Introduction
Every community out there boasts of having something quite unique about them. The hopi community is not an exemption to this notion. Hopi tribe acts like an integral system and has its own unique cultural practices, myths, legends, and oral traditions. These practices have been there from time immemorial and they are what give Hopi its sense of belonging. Its inhabitants engage themselves in various cultural, political, and economic activities in order to keep their pride and sustain their daily survival. Hopi’s way of life incorporates such things as agriculture, archeology, art and craft, traditional knowledge, and etiquette for visitors.
A closer look at their economic activities reveals very amazing procedures. Agriculture seems to be their main point of specialization and it is not just that cultivation you are used to. Their agriculture involves farming and gathering as these form a crucial facet of their culture. Agriculture started in this area as early as 1500 B.C as a result of it being introduced in the Southwest. Corn seems to be their preferred agricultural plant. Hopi did not just start growing corn out of nowhere. To them, this is their fourth way of life.
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Hopi believes that the corn was given to them by Maasai. They also have this strong feeling that the short blue ear of the corn was specifically given to them as other people scrambled for the larges ears. There are various clans forming Hopi and each clan has its own story to tell regarding how Hopi obtained the short blue ears of the corn. The Hopi have totally submitted to the corn as this portrays their way of life. In order to maintain the corn and their booming agriculture, their culture has always involved respect, humility, and cooperation.
Engaging in gardening does not insinuate that their land is blessed with constant rain. In fact, Hopi is known for its arid climate hence they have various ways in which they improve their agricultural activities. Their gardening is mostly scattered along dampened terraces and mesa walls. Irrigation is usually done on the more drylands, an activity referred to as dry farming. Some of the challenges that face this economic activity are rabbits, coyotes, crows, and ravens. Agriculture is not just an economic activity to them; it also serves as a religious act of faith. The gardens are owned by women and the harvests are what supplement their daily food.
Another aspect of culture that uniquely identifies Hopi is their art and craft gallery. Basketry, jewelry, pottery, Katsina dolls, painting, and even photography forms the art and craft gallery of the Hopi. Hopi pottery dates back to A.D 700. Their pottery has a history and they consider it a blessing inherited from their ancestors. The pottery has evolved from the ancient black-on-white styles, black on red styles up to the more recent polychromes. The techniques used in the pottery never change because they are passed down from the forefathers down to each passing generation.
Jewelry acts as a mirror image of the Hopi religion. Each model of their jewelry has a symbolic meaning which should not be ignored. Just like their pottery, their jewelry blueprints are also inherited from their ancestors. Most of the jewelry is made of silver and emphasis is added by the use of special stones like coral. Hopi Arts and Craft Silver Craft Cooperative Guild are responsible for the promotion of Hopi arts and crafts. Endorsement or what could be referred to as copyright in the modern world is usually implemented in the form of markings done by the artist’s clan, village, or artist’s signature.
Hopi boasts of some of the best basket makers in the world. This is a tradition to them and it is done by the Hopi women. The baskets are of various colors and drafts and the final products incorporate such things as blankets, Katsina, and even animals. The Hopi basketry is a symbolism of tradition connecting the past, present, and future and specifically reflects their religion and agriculture. Baskets are made by weaving together fibers: this is the same way that the Hopi culture is related and united.
Katsina or wooden dolls also happen to be Hopi’s area of specialization. Their interest in these dolls comes from the belief that Katsina has paranormal powers and usually visits Hopi village once every half of the year. Katsina is also responsible for bringing rain, punishing offenders, controlling the weather, and aiding Hopi in their daily activities. Art is not just art to the Hopi tribe. Every aspect of art is imagery reflecting their culture and tradition. The artifacts are very sacred since they are the symbol of Hopi’s everyday life.
Hopi practices traditional painting rather than the common contemporary painting. Traditional art has been passed down to the generations from the ancestors. Hopi sculptors also follow the Hopi traditions though there are some innovations to incorporate modern styles in a bid to challenge tradition. Photography has also not been left behind in Hopi. Though early photography mostly involved taking pictures of family events and any other memorial occasion, modern Hopi photographers try to incorporate aspects of traditions in their work.
Hopi is made up of villages and clans. The villages are referred to as the first mesa, second mesa, and third mesa. A clan consists of people who share a common ancestry. Several families can share a single clan thus developing their line of ancestry. A single village can contain various clans and each clan has its specific duties and obligations. Every clan has its history on how it became to be and each clan is also responsible for hosting its ceremonies. Women usually inherit property from the mother’s clan.
Conclusion
Just like any other community out there considers children to be blessings, Hopi is not an exception to this perception. The newly born and its mother are usually put under the care of members from the clan of the father of the child. Hopi’s culture does not permit one to marry from his clan. Besides, the mother’s clan is given much esteem and responsibilities since it is considered to be the principal clan. Every clan member should treat the other members with the desired respect. This is aimed at uniting all the clans since the Hopis consider themselves as a family.
Hopi holds the traditional knowledge with high admiration. Their traditional knowledge is the interactive method. Speaking and listening seem to be the core values of interaction and the telling of fairy tales. Fairy tales are told in order to pass on knowledge about clans from parents to the children. Important lessons about tradition are encoded in these tales and as one grows, one develops into an adult that has deep information and understanding of his origin, culture, and traditions.
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