their nutrition and this
is a clever way to survive without firewood.)
- MARCH through JUNE: Plaza dances.
- JULY: Niman, is the Home Dance, another 16 day ceremony.
These are the last dances of the kachinas before they return to their
spirit home. Hemis is tha main kachina in the Niman dance.
- AUGUST: In alternate years either the
Snake
Dance, or the Flute
Dance is performed.
SEPTEMBER: Lakon, a basket dance, and Marawu.These
are the first of the women's societies dances. These celebrate the
completion and the harvesting of the crops, and are also curative.
OCTOBER: Owaqlt, a basket dance by the women's societies.
This is the close of the yearly cycle and again in November the creation
dances begin.
Hopi Snake Dance
The Snake Dance requires two weeks of ritual preparation, and the
snakes are gathered. They are kept watch over by children until time
for the dance. By percentage of the local snake population most are
rattlesnakes, but all are handled freely.
The dancers then take an emetic and dance with the snakes in their
mouths, with an Antelope Priest in attendance. He strokes the snakes
with a feather and sometimes helps support the weight of the larger
snakes. After the dance the snakes are released to carry prayers. According
to people who have investigated, the emetics are not an anti-venom.
Hopi Flute Dance
The Flute Dance is a nine-day ceremony that begins at the main village
spring, with the Flute Boy and the Flute Maidens followed by the Flute
Priests. Then the Flute Society enters the plaza walking over sacred
cornmeal, which represents rain clouds. This group is led by the Kaletaka, the
warrior.
Hopi Clowns
The sacred clowns of the Hopi have a unique function in their society
and the religious right to enact by negative example what should not
be done. Humiliation and ridicule are their methods, and no one is
immune to their rudeness. Stripping another naked is not going too
far. Misbehavior of people in the community is dramatized, and the
culprit takes the hint.
The clowns are the ultimate tradition keepers. If work needs to be
done the clowns recruit the workers. They cannot be denied.
White ways, such as money, missionaries, and teachers sent to the
Hopi have been the subject of the clowns' derision.
In the 1960's an unusual drama was inspired. An eerie sound was made
by twirling a piece of hose, and two aluminum pie tins were thrown
over the houses. The clowns came down from the clouds (over the rooftops)
dressed in shiny silver and painted green, demanding to be taken to
the leaders. All this was done to make fun of a leader at a nearby
village who was making a public uproar about UFO's.
Many Hopi ceremonies were photographed in 1904 - 1906, but beginning
in 1911 all cameras were forbidden. This now includes recording and sketching
of Hopi villages and ceremonies. At last report 10 of the villages no
longer allow visitors for religious ceremonies. Some are closed entirely.
- The Hopi Stone-Eater Kachina: Owanja-Zrozro (The Mad One) is their
deity to the reality of psychiatric disorder.
- The Hopi place of emergence "Sipayu" is now almost closed
because man has departed from true ways.
- The
Hale-Bopp comet
is considered to be an end-time sign.
To the Hopi the present world is the fourth; to the Navajo the
present world is the fifth.
The Hopi must escape to above worlds because of flood - or contamination.
The Hopi and Navajo have these beliefs in common:
- Sandpainting for sale always contains errors so as not to offend
the higher powers.
- The PLEIADES Constellation is painted on Black God's cheek. He
arranged these "star rocks" in the night sky.
- Origin myths are not to be recorded, only told to the initiated.
This has changed, and peoples from all around the planet are coming
forth with ancient teachings.
- Bad behavior explained: "He doesn't know any better, he had
no grandfather to give him the stories."
The Hopi Today
In 1882, President Chester A. Arthur "settled" the land dispute
with the Navajo/Hopi
Partition and the Hopi reservation was established along the southern
end of Black Mesa, where families had lived at least 650 years ago (circa
1340). Now they are completely surrounded by the Navajo Reservation.
SEE: MAP
What the map does not show is there is a small Navajo Reservation inside the
Hopi Reservation.
Because land is part of each tribe's religion complications arose
concerning the use of land by people living on land that is considered
to be holy. And so came about The
Bennett Freeze. Nobody is happy.
All tribes have factions. There has always been the concept of "friendly" as
opposed to "hostile." Here are generalized definitions of
those:
- The "friendlies" are the people who used to hang around
the trading posts and forts, and who are today the tribal leaders
who argue semantics and deal with the U.S government. Many of the
traditionalist people, the "hostiles," do not consider
these leaders as representatives.
- The "hostiles" are the traditionalists who own a digging
stick and live on faith and 5 to 10 inches of rain a year. They do
not want their land mined by anyone, they do not want electrical
lines strung, as these are the "cobwebs" in their prophecies,
and they are not interested in "outside" help, or outside
opinions.
With that in mind you will understand these figures better: The Hopi
annual budget is about $28 million, with one-half of that coming from
the U.S. Federal Budget, and the other main revenue is from the Peabody
Coal Company.
Hopi Villages
This is on-going research and far from complete:
There are eleven Hopi villages in
NE Arizona on Black Mesa, a rock
land table, and the major ones are
on three high mesas. The current
Hopi population is between 10,000
and 12,000, and some information
says that there are 12 villages.
We will have further information
on the origin and development of
these villages.
Each Hopi village is independent,
with its own style of government.
Style of crafts vary by village,
but Kachina dolls (tithu) are
made by all. Any dolls that are sold
always have errors in them, as the
true tithu are not for sale.
First and Third Mesa are separated
by 15 miles, with a total land area
of about 500 square miles. The names
in parentheses are the commonly used
Anglo spelling according to pronunciation.
First Mesa: Their
craft specialty is polychrome pottery.
- Waalpi:
- Hanoki: (Hano or Tewa) This village
was founded by refugees after the
1680 Pueblo Revolt.
- Sitsomovi (Sichomovi)
Second Mesa: Craft specialty is silver overlay
jewelry and coiled basketry.
- Songoopavi (Shongopavi)
- Musungnuvi (Mishongnovi)
- Supawlavi (Shipaulovi)
Third Mesa: Craft specialty is wicker and twill
basketry.
- Hoatvela (Hotevilla): This is
a newer community A division of
the Hopi, first of three prophesied,
took place in 1906 when Chief You-kew-ma
and his followers were forced out
of Oraibi by a pushing contest
and began the new community of
Hotevilla.
- Paaqavi (Bacavi)
- Munqapi (Moencopi)(Moenkopi) This is an outlying village.
- Kiqotsmovi (Kykotsmovi)
- Orayvi (Oraibi)
Many of the villages are now closed to visitors for the religious
ceremonies and it is best to inquire first. Photos, sketching, and
video and sound recording are prohibited, and questions are disrespectful.
The Hopi share some religious beliefs with other tribes, but there
is no world like the Hopi and it must be seen first-hand. Anthropologists
agree that the Hopi are "the real thing."
If you have read this far and want to really know the Hopi, see our Links
Page.
Also Techqua IkachiThe Official
Hopi Newsletter
My research on the above page is a bare glimpse at the Hopi Way, and
much of it is through eyes that are not Hopi. As with all of The Four
Corners Postcard, research on these pages continues, and updates are
forthcoming.
For further visitor information contact:
Hopi Tribe's Office of Public Relations:
Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039
Telephone 520-734-2441
Ext. 190 or 191.
| Hopi Cultural Center:
Box 67, Second Mesa, AZ 86043
Telephone 520-734-2401
|
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