Story Hopi Tribe

STORY HOPI TRIBE

(Moki or Moqui) “The Corn People”, the “Peaceful People”

Links: Ancestral Hopi Land ~ The Spanish ~ Fight for the Land ~ Hopi Villages ~

Assault of the Hopi Culture ~ European Diseases ~ The Navajo Aquifer & the Black Mesa Mine ~

New Beginnings ~

Ancestral Hopi Land

The Hopi Ancestral Land is called the Tutsqua (18 million acres). The

Tutsqua ranged from the Grand Canyon in the west, north to the Navajo Mountain

(Toko’navi), east to the Lukachukai Mountains (near the AZ/NM border) and

south to the Mongollon Rim. The Hopi people are descendents of the Hisatishnom

(Anasazi). The Hopi have lived on the Tutsqua since 500 CE. This is verified by

petroglyphs, clan markings and sacred sites which are found throughout the area.

They are the only Native American People in the US who have continuously occupied

their homeland for over 1500 years. By 700 CE they were living in pit houses

and growing crops (varieties of corn/beans/squash/cotton) on Antelope Mesa

(south of present day Keams Canyon). From 900 CE to 1100 CE (contemporary

with the Chaco Culture) they began building “above ground” masonry villages on

the Three Mesas at Orabi, Awatovi and other sites. They were connected by

roadways to other Hisatishnom Communities such as Chaco Canyon, Canyon de

Chelly, Aztec, Mesa Verde, Betatakin, and Wupatki. They also traveled to Mexico

on trading expeditions and cultural exchanges. After the drought of the 1200’s

Hopi people of the “three mesas” left their smaller villages and merged into the

larger Hopi communities. At that time they had a decidedly advanced Hopi culture

and society, based on their religion. Their religion has a facet called the Katsina

Cult. The Hopi are/were expert horticulturists, primarily using “dry land” agricultural

techniques. Their water has always been obtained form natural springs. They were

the only American Indians to use coal which was abundant on the “Black Mesa”

where they lived.

~ Ancestral Hopi Land ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~

The Spanish

The first contact with non-Indians to the area were the Spanish in 1540.

The Conquistador Coronado led an expedition into New Mexico and Arizona

looking for the “Seven Cities of Gold”. The expedition led to the Zuni Pueblo

(near present day Gallup NM) where the people defied the Spanish and their

village was sacked. Next Coronado sent Tover to the villages of the Hopi. When

Tover tried to enter the Hopi village of Kawaioka the people resisted and their

village was destroyed. The Hopis for the next 90 years were forced to accept

Spanish Church/State rule or be annihilated. The Spanish Catholic Franciscans

established a mission at the Hopi Village of Awatovi in 1592 (six years before

the arrival of the first Spanish Settlers to New Mexico in 1598). At the time of the

Pueblo Revolt (1680) the Hopi destroyed the mission at Awalovi and killed the

priests. The Pueblo People drove the Spanish from New Mexico and Arizona.

However the Spanish returned twelve years later to New Mexico and Arizona to

re-conquer the Pueblos and occupy the land. In 1692 the Catholics re-established

the mission at Awatovi. Because the Catholics had tried to eradicate the Hopi

religion, language and culture the other Hopi Villagers protested their presence.

When the Awatovi Villagers refused to remove the Catholics, Hopi Warriors

destroyed their village (1709), killed the men and distributed the women and

children among other villages. Only ruins are left of Awatovi.

~ The Spanish ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~

Fight for the Land

The land grab of the Hopi Tustsqua by the Navajo began when they

obtained sheep and horses from the Spanish after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. While

living on their homeland of Dinetah (Northwest New Mexico) the Navajo were

hunter-gather nomads living in small groups connected more by language than

a defined culture. The horse enabled the Navajo to range farther in hunting and

battle. Now the smaller groups banded together, moving west and south searching

for range land. Because sheep require large range lands for summer and winter

grazing the Navajo began to encroach on the Hopi Tutsqua. Some Navajo established

themselves on unauthorized homesteads, seizing farm and range lands and water

resources for their large herds of sheep. Hopi delegations traveled to Santa Fe (in

1754, 1757, 1776, 1818 and 1820) requesting military protection against the Navajo

from the Spanish Governor, but no avail. When the Republic of Mexico defeated Spain

and the Hopi became subjects of Mexico (1821) the Hopi sought help from the Mexican

Governor at Santa Fe against the marauding Navajo Bands (1823, 1833 and 1836). The

Mexican military fought with the Navajo but it did not deter their continual movement

onto Hopi Land. In 1846 the United States defeated the Republic of Mexico claiming all

Mexican Territory in the US. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1846) between the

Republic of Mexico and the United States recognized the rights of the Hopi ancestral land

areas and the US agreed to protect the Hopi. Again the Hopi requested military help

against the Navajo, this time from the United States, who built Fort Defiance AZ in 1851,

but even this did not protect the Hopi. No permanent action was taken by the US against

the Navajo until the Navajo were sent to a reservation at Bosque Redondo at Ft. Sumner

NM “The Long Walk” (1963-1968). After the survivors returned from the wretched

reservation at Bosque Redondo they too started encroaching on Hopi lands.

At the time the Hopi Reservation was established in 1882 the United States only

allotted a small portion of the original Hopi Tutsqua (2.5 million acres) for the Hopi

Reservation. It was rectangular in shape and included the three mesas and surrounding

land (70 miles long north to south and 55 miles wide east to west). By this time (1882)

hundreds of Navajo squatters were living within the boundaries of the Hopi Reservation

which was now adjacent to the Navajo Reservation (included the original 1868 Navajo

Reservation and two other blocks of land added in 1878 and 1880). Now most of the

Tutsqua lie outside the Hopi Reservation boundaries, such as the Village of Moenkopi,

ancestral burial sites, areas where they gathered medicinal plants, sacred sites and the

thousand year old boundary markers (petroglyphys). By 1934 the Navajo Reservation

had expanded until it surrounded the Hopi Reservation. The next land acquisition of

Hopi land by the Navajo was proposed by the Navajo Tribal Counsel when it passed a

resolution to establish grazing districts on the Hopi Reservation to prevent over grazing

on the Navajo Reservation (BIA approved it in 1937). Fifteen Land Management Grazing

Districts were established on the Hopi Reservation giving the Hopi exclusive use of only

one district, District #6 (650,000 acres or 9% of the original Tutsqua). The other 14

districts were to be shared equally by both tribes. This was called the Joint Use Area

(JUA). It failed to settle the Hopi-Navajo land dispute. Fearing the complete loss of all

Hopi land, the Hopi fought back using the US Courts to settle the ongoing dispute.

There were many attempts by the Hopi to gain back the lands of the original 1882

reservation. Finally in 1974 Congress passed the Navajo-Hopi Settlement Act which

divided the Hopi grazing districts equally between the Hopi and Navajo (Hopi

Partitioned Land (HPL) and Navajo Partitioned Land (NPL)). Hopis living on the NPL

were moved to the HPL, and the Navajo were moved off the HPL and relocated to other

parts of the Navajo Reservation. Some Navajo resistors still remain on Hopi Land, but

they have a court mandated time to leave the Hopi Reservation. Reconciliation has been

reached by the two Tribes to enter the other’s lands without a permit for traditional

religious purposes.

~ Fight for the Land ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~

Hopi Villages

The twelve Hopi Villages are independently organized based on Hopi tradition.

The people of the villages are divided into 34 clans. The clan affiliation is determined

through the linage of the mother. The Clan Leaders are the “keepers” of the culture and

religion. They work together with the Kikmongwi. Each village has a leader called

“Kikmongwi”. The Kikmongwi is in charge of village religious and secular matters, and

overseas the lands of the village and clans. Each of the twelve villages has it’s own form

of government. Orabi the most traditional village is governed by a Kikmongwi. Nine of

the villages have a western-style administration, and three of those villages have adopted

a constitution. The Hopi Tribal Council was formed in 1935 organized under the rules of

the US 1934 IRA (Indian Reorganization Act). The Hopi Constitution was adopted in 1935.

Many traditional Hopi people object to this western-style of organization and some Villages

decline to elect delegates to the Hopi Tribal Counsel. The Hopi Tribal Counsel is a

representative legislative assembly of elected delegates from nine of the villages. The Tribal

Counsel deals with tribal business and acts as a liaison between the villages, and the State

and US Government Agencies which operate out of their administrative town, Keams Canyon.

~ Hopi Villages ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~

Assault of the Hopi Culture

The US was determined to “Americanize” all American Indians, including the Hopi,

and eradicate their religion, culture and language. After the Hopi Indian Reservation was

established (1882) the federal Government required that the Hopi use western agricultural

practices instead of their traditional centuries old, dry land farming. Children were forced

to attend military-style boarding schools. At these schools children were severely punished

for speaking their Hopi language or displaying any aspects of Hopi culture or religion. In

1894-1895 nineteen Hopi men called “Hostiles” were taken prisoner and sent to Alcatraz for

refusing to follow these policies. The “hostiles” acquiesced but on their return they and the

rest of the Tribe continued to resist and instead followed their traditional ways

~ Assault of the Hopi Culture ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~

European Diseases

Thousands of Hopi people were killed by devastating diseases, in particular smallpox,

brought by the Spanish and other Europeans. Epidemics occurred in the mid 1600’s, 1780

and 1858.

~ European Diseases ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~

The Navajo Aquifer and the Black Mesa Mine

When the Black Mesa Mining operations closed on January 1, 2006, it was a victory

for grassroots organizations on the Hopi and Navajo Reservation. They saved the “Navajo

Aquifer”. For years the Hopi and Navajo have worked together with local and national

environmental groups to protect the water. This aquifer is the only source of water on the

Black Mesa Plateau. It is the origin of the natural springs which the Hopi and Navajo deem

sacred. It all started in the 1960’s when the Hopi and Navajo Tribal Councils leased tribal

lands to Peabody Western Coal Company (PWCC). In 1965 two strip mine operations

began, one at Kayenta AZ (coal shipped to the power plant by rail) and the other at Black

Mesa Mine. Potable water from the Navajo Aquifer was used to slurry coal from the Black

Mesa Mine through a 273 mile long pipeline to the Mohave Generating Station in Nevada.

After 40 years of mining Peabody Energy had taken 60% of the water from the Navajo

Aquifer. Over the years breaks occurred along the pipeline and hundreds of tons of coal

slurry leaked and dropped, contaminating the land and stream beds. In 2002 the people’s

outrage led to resolutions passed by both the Hopi and Navajo Tribal Councils to prohibit

the use of the Navajo Aquifer to slurry coal after Dec. 31,2005. The Mohave Generation

Station was closed for refusing to stop the pollution.

~ The Navajo Aquifer & the Black Mesa Mine ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~

New Beginnings

The fallout of the mine closure has caused economic hardships for both Tribes. The

Black Mesa Mine had generated 75% of the revenue for the Hopi Tribe and 40% for the

Navajo Tribe. 200+ jobs were lost. There in an enormous supply of coal on the Black Mesa

but many obstacles stand in the way of coal mining on Hopi Land again.

The Hopi Tribal Government is currently working toward sustainable economic

development that will promote Hopi owned business enterprises, create jobs and

provide an income for the Tribe. They have completed many of their objectives and

continue to plan for the future.

(1) Hopi Health Care Center in Polacca, a critical Access Hospital.

(2) Continental Plaza Shopping Center in Flagstaff AZ

(3) Industrial Park in Winslow AZ – rail, freight and air access –

(4) Hopis are also involved with “The Sunshine Wind Farm” near Flagstaff AZ.

(5) Hopi Tribe Educational Endowment Fund provides Scholarships

(6) The Hopi Land Team is reclaiming Hopi ancestral land, and

acquiring other properties for the tribe

Agriculture has always been the mainstay of the Hopis. They currently grow corn,

beans, squash, cotton and tobacco. They also herd sheep. The Hopi Endowment Fund

sponsored a project to restore a 100 year old orchard. Further agricultural development

is limited due to the lack of water

The Hopis are reorganizing the education system, and taking control of their school

system, which has been under the direction of the BIA. They are addressing the housing

shortage and promoting safe communities.

“The Native Sun” is a Hopi solar enterprise which provides an alternative source of

energy for people who want to live “off the grid” or those living in remote areas.

It is estimated that 40% of the Hopi People augment their income by making and

selling handiwork. There are galleries on the Hopi Reservation that sell their work. Two

markets sponsor shows of the local artists and craftsmen, the Hopi Pa’tava Arts and Crafts

Market and the Tuhisma Arts & Crafts Market.

The Hopi Foundation (1985) promoted the first Hopi Radio Station “KUYI” (Dec.

2000), and “Gentle Rain Designs” a clothing company started by unemployed Hopi women,

This non-profit foundation provides funding for local Hopi projects. They are also involved

with the restoration of ancient ceremonial clan houses, and preservation of the Hopi language

On the Third Mesa is the Hopi Tribal Headquarters Building which houses the Hopi

Tribe Cultural Preservation Office and the Veterans Center. The Hopi Culture Center, a

Restaurant and an Inn is located on The Second Mesa

Their holy ceremonies take place year around. The first half of the year they have

Katsina Dances and the second half the non-Katsina Ceremonies.

~ New Beginnings ~ Story HOPI TRIBE ~