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 wildlifeHot during the day and cold at night

Resources

Raised sheep for meet and woolUsed straw, clay and water to build their

homesCoal, sheep dung, wood for cooking and

chairsUsed 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 CultureOriginally walkedEuropeans brought horses to AmericaThe 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 KachinasThey 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 wordsDistant relative of the Aztec languageNot related to other Pueblo languages at allHopi people speak English today, but still

speak their native language as wellHa’u (hah-uh) means "hello" in Hopi.

Art

Carved Kachina dollsMade 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 breechclothsMen 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 JulyMarriage was a major event in their livesWeddings 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 cornBread, beans, melons, gourds, pumpkins and

some fruitsLots of space to plant, but there wasn’t much

rainHunted meat products such as elk, deer, sheep,

rabbit, buffaloFarming 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 huntChildren learn from parents

Technology

Hunters used bows and arrowsDuring wars fired their bows or fought with

spearsTools 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.htmhttp://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx

?itemid=813http

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

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