Hopi Tribe

Jessica Puchalski

Location

Live in Southwestern part of the United States(present day Arizona and New Mexico)

Lived on top and under mesas, in Pueblos

Climate

Land was a low, flat desert with some high plateaus

It was dry so not much wildlife

Hot during the day and cold at night

Resources

Raised sheep for meet and wool

Used straw, clay and water to build their homes

Coal, sheep dung, wood for cooking and chairs

Used horses for transportation

Economic Lifestyle

In the beginning they were a hunting and gathering group divided into numerous small bands that lived in pit houses

Around 700 A.D. the Hopi became agricultural people growing corn using runoff from the mesas

Decline or Rising Status

Hopi lived on a 1.5 million acre reservation in northeastern Arizona

Have longest history of occupation of a single area by any Native American tribe

Lands were drastically reduced and their current reservation is only 9% of their original land

Originally occupied almost all Northern Arizona from California to parts of Southern Nevada

Migration of Culture

Originally walked

Europeans brought horses to America

The Hopis used the horses and could now travel more quickly than before

Government

Had a theocratic government with a head priest (Kikmongwi) of each village

Today, each Hopi village still has its own kikmongwi, but he is primarily a religious leader

The Hopi nation is now led by an elected tribal council

Hopis live on a reservation, which is land that belongs to them and is under their control

Hopi Nation has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country

Still US citizens and must obey American law

Relationships

Traded with other tribes Southwest (Pueblo tribes for the most part)

Navajos were trading partners at times, but also enemies and invaded Hopi villages

Culture

Hopi children hunted with their fathers

Hopi woman were in charge of their family

Men were in charge of the tribes politics, agriculture and war

Hopis are matrilineal (trace their family through their mothers)

Political leaders and warriors were traditionally always men

Both genders took part in storytelling, music and artwork

Contributions to Society

Came up with dry Farming Method(farming without irrigation)

Developed techniques and practices used by farmers to adapt to the lack of moisture/rainfall

Religion

Held special ceremonies in an underground room called a kiva

Believed in over 300 spirits called Kachinas

They carved Kachina dolls to teach their children the names and powers of spirits

Music

Sang about the kachina

Played drums and flutes

Literature

Hopi is a complex language with long words

Distant relative of the Aztec language

Not related to other Pueblo languages at all

Hopi people speak English today, but still speak their native language as well

Ha’u (hah-uh) means "hello" in Hopi.

Art

Carved Kachina dolls

Made pottery and baskets

Clothing

Girls wore a manta(blanket you wrap around yourself)

Woman also wore cotton robes with a embroidered belt

Hopi men wore breechcloths

Men often wore a sleeveless shirt worn like a poncho, leggings cut off just above the kneees and moccasins made of deer skin

Customs

Held Kachina ceremonies in July

Marriage was a major event in their lives

Weddings take place over six to ten days (include elaborate gift exchanges between the bride and groom’s families)

Each part of her outfit is woven by the groom and the men of his family and given to her as a gift.  

Cuisine

Ate crops such as corn

Bread, beans, melons, gourds, pumpkins and some fruits

Lots of space to plant, but there wasn’t much rain

Hunted meat products such as elk, deer, sheep, rabbit, buffalo

Farming was necessary and a lot of foods came from crops

Education

Passed down legends and fairytales through storytelling (very important to their culture)

Father taught son how to hunt

Children learn from parents

Technology

Hunters used bows and arrows

During wars fired their bows or fought with spears

Tools included wooden farm implements, spindles and looms for weaving cotton (and later wool), and pump drills for boring holes in turquoise and other beads.

Works Cited

http://www.bigorrin.org/hopi_kids.htm

http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=813

http://exhibit.juncanoo.com/p/highlights-of-the-galleries/hopi%20wedding%20manta/

http://www.theinnovationdiaries.com/2110/hopi-dry-land-farming/