Hopi

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Hopi


Total population

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

The Hopi are a Native American nation who primarily live on the 6,557.262 km² (2,531.773 sq mi) Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. It had a 2000 census population of 6,946 persons. Its largest community is First Mesa, Arizona. The reservation is surrounded by the Navajo reservation.

1 Overview
2 See also
3 Further reading
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Overview

Cliff-perched homes, by Edward S. Curtis, 1906

The name Hopi is a shortened form of the title by which they call themselves, "Hopi'sinom" or "People Who Live in the Proper Way". 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 it in this life. This concept 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 teachings of Maasaw, the Creator or Caretaker of Earth. The Hopi observe their traditional ceremonies for the good of the entire world. They must be done specifically as instructed by the katsinam and are a time when the katsinam visit the Hopi people to see if they are "living in the proper way". If they are following the true way, the katsinam bless them with rain and good crops. These ceremonies also give the elders access to power, which they use to keep the world in balance. Improper use of ceremonies by non-Hopi can waste this power, leading to "Koyaniskatsi" or "World in Chaos" and the destruction of this, the Fourth World.

A few Hopi live on the Colorado River Indian Reservation on the Colorado River in western Arizona; for information, see Mohave.

The traditional Hopi are organized into matrilineal clans. When a man marries, the children from the relationship are members of his wife's clan. However, the child is named 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 gift for the child and a name. The child could be given over forty names! The child may use any of these names or may use an Anglo-style name. A person may also change their name upon initiation into a katsina society.

The Hopi practice 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, particularly the carving and sale of Kachina dolls, highly crafted low fire pottery, and other kwaa traditional crafts such as silversmithing.

The Hopi have been affected by missionary work by several religions and also by consumerism and alcoholism. However, as touched on above, the impact of missionary work has only slightly impacted the Hopis cultural and religious practices. Hopis still practice most of their traditional ceremonies to this day. These ceremonies are centered around a religious calendar and are observed in most of the villages within the Hopi reservation.