Information about Hopi

Hopi
Total population
Regions with significant populations
United States (Arizona, California)
Languages
English, Hopi
Religions
Traditional beliefs

The Hopi are Native American people who primarily live on the 6,557.262 km² (2,531.773 sq mi) Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona.

The reservation had a 2000 census population of 6,946 persons. Its largest community is First Mesa, Arizona.

According to Hopi legends they are a gathering of many separate tribes from distant areas, now identified by vas and culturally one people. Since the Athabascan migrations from Canada (forming the modern Navajo nation) ending as late as the 15th century they havej been forced into defensible and dense villages on several mesa, in contrast to the Navaho who prefer to live small family groups in widely distributed farmsteads. Thus the Hopi have been townsdwellers for many centuries. The Hopi village of Old Oraibi, located on Third Mesa and founded about the year 1100,is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the United States. Some aspects of the Hopi culture are in common with those of the Tewa puebloan culture.

The Hopi reservation is surrounded by the Navajo reservation. While traditionally the Hopi and the Navaho have considered each other to be "enemies" in various ways they have recently become more cooperative in actions involving environmental, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and economic issues, most notably in political and contractual actions to restrict the withdrawal of groundwater by outside entities, particularly by coal extractors for use in coal slurry transport.

Overview

The name Hopi, is a shortened form of what these Native American people call themselves, Hopi'sinom, or "People Who Live in the Correct Way". The catholic encyclopedia lists the name Hopi as having been derived from "Hopita", meaning those who are "peaceful ones". 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, which involves a state of total reverence and respect for all things, to be at peace with these things, and to live in accordance with the instructions of Maasaw, the Creator or Caretaker of Earth. The Hopi observe their traditional ceremonies for the benefit of the entire world.

Traditionally, Hopi are organized into matrilineal clans. When a man marries, the children from the relationship are members of his wife's clan. The child is named, however, by the women of the father's clan. On the twentieth day of a baby's life, the women of the paternal clan gather, each woman bringing a name and a gift for the child. In some cases where many relatives would attend, a child could be given over forty names, for example. The child may use any of these names or may use a non-Hopi name. A person may also change their name upon initiation into a Kachina society.

The Hopi still practice a complete cycle of traditional ceremonies. These ceremonies take place according to the lunar calendar and are observed in each of the Hopi villages.

Nonetheless, like other Indian groups, the Hopi have not escaped impact by the dominant American culture. The Hopi have been affected by missionary work carried out by several Christian denominations and also by consumerism and alcoholism. However, the effect of missionary work has had relatively little impact on traditional Hopi cultural and religious practices.

Traditionally the Hopi are highly skilled micro or subsistence farmers. The Hopi have also had to deal with the modern cash economy; a not insignificant number of Hopi have regular paying jobs; others earn a living from producing high quality art, traditional crafts—notably the carving and sale of Kachina dolls, highly crafted earthenware ceramic pottery, and other activities such as the design and production of jewelry, notably sterling silver silversmithing.

See also

• Hopi language
• Hopi mythology

Further reading

• Susanne and Jake Page, Hopi, Abradale Press, Harry N. Abrams, 1994, illustrated oversize hardcover, 230 pages, ISBN 0-8109-8127-0, 1982 edition, ISBN 0-8109-1082-9
• Alph Secakuku, "Hopi Kachina Tradition: Following the Sun and Moon" 1995
• New York Times article, "Reggae Rhythms Speak to an Insular Tribe" by Bruce Weber, September 19, 1999

External links

• Official Website of the Hopi Tribe
• (http://www.homolovi.com Official Website of the Homolovi Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society and cooperating association for Homolovi Ruins State Park "The Ancient Gateway to Hopi". Schedule of activities at the park, information concerning the Hopi People, museum shop with books and Native American art.
• The Unwritten Literature of the Hopi by Hattie Greene Lockett''', available at Project Gutenberg.
• Southwest Indians - www.kidzworld.com
• "Hopi Indians". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company. 

References

• Hopi Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Arizona United States Census Bureau