Hopi

The Hopi are Native Americans who mainly live in northeastern Arizona. Most belong to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and live on the Hopi Reservation, but some are part of the Colorado River Indian Tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation near the border of Arizona and California.

According to the 2010 U.S. census, about 19,338 people in the United States identify as Hopi. The Hopi language is part of the larger Uto-Aztecan language family. Hopi society is organized into matrilineal clans, meaning children are born into their mother's clan.

The Hopi view their land as sacred and see themselves as caretakers of the land passed down from their ancestors. Farming plays a big role in their way of life and economy. Their homes and buildings share traits with other nearby Pueblo tribes. Big community buildings called Pueblo Great Houses include living spaces, storage areas, and special rooms for religious activities known as kivas.

The Hopi have a long history, dating back to the Ancestral Pueblo people, who built large apartment-like structures in the Four Corners area covering parts of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Today, Hopi villages sit on top of mesas in northern Arizona. In 1882, President Chester A. Arthur created an Indian reservation for the Hopi, though it was smaller than the nearby, very large Navajo Reservation.

Name

The word Hopi means "behaving one" or someone who is mannered, civilized, and peaceable. The Hopi believe in living politely and following the Hopi Way. This idea is very important in their culture, religion, and how they see right and wrong. To be Hopi is to respect all things, live in peace, and follow the teachings of Maasaw, the Creator or Caretaker of Earth. The Hopi hold special ceremonies for the good of the whole world.

Early history

Oraibi

Old Oraibi is one of the four original Hopi villages. It was founded before the year 1100 and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited villages in the United States. In the 1540s, the village had between 1,500 to 3,000 residents.

Early European contact, 1540–1680

The first Europeans to meet the Hopi were Spanish explorers in 1540. A Spanish general named Francisco Vásquez de Coronado sent a group to visit the Hopi villages. They visited a place called Awatovi and met many Hopi people. Later, another Spanish explorer named García López de Cárdenas also met the Hopi and was welcomed. In the 1580s, another Spanish group visited and counted five Hopi villages.

Pueblo Revolt of 1680

Main article: Pueblo Revolt

The Spanish tried to change the Hopi's ways and made them work hard. This made the Hopi very unhappy. In 1680, many Pueblo groups, including the Hopi, worked together to push the Spanish away. They removed the Spanish from their land and destroyed churches built by the Spanish. It took many years for the Spanish to return, and they never fully controlled the Hopi again.

Hopi-U.S. relations, 1849–1946

In 1849, a U.S. official named James S. Calhoun was in charge of relations with Native American tribes in the Southwest. The first meeting between the Hopi people and the U.S. government happened in 1850, when seven Hopi leaders traveled to meet with Calhoun. They asked for help to protect themselves from the Navajo, another tribe who lived nearby.

The U.S. built a fort in 1851 and sent soldiers to deal with the Navajo. For a short time, this helped the Hopi feel safer. Later, a group called the Mormons tried to live among the Hopi and share their beliefs.

Education

In 1875, some Hopi leaders visited Washington, D.C., and were shown around the city. Later, a school was built for Hopi children far from their homes. The school wanted to teach children English and new ways of living, but many Hopi families did not want their children to leave their villages or give up their traditions.

Hopi land

The Hopi people lived in villages spread across northern Arizona. In 1882, the U.S. government created a special area called a reservation for the Hopi. This land helped protect them from people moving in, but there were still problems with the Navajo over land.

Oraibi split

Some Hopi people supported the school, while others did not. This caused disagreement in one village, Oraibi. Eventually, some people left to form a new village called Hotevilla.

Federal recognition

In the early 1900s, the U.S. government set up schools, missions, farms, and clinics on Native American reservations. They also helped each reservation create its own police force, courts, and a leader to represent them to the government. In 1924, Congress made all Native Americans U.S. citizens through the Indian Citizenship Act.

In 1934, the Hopi created their own constitution under the Indian Reorganization Act. This constitution helped them form their own tribal government, and in 1936, they elected a Tribal Council. The Hopi constitution talks about their land, members, and how their government is organized into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Hopi–Navajo land disputes

Further information: Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation

From the 1940s to the 1970s, the Navajo people moved closer to Hopi land. This caused the Hopi to ask the U.S. government for help. As a result, a boundary called "District 6" was created around the Hopi villages, reducing the reservation size. In 1962, courts decided that the U.S. government had not allowed the Navajo to live on the Hopi land declared in 1882, and that the remaining Hopi land would be shared with the Navajo as the Navajo–Hopi Joint Use Area.

Between 1961 and 1964, the Hopi tribal council allowed companies to search for oil, gas, and minerals on their land, which brought in money for the Hopi Tribe. In 1974, a law was passed to settle land issues between the Navajo and Hopi, and another law in 1996 helped solve remaining problems. This led to the creation of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, which moved people who were living on each other's land. By 1992, the Hopi Reservation grew larger. Today, Arizona State Route 264 runs through the Hopi Reservation, connecting the villages.

Tribal government

On October 24, 1936, the Hopi Tribe of Arizona created a government with a Tribal Council that makes most of the decisions. There are also leaders called a chairman and vice chairman, but their powers are smaller under the Hopi rules. The traditional powers of the Hopi villages were kept in the 1936 rules.

The Hopi tribe is recognized by the U.S. government and its main office is in Kykotsmovi, Arizona.

Economic development

The Hopi tribe makes most of its money from natural resources. In 2010, the tribe's budget was $21.8 million, with hopes of getting $12.8 million from mining that same year. A lot of coal is mined on the nearby Navajo Reservation, and the Hopi Tribe gets a share of the money from this. One big coal company, Peabody Western Coal Company, operates on Hopi land. However, when a large coal mine closed in 2019, it made unemployment worse. With the added challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and no official help for people who lost access to coal for heating, the Hopi have relied on nonprofits for support.

The Hopi Tribe Economic Development Corporation works to create different job opportunities. It manages the Hopi Cultural Center and Walpi Housing Management. Other businesses include ranches, a travel plaza, and hotels.

Tourism also helps bring in money. A nonprofit group from the Moenkopi village opened a 100-room hotel, providing tours, learning opportunities, and jobs. The Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa has shops, museums, a hotel, and a restaurant serving Hopi food.

The Hopi people have chosen not to allow gambling casinos. In 2017, the Hopi Tribe signed an agreement with the State of Arizona about gaming, allowing them to operate or lease up to 900 gaming machines, making them the last tribe in Arizona to do so.

Culture

The Hopi people describe themselves as calm, polite, and peaceful. They have strong ties to their past and believe that past and present can exist together. They honor their gods and follow the guidance of village leaders who encourage good behavior.

Hopi families are organized through the mother's side. When a man marries, his children become part of his wife's family group. The mother's family gives names to a newborn child, and the parents choose which name to use. The Hopi hold many ceremonies throughout the year based on the moon's cycle. They also create art, such as dolls, pottery, and jewelry, and many work in jobs outside their traditional ways.

Albinism

The Hopi people have a higher number of individuals with a condition called albinism, especially in certain areas like Second Mesa and villages near Hotevilla. In these places, about 1 in 200 people have albinism.

Notable Hopi people

The Hopi people have many notable individuals who have made important contributions in many fields. Some well-known Hopi people include Thomas Banyacya, who was an interpreter and spokesman for traditional Hopi leaders, and Neil David Sr., a painter and artist known for his katsina figures.

Other notable Hopi include Diane Humetewa, who became a U.S. District Court Judge, and Lewis Tewanima, an Olympic silver medalist in distance running. Many Hopi are also recognized for their skills in pottery, painting, and other traditional crafts.