Hopi tribe lives on Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona, USA
The Hopi are a Native American nation who primarily live on the 1.5 million acre (6,000 km˛) Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The reservation is surrounded by the Navajo reservation.
The name Hopi is a shortened form of the title to what they called themselves, Hopituh Sinom, "the people of Hopi". Hopi is a concept deeply rooted in the culture's religion, spirituality, and its view of morality and ethics. To be Hopi is to strive toward this concept, but no one ever achieves in this life. This concept is one where you are in a state of total reverance and respect for all things, to be at peace with these things, and to live in accordance with the teachings of maasaw.
A few Hopi live on the Colorado River Indian Reservation on the Colorado River in western Arizona.
The traditional Hopi are organized into matrilineal clans. When a man marries, the children from the relationship are members of his wife's clan. The Bear Clan is one of the more prominent clans.
The Hopi, more than most Native American peoples, retain and continue to practice their traditional ceremonial culture. However, like other tribes, they are severely impacted by the ambient American culture. Traditionally the Hopi were highly skilled subsistence farmers. With the installation of electricity and the necessity of having a motor vehicle and the other things which can be purchased, the Hopi have been moving into a cash economy with many people seeking and holding outside jobs as well as earning money from traditional crafts.
The Hopi have been affected by missionary work by several religions and also by consumerism and alcoholism. Nevertheless there remains a traditionalist core.
Hopi is an Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Hopi people of northeastern Arizona, although today some Hopi are monolingual English speakers.
The use of the language gradually declined over the course of the 20th century. In 1990, it was estimated that over 5,000 other people could speak Hopi natively, at least 40 of them monolingual.
Despite the fact that relatively few people can speak Hopi, it is very unlikely that it will face the danger of extinction in the near future, as the language is making a comeback. Many Hopi children are being raised in the language, a comprehensive Hopi-English dictionary has been published, and a group called the Hopi Literacy Project has focused its attention on promoting the language.
Kokopelli is a god worshipped by many southwestern tribes. He is a humpbacked flutist. Among the Hopi, he brought the fetuses to pregnant women, and took part in many rituals relating to marriage.
Muyingwa is the god of germination.
Taiowa is the creator god. He made Sotuknang, the first person and ordered him to make the universe. The first world was called Tokpela and had land, water and air, as well as Koyangwuti, who then created twins, Poqanghoya and Palongawhoya. They made rivers, oceans and mountains. Koyangwuti then made all organisms, but most of the men did not obey the gods, so Sotuknang killed them with a flood. Two more bad worlds were created and destroyed. The fourth world, the modern world, is Tuwaqachi.
Tokpela was the endless, primordial space before creation.
Kachinas are masked dolls, symbolizing the spirits of deceased persons. Good people go west and become kachinas, but there is no absolute connection between the former soul and the kachina (i.e. each doll does not represent a particular deceased person).
What's New:
Zia Pueblo
The Zia Pueblo Indians have continuously occupied Zia Pueblo since about 1250 A. D. The Pueblo of Zia is part of the Keres Nation. The traditional language is Keresan, but many speak Spanish, some speak Navajo, and most also speak English.
Tonita Pena (Tonita Vigil), San Ildefonso Peublo (1895-1949) Quah Ah (White Coral Beads) was the first Pueblo woman artist to throw off the traditional restrictions that were usually imposed upon women in Pueblo culture, and paint just as freely as her esthetic sensitivity directed.
Pueblo family forced to bury twice The family of a deaf Laguna Pueblo woman was forced to hold two burial ceremonies for her because of a state oversight.
Hopi Kachina Dolls (Katsina) or Tihu and the katsina society ceremonial dances Hopi kachinas (or katsinas as the Hopi people call them) are supernatural beings who live among the evergreens of the San Francisco Peaks south of the Hopi Mesas, and at the Spring of the Shadows to the east. From these cloud homes, they travel to the villages several times a year and appear in many elaborate kachina dances.
Visiting the Three Mesas of the Hopi Reservation The Hopi villages are divided into three areas called mesas. Here is a visitor's guide to the mesas which comprise the Hopi Reservation and some tips on travel accomodations and etiquette when visiting these areas.
AAA Native Arts Newsletter
Keep informed of upcoming native events, current news, and What's New on our website. Sign up Here
