Hopi

by Carl Chapman on June 25, 2016

CRIT

Colorado River Indian Lands

Location:
The Colorado River Indian Lands cover 225,995 acres in Arizona and 42,696 acres in California. Ninety miles of Colorado River shoreline runs north and south through the Indian Lands and includes the town of Parker. Currently, there is a population of 3,1000. The Chemehuevi, Mohave, Hopi and Navajo are included in the population and all share the land.

History:
The Mohave Indians have lived along the Colorado River for centuries. They farmed the river bottoms and harvested plants in the surrounding area. In the summer, their homes were made of branches and during the winter they built pit style homes partially underground.
On the other hand, the Chemehuevi roamed the length of the Colorado River. They did not settle down. The Chemehuevi were hunters and gathers.
Both the Mohave and Chemehuevi Indians have fought each throughout history and were considered the “river people.” The Hopi and the Navajo originally came from Northern Arizona, but later moved down to this area along the river.
Charles Debrille Poston was the first Indian Superintendent for Arizona. In 1864, he chose the site for Arizona’s second Indian Land. The Colorado River Indian Land was established in March 1865 covering 225,995 acres in La Paz County, Arizona.
Today, all four Indian tribes share the land.

Indian Arts:
The Mohave Indians are known for their handicrafts, such as pottery, necklaces, belts, dolls, cradleboards and rattles. The Chemehuevi are known for their baskets and powwows.

Attractions:
The Colorado River Indian Tribal Museum and Library is located near the town of Parker. The museum’s mission is to preserve and show the four tribal Indian heritages living on the Colorado River Indian Land. There is a gift shop offering the handicrafts.

The land is home to the Blue Water Casino.

Indian Day Celebration September
All Indian Rodeo December

by Carl Chapman on June 25, 2016

The Hopi Indian Lands lie in northeastern Arizona. It is in both Coconino and Navajo Counties and can be reached from Historic Route 66 or Interstate 40 through Holbrook, Winslow or Flagstaff. The land consists of three major mesas, which rise up from the desert floor nearly 7,200 feet. Currently, the tribe has 9,150 members.

The Hopi are direct descendants of the Anasazi, who lived in the area around Flagstaff and Canyon de Chelly. The name Hopi comes from “Hopituh Shi-nu-mu”, meaning “the peaceful people. The Hopi tribe is also a part of the larger Indian group called the Pueblo people. The Pueblo stayed in one particular area and built small flat roofed structures to live in. Legend says that the Hopi decided on this spot because Arizona is the center of the planet.

The Hopi tribe built old Oraibi in 1150 A.D. It is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States. The Hopi Indians built their homes on top of the mesas to protect themselves from attacking Navajo and Apache Indians.

Hopis have endured tragedy throughout their history. During the mid-1600’s, the population was nearly 14,000. A smallpox epidemic brought in by white settlers attacked the community. The epidemic killed about 75% of the tribe. Fortunately, their numbers rebounded, but in 1780 another smallpox epidemic broke out. This time, the epidemic left behind only 1,000 survivors. The third time smallpox hit the Hopi Indian Land was around 1850. Again, the population was reduced by 75%.

The Hopi Indian Lands cover 1,561,213 acres and were established in December 1882. These lands are unique in that they are completely surrounded by the Navajo Indian Lands.

Today, Keams Canyon is the site of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Headquarters. Peace and goodwill have always been the ways to live by in the Hopi community. Most of the Hopis live in the twelve villages on the Indian Land. These villages are found on First Mesa, Second Mesa, and Third Mesa. All three of these mesas are a part of Black Mesa. Many of the homes on these mesas are nearly a hundred years old and were built of stone and logs. Each village is organized independently and is known for their certain Indian Arts and unique ceremonies.

The tribe is known for their handicrafts such as kachinas, overlay jewelry, basketry, and pottery.

The Hopi are religious people, who practice their religion with ceremonies throughout the year. There are portions of the ceremonial dances that take part underground in a kiva. Only the initiated are permitted into the kiva. Each clan has its own dances. These clan dances are a secret. Not all of the villages will allow visitors to their dance ceremonies. Ten of the twelve villages have closed their Kachina dances to the public. Snake dances and Flute ceremonies remain closed, although many of the social dances are open. The Hopi’s will publicize the ceremonial dances that are available to the public. Please remember that photography is prohibited throughout the Indian Land, especially inside villages. Once you have stepped onto Hopi Indian Land, you have become a guest. Guests must be respectful of the land, people and their customs.

There are numerous galleries, trading posts, and centers located across the Hopi Indian Land. These places provide visitors an opportunity to look at and purchase Hopi handiwork.

by Carl Chapman on June 25, 2016

Tuba City

Tuba City is in the western portion of the Navajo Reservation. The written history of the town goes back more than 200 years. When Father Francisco Garcés visited the area in 1776, he recorded that the Indians were cultivating crops.

The town was settled by Mormons in the late 1870s, but in 1903 it was discovered that the town was built on Indian land, and the U.S. government bought out the improvements. Tuba City was made the headquarters of the western Navajo Agency. The first boarding school was built in the community at that time. Tuba City is at the junction of state Highway 264 and U.S. 160, about 80 miles northeast of Flagstaff, at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet.

Today, the community is an urban center within the Tuba City Chapter, a local government unit of the reservation. As an administrative and educational center, Tuba City has developed rapidly and has been designated a major “growth center” on the Navajo Reservation by the tribal government.

There are various theories about who chose the name “Tuba,ª” but most agree it came from the Hopi word “Toova.” The Navajo name for Tuba City, “Tonanesdizi” or “tangled waters,” probably refers to the many springs below the surface of the ground which are the source of several reservoirs. The springs of Tuba City have made it the basis of the surrounding desert country.

There are numerous Navajo Tribal and National Parks in the vicinity of Tuba City. These include Grand Canyon National Park, Navajo National Park, Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Monument Valley Tribal Park, and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. There are also three overnight camping areas in the community with hookups for campers. Pasture Canyon Reservoir and Mohave Reservoir offer good fishing. The Navajo Western Fair has held annually in late October.