as told by the late
Dan Katchongva
Sun Clan (1865-1972)
Translated by Danaqyumptewa
Edited by
Thomas Francis Tarbet
INTRODUCTION
Dan Katchongva, the late Sun Clan leader of Hotevilla,
spent more than a century in this life, in the course of which he
was privileged to witness the battle between the ancient world and
the modern world, in which he saw many old prophecies fulfilled. He
experienced the whole spectrum, from peaceful village life to the
most forceful interference the Hopi have known since
the end of the previous world.
In a talk recorded on January 29, 1970, Dan told the story of
the People of Peace, from the dawn of time to the
attacks which led to the founding of Hotevilla in 1906, the school,
money and police systems which threaten to end the Hopi Way
within this generation, and the consequences for America and the
world.
The thought of publishing his talk grew from the recognition that
those causing this tragedy, and the millions who support them, could
not persist, had they but a glimpse of the purpose behind Hopi
resistance to foreign control.
Dan agreed to the publication of this booklet on condition
that it never be sold, insisting that to sell Hopi
teachings would be like selling his own mother.
He selected the portions to be published, and the accuracy of the
translation was carefully established through his interpreter,
Danaqyumptewa, with emphasis given to the original wording.
Statements concerning the Coyote and Grey Eagle
clans, which Dan later wanted to add, have been
inserted in this edition on pages 14,15 and 16 [of original book].
In addition to the prophecies fulfilled during his lifetime, Dan
was told by his father that he would live to see the beginning of
the final event of this era, the Great Day of Purification.
Dan Katchongva
died in 1972. ,,,,,,,,,,,,, T.F.T.
THE BEGINNING OF LIFE
Somewhere down in the underworld we were created by the Great
Spirit, the Creator. We were created
first one, then two, then three. We were created equal, of oneness,
living in a spiritual way, where the life is everlasting. We were
happy and at peace with our fellow men. All things were plentiful,
provided by our Mother Earth upon which we were placed. We did not
need to plant or work to get food. Illness and troubles were
unknown. For many years we lived happily and increased to great
numbers.
When the Great Spirit created us, he also gave us
instructions or laws to live by. We promised to live by his laws so
that we would remain peaceful, using them as a guideline for living
happily upon that land where he created and placed us. But from the
beginning he warned us that we must not be tempted by certain things
by which we might lose this perfect way of life.
Of course we had advantage of many good things in this life, so by
and by we broke the Creator’s command by doing what he
told us not to do. So he punished us by making us as we are now,
with both soul and body. He said, :
"From now on you
will have to go on your own. You will get sick, and the length
of your life will be limited."
He made our bodies of
two principles, good and evil. The left side is good for it contains
the heart. The right side is evil for it has no heart.
The left side is awkward but wise. The right side is clever and
strong, but it lacks wisdom. There would be a constant struggle
between the two sides, and by our actions we would have to decide
which was stronger, the evil or the good.
We lived in good ways for many years, but eventually evil proved to
be stronger. Some of the people forgot or ignored the Great Spirit’s
laws and once again began to do things that went against his
instructions. They became materialistic, inventing many things for
their own gain, and not sharing things as they had in the past. This
resulted in a great division, for some still wanted to follow the
original instructions and live simply.
The inventive ones, clever but lacking wisdom, made many destructive
things by which their lives were disrupted, and which threatened to
destroy all the people. Many of the things we see today are known to
have existed at that time. Finally immorality flourished. The life
of the people became corrupted with social and sexual license which
swiftly involved the Kikmongwi’s (chief’s) wife and
daughters, who rarely came home to take care of their household
duties. Not only the Kikmongwi but also the high religious
leaders were having the same problem. Soon the leaders and others
with good hearts were worried that the life of the people was
getting out of control.
The Kikmongwi gathered the high priests. They smoked and
prayed for guidance toward a way to solve the corruption. Many times
they gathered, until finally someone suggested that they move, find
a new place, and start a new life.
EMERGENCE INTO THE PRESENT WORLD
Now they had often heard certain thumping sounds coming from above,
so they knew that someone might be living there. It was decided that
this must be investigated. I will describe this briefly, for the
whole story would take much space.
Being gifted with wisdom, they created birds for this purpose. I
will name three. Two which are known for their strength and
swiftness are the kisa (hawk) and the pavowkaya (swallow). The third was a moochnee
(related to the mockingbird). His flight is awkward, but he is known
to be wise. They were each created at separate times by magic songs,
tobacco smoke and prayers, from dirt and saliva, which was covered
by a white cape (ova). Each was welcomed respectfully and given
instructions for his mission, should he succeed. The first two
failed to reach the top side of the sky, but the third one, moochnee, came through the opening into this world.
The new world was beautiful. The earth was green and in bloom. The
bird observed all his instructions. His sense of wisdom guided him
to the being he was instructed to seek. When he found him it was
high noon, for the being, Maasauu, the Great Spirit,
was preparing his noon day meal. Ears of corn lay beside the fire.
He flew down and lit on top of his kisi (shady house) and sounded
his arrival.
Maasauu was not surprised by the visitor, for by his wisdom
and sense of smell he already knew someone was coming. Respectfully
he welcomed him and invited him to sit down. The interview was brief
and to the point. "Why are you here? Could it be important?" ’"Yes,"
said Moochnee, "I was sent here by the underworld
people. They wish to come to your land and live with you, for
their ways have become corrupted. With your permission they wish to
move here with you and start a new life. This is why I have come."
Maasauu replied bluntly, but with respect, "They may come.’
With this message the bird returned to the underworld. While he was
gone the Kikmongwi and the leaders had continued to
pray and wait for his successful return. Upon his return with the
good news of the new world and Maasauu’s permission for them
to come, they were overjoyed.
Now the question was how they were to get to the top, so again they
smoked and prayed for guidance. At last they agreed to plant a tree
that would grow to the top and serve as a pathway. They planted the
seed of a shalavee (spruce tree), then they prayed and sang magic
songs. The tree grew and grew until it reached the sky, but its
branches were so soft and so many that it bent under the heavy earth
pressure from the top, so it did not pierce the sky. They planted
another seed, this one to be a louqu (pine). It
grew as they sang their magic songs. This tree was stout and strong.
"Surely this one will go through," they thought. But it was
unsuccessful, for its branches also bent upon contact with the solid
object. Again they planted a seed. This time it was a pakave
(reed). Since it had a pointed end it pierced the sky up into
the new world.
Meanwhile all of this had been kept secret. Only proper righteous
and one-hearted people were informed of the plans to leave the
corrupt world. They were prepared to move out, so as soon as they
knew it was successful, they started to come up on the inside of the
plant, resting between the joints as they worked their way up to the
opening.
When they got to this world, everything was beautiful and peaceful.
The land was virgin, unmolested. They were very happy. They sang and
danced with joy, but their joy was short-lived, for that night the
chief’s daughter died suddenly. Everyone was sad and worried. People
looked at one another suspiciously. An evil spell had been enacted.
This caused great concern that a witch or two-hearted person might
be among them. [Meaning probably one with discarnates?]
Now the Kikmongwi had great power which he must use to settle
the concern of his people. He made a ball out of cornmeal which he
tossed up above the group of people. The one upon whose head it
landed would be the guilty one. It landed upon the head of a girl. A
quick decision was made to throw her back through the opening
into the underworld. The wickedness must be gotten rid of, for
they wished to live peacefully in this new land.
But the witch girl
cried out for mercy, telling them that on their long journey they
would face many obstacles and dangers of every description, and that
her services would become useful, for she had power to fight evil.
She invited the Kikmongwi to look back down into the
underworld. He looked and saw his child playing happily with the
other children in the underworld, where upon death we will
all return. She was spared, but they left her there alone, perhaps
hoping that she would perish by some unknown cause.
THE FIRST MEETING WITH THE GREAT SPIRIT IN THIS WORLD
It was here that the Great Spirit first appeared to
them on this Earth, to give them the instructions by which they were
to live and travel. They divided into groups, each with its selected
leader. Before them he laid ears of corn of various lengths. They
were each instructed to pick one ear of corn to take with them on
their journey, for their subsistence and their livelihood. One by
one they greedily picked out the longest and most perfect-looking
ears until only the shortest ear was left. They did not realize that
this was a test of wisdom. The shortest ear was picked by the
humblest leader. The the Great Spirit gave them their names and the
languages by which they would be recognized. The last picker of
short corn was named HOPI.
HOPI means not only to be peaceful but to obey and
have faith in the instructions of the Great Spirit, and not to
distort any of his teachings for influence or power, or in any way
to corrupt the Hopi way of life. Otherwise the name will be taken
away.
He then gave them instructions according to which they were to
migrate for a certain purpose to the four corners of the new land,
leaving many footprints, rock writings and ruins, for in time many
would forget that they were all one, united by a single purpose in
coming up through the reed.
Now that we were on top we were each to follow our own leaders, but
so long as we did not forget the instructions of the Great
Spirit we would be able to survive. We were now bound by a
vow to live by these instructions and to complete our pattern of
migration. Maasauu told us that whoever would be the first to
find him would be the leader of those who were to follow, then he
disappeared.
AN ACT OF PROPHETIC CONSEQUENCE
We migrated for many years to every corner of this continent,
marking our claim as we traveled, as these markings clearly testify
up to the present day. On our way we stopped for rest near the great
river now known as the Colorado. We had
traveled far and gained a great deal of knowledge, not forgetting
our instructions. The group leader was of the Bow Clan,
a great chief with wisdom. But it was here that this great chief
disappeared into the dark night. After putting his family to sleep
he left in search of the Earth Center, where clever,
ingenious people from all nations meet to plan the future.
By some means he found the place, and was welcomed with respect. It
was a beautiful place with all manner of good things. Good food was
laid before him by most beautiful girls. It was all very tempting.
Until today we did not know the significance of this action. It
had to do with the future. By this action he caused a change to
occur in the pattern of life as we near the end of the life cycle of
this world, such that many of us would seek the materialistic world,
trying to enjoy all the good things it has to offer before
destroying ourselves. Those gifted with the knowledge of the sacred
instructions will then live very cautiously, for they will remember
and have faith in these instructions, and it will be on their
shoulders that the fate of the world will rest.
The people will
corrupt the good ways of life, bringing about the same life as that
from which we fled in the underworld. The sacred body of the female
will no longer be hidden, for the shield of protection will be
uplifted, an act of temptation toward sexual license, which will
also be enjoyed. Most of us will be lost in all the confusion. An
awareness that something extraordinary is happening will develop in
most of the people, for even their leaders will be confused into
polluting themselves. It will be difficult to decide whom to follow.
The Hopi knew all this would come about. All these
aspects of today’s life pattern were planned. So today we must stand
firmly on our belief in order to survive. The only course is to
follow the instruction of the Great Spirit himself.
THE MISSION OF THE TWO BROTHERS
This Bow Clan chief had two grown sons. When they
learned of their father’s misdeed they were very sad. Their
knowledge of the teachings which they had received from him were(?)
in order. Now they were left alone to lead their people, for the
very next day their father died.
They asked their mother to permit them to carry out the order of
their instructions for an event of this nature. She replied that is
was up to them, for their knowledge was complete. Upon agreement,
the younger brother was to continue in search of Maasauu, and
to settle where he found him. There he would await the return of his
older brother, who was to travel eastward toward the rising sun,
where he would rest briefly. While resting, he must listen for the
voice of his younger brother, who would expect him to come to his
aid, for the change in the life pattern will have disrupted the way
of life of his people. Under the pressure of a new ruler they will
surely be wiped off the face of the earth unless he comes.
So today we are still standing firmly of the Great Spirit’s
instructions. We will continue to look and pray toward the East for
his prompt return.
The younger brother warned the elder that the land and the people
would change.
"But do not let your
heart be troubled," he said, "for you will find us. Many will
turn away from the life plan of Maasauu, but a few of us
who are true to his teachings will remain in our dwellings. The
ancient character of our heads, the shape of our houses, the
layout of our villages, and the type of land upon which our
village stands, and our way of life. All will be in order, by
which you will find us."
Before the first people
had begun their migrations the people named Hopi were
given a set of stone tablets. Into these tablets the Great
Spirit inscribed the laws by which the Hopi
were to travel and live the good way of life, the peaceful way. They
also contain a warning that the Hopi must beware, for
in time they would be influenced by wicked people to forsake the
life plan of Maasauu. It would not be easy to stand up
against this, for it would involve many good things that would tempt
many good people to forsake these laws. The Hopi would
be led into a most difficult position. The stones contain
instructions to be followed in such a case.
The older brother was to take one of the stone tablets with him to
the rising sun, and bring it back with him when he hears the
desperate call for aid. His brother will be in a state of
hopelessness and despair. His people may have forsaken the
teachings, no longer respecting their elders, and even turning upon
their elders to destroy their way of life. The stone tablets will be
the final acknowledgement of their true identity and brotherhood.
Their mother is Sun Clan. They are the children of the
Sun.
So it must be a Hopi who traveled from here to the
rising sun and is waiting someplace. Therefore it is only the
Hopi that still have this world rotating properly, and it is
the Hopi who must be purified if this world is to be saved. No other
person anyplace will accomplish this.
The older brother had to travel fast on his journey for there was
not much time, so the horse was created for him. The younger brother
and his people continued on in search of Maasauu.
On their way they came to a land that looked fertile and warm. Here
they marked their clan symbols on the rock to claim the land. This
was done by the Fire Clan, the Spider Clan,
and the Snake Clan. This place is now called
Moencopi. They did not settle there at that time.
While the people were migrating, Maasauu was waiting for the
first ones to arrive. In those days he used to take walks near the
place where he lived, carrying a bunch of violet flowers (du-kyam-see)
in his belt. One day he lost them along the way. When he went to
look for them he found that they had been picked up by the
Hornytoad Woman. When he asked her for the flowers she
refused to give them back, but instead gave him her promise that she
would help him in time of need. "I too have a metal helmet,"
she told him, (possibly meaning that certain people with metal
helmets would help the Hopi when they get into
difficulty).
[Golden helmets
infer E-T forces]
Often Maasauu would walk about a half mile north of his
du-pa-cha (a type of temporary house) to a place where
there lay a long rock which formed a natural shelter, which he must
have picked as the place where he and the first people would find
each other. While waiting there he would amuse himself by playing a
game to test his skill, the name of which (Nadu-won-pi-kya)
was to play an important part later on in the life of the Hopi,
for it was here that the knowledge and wisdom of the first people
was to be tested.
Until recent times children used to play a similar
game there, something like "hide-and-seek." One person would hide,
then signal by tapping on the rock, which would transmit the sound
in a peculiar way so that the others could not tell exactly where
the tapping was coming from. (Some years ago this rock was
destroyed by government road builders) It was here that they
found Maasauu waiting.
THE MEETING WITH MAASAUU NEAR ORAIBI
Before the migrations began Maasauu had let it be known,
though perhaps not by direct instructions, that whoever would find
him first would be the leader there. Later it became clear that this
was a procedure by which their true character would be specified.
When they found him the people gathered and sat down with him to
talk. The first thing they wanted to know was where he lived. He
replied that he lived just north of there at a place called
Oraibi. For a certain reason he did not name it fully. The
full name is Sip-Oraibi, meaning something that has
been solidified, referring to the fact that this is the place where
the earth was made solid.
They asked permission to live there with him. He did not answer
directly, for within them he saw evil.
"It’s up to you," he
said. "I have nothing here. My life is simple. All I have is my
planting stick and my corn. If you are willing to live as I do,
follow my instructions, the life plan which I shall give you,
you may live here with me, and take care of the land. Then you
shall have a long, happy, fruitful life."
Then they asked him
whether he would be their leader, thinking that thus they would be
assured a peaceful life.
"No," he replied,
"the one who led you here will be the leader until you fulfill
your pattern of life," (for he saw into their hearts and knew
that they still had many selfish desires). "After that I will be
the leader, but not before, for I am the first and I shall be
the last.’"
Having left all the
instructions with them, he disappeared.
THE FOUNDING OF ORAIBI VILLAGE
The village of Oraibi was settled and built in
accordance with the instructions of the Great Spirit.
The Bow Clan chief was the father of the
ceremonial order. They remained under the leadership of the Bow Clan for some time, perhaps until corruptions set in. As
you recall, the Bow Clan chief of the past had
contaminated his standing by taking part in the changing of the life
pattern.
Later the Bear Clan took over. This might have been
because the bear is strong and mighty. There may have been other
reasons too, such as a prophecy which told that a bear, sleeping
somewhere in the northern part of what is now called Europe,
would awaken at a certain time and walk to the northern part of
this country, where he would wait. This group is called
Bear Clan because they came across a dead bear at the place
of the shield symbol. Most of the important people claimed to be of
the Bear Clan, including the Bluebird and
Spider Clan people.
For some reason the Coyote Clan, who migrated from
Sh-got-kee near Walpi, were considered bad people, though
very clever. At first they were not permitted to enter but in accord
with our custom, on the fourth request they were admitted, on
agreement that they would act as a protection and in time speak for
the chief should difficulties arise. But they were warned to be
cautious, though faithful ones might remain true to the last. So it
is with all clans, for along the way most of us will deceive our
leaders for glory, which will tend to pollute our ways and
jeopardize our beliefs.
The last group to be permitted into Oraibi was the
Grey Eagle Clan. When they had finished their migrations,
they first settled in what is now called New Mexico.
Being warlike and troublemakers, they were evicted by the
Pueblo Indians. When they came to this area, they first
settled in Mushongnovi on Second Mesa, on the
agreement that they would not cause trouble. Should they break their
agreement, they were to leave without resistance.
They made trouble in Mushongnovi so they left as
promised. They went by way of Oraibi, where they asked
to be admitted. After several attempts they finally gained entry,
promising as they had in the other village that they would leave
voluntarily should they create trouble. According to this agreement
the chief of Mushongnovi would then consider whether to
receive them again at Second Mesa, or send them back
to New Mexico, where the Pueblo people
could deal with them as they saw fit.
The vow which we made with the Great Spirit obligated
us to follow his way of life. He gave the land to us to use and care
for through our ceremonial duties. He instructed us and showed us
the road plan by which we must govern our lives. We wrote this
pattern on a rock so that we would always be reminded to follow the
straight road. The Hopi must not drift away from this
road or he will take this land away from us. This is the warning
given to us by Maasauu.
Oraibi village was settled firmly. Migrating people
were now gathering there and asking to be admitted into the village.
The Kikmongwi and the high priests would always
consider their request and base their judgment upon their character
and wisdom. Those who showed signs of boastfulness were turned away
and told to go to the south mesas where their kind of people lived.
Only good people, humble and sincere in their prayers, were
admitted.
Among the ceremonies of each group the prayer for rain was important
in order for the crops to grow and produce an abundance of food. The
people depended on this for their livelihood. Boastful people were
not admitted so that prayers would not be polluted.
Oraibi was now firmly established. The pattern of the
religious order was established. Cycle by cycle we paid respect to
our Mother Earth, our Father Sun, the
Great Spirit, and all things through our ceremonials. We
were happy for we were united as one.
THE ARRIVAL OF ANOTHER RACE FORETOLD
Time passed on, people passed on, and the prophecies of things to
come were passed from mouth to mouth. The stone tablets and the rock
writing of the life plan were often reviewed by the elders.
Fearfully they waited as they retold the prophecy that one day
another race people would appear in their midst and claim our land
as his own.
He would try to change our pattern of life. He would
have a "sweet tongue" or a "forked tongue,"
and many good things by which we would be tempted. He would use
force in an attempt to trap us into using weapons, but we must not
fall for this trick, for then we ourselves would be brought to our
knees, from which we might not be able to rise. Nor must we ever
raise our hand against any nation. We now call these people
Bahanna.
THE FORCES OF PURIFICATION
We have teachings and prophecies informing us that we must be alert
for the signs and omens which will come about to give us courage and
strength to stand on our beliefs. Blood will flow. Our hair and our
clothing will be scattered upon the earth. Nature will speak to us
with its mighty breath of wind. There will be earthquakes and floods
causing great disasters, changes in the seasons and in the weather,
disappearance of wildlife, and famine in different forms. There will
be gradual corruption and confusion among the leaders and the people
all over the world, and wars will come about like powerful winds.
All of this has been planned from the beginning of creation.
We will have three people standing behind us, ready to fulfill our
prophecies when we get into hopeless difficulties: The Meha
Symbol (which refers to a plant that has a long root, milky
sap, grows back when cut off, and has a flower shaped like a
swastika, symbolizing the four great forces of nature in motion),
the Sun Symbol, and the Red Symbol.
Bahanna’s intrusion into the Hopi way of life
will set the Meha Symbol in motion, so that certain
people will work for the four great forces of nature (the four
directions, the controlling forces, the original force) which will
rock the world into war. When this happens we will know that our
prophecies are coming true. We will gather strength and stand firm.
This great movement will fall, but because its subsistence is milk,
and because it is controlled by the four forces of nature, it will
rise again to put the world in motion, creating another war, in
which both the Meha and the Sun Symbol
will be at work. Then it will rest in order to rise a third time.
Our prophecy foretells that the third event will be
the decisive one. Our road plan foretells the outcome.
This sacred writing speaks the word of the Great Spirit.
It could mean the mysterious life seed with two principles of
tomorrow, indicating one, inside of which is two. The third and
last, which will it bring forth, purification or destruction?
This third event will depend upon the Red Symbol,
which will take command, setting the four forces of nature (Meha)
in motion for the benefit of the Sun. When he sets these forces in
motion the whole world will shake and turn red and turn against the
people who are hindering the Hopi cultural life. To all these people
Purification Day will come. Humble people will run to
him in search of a new world, and the equality that has been denied
them. He will come unmercifully. His people will cover the Earth
like red ants. We must not go outside to watch. We must stay in our
houses. He will come and gather the wicked people who are hindering
the red people who were here first. He will recognize by his way of
life, or by his head (the special Hopi haircut), or by
the shape of his village and his dwellings. He is the only one who
will purify us.
The Purifier, commanded by the Red Symbol,
with the help of the Sun and the Meha,
will weed out the wicked who have disturbed the way of life of
the Hopi, the true way of life on Earth. The wicked will
be beheaded and will speak no more. This will be the Purification
for all righteous people, the Earth, and all living things on the
Earth. The ills of the Earth will be cured. Mother Earth
will bloom again and all people will unite into peace and harmony
for a long time to come.
But if this does not materialize, the Hopi traditional
identity will vanish due to pollution from Bahanna.
Through the white man’s influence, his religions, and disappearance
of our sacred land, the Hopi will be doomed. This is
the Universal Plan, speaking through the Great Spirit
since the dawn of time.
With this in mind, I as a Hopi do not make wars
against any country, because if I do, the Purifier
will find out and punish me for fighting. And since I am a
Hopi, I am not sending my children across the ocean to
fight. If they want to that’s up to them, but they will no longer be
Hopi if they do.
Since I am Sun Clan, and the Sun is the
father of all living things, I love my children. If they realize
what I am talking about they must help me save this world. The
Hopi have been placed on this side of the Earth to take
care of the land through their ceremonial duties, just as other
races of people have been placed elsewhere around the Earth to take
care of her in their own ways. Together we hold the world in
balance, revolving properly. If the Hopi nation
vanishes the motion of the Earth will become eccentric, the water
will swallow the land and the people will perish. Only a brother and
a sister may be left to start a new life.
THE FAITHFUL HOPI MEET THEIR TEST
Bahanna came with great ambition and generosity,
eagerly offering his hand to help ’improve’ our way of life,
establishing schools to teach us the ’better ways’ of his life. He
offered us his medicine and health practices, saying that this would
help us live longer. He offered to help us mark our boundary,
claiming that in that way we would have more land. In all the
villages we rejected his offer. He tried many ways to induce us, but
failed to make us submit to his wishes, for we were all one unity at
that time, believers in the instructions of Maasauu.
His next attempt was fear. He formed a police force consisting
partly of certain people who had been tempted by his offers and
given weapons. He threatened to arrest us and put us in prison, but
we still stood firm. The threats of arrest and imprisonment were put
into action. Villages panicked and weaker people began to submit. In
Oraibi, our village leadership fell when Lololma
(Bear Clan) made an agreement with the United States
Government.
We who still had faith in Maasauu, including the main priests
of the religious orders, gathered together, rejecting the
Kikmongwi’s request to submit. We sat down together and smoked
and prayed that we would be brave enough to take our stand. We took
out our stone tablet and studied it in every detail. We carefully
reviewed road plan written on the rock near our village. This is the
plan we must always follow, for it is in order and complete. We
recognized that the Fire Clan (meaning my father,
Yukiuma) must lead, for his symbol, Maasauu, stands to
the right of the reed as he faces out. We also interpreted that
since our way of life had been corrupted we must move to a new place
where we would be able to follow the road without interference and
continue our ceremonial duties for all beings.
We smoked and prayed again and reconsidered that this village,
Oraibi, is our mother village. All our sacred shrines are
rooted here and must not be left unattended. We knew that the road
would be hard with many obstacles. We knew that we would still be
troubled by the newcomer, and that we must still face all the tests
of weakness, so we agreed to stay.
The trouble commenced its course. The Government wanted all of
the Hopi children to be put into schools. They said it
would do us good, but we knew that this ’good’ would only be on the
surface, and that what was under it would destroy the Hopi
cultural life. Maybe they thought that with an education the
children might be able to help the old people, but we knew this
would not be so, because they would learn to think as white men, so
they would never help the old people. Instead they would be
indoctrinated and encouraged to turn against us, as they are
actually doing today. So in order to be good according to the
Great Spirit’s instructions we refused to put our children
into the schools.
So almost every week they would send policemen, many of them. They
would surround the village and hunt for the children of school age.
We could not be happy because we were expecting trouble every day.
Fathers who refused to cooperate were arrested and imprisoned.
Inhuman acts were imposed upon us, starvation, insults and
humiliation, to force us into submission. Still, over half of the
clan leaders and religious society leaders refused to accept
anything from the Government. Because of this we were mocked and
treated as outcasts by those who had already submitted. Finally they
decided to do something about us because we were keeping them from
getting certain favors from the Government.
This was when Lololma’s successor, Tawaquaptewa,
became chief of Oraibi. It was under his leadership
that the sad event, the eviction of the faithful Hopi from
Oraibi, was touched off. Since we "Hostiles," as we were
called by the missionaries and Government workers, refused to follow
his wishes and accept the white man’s way of life, he decided to
evict us bodily. He figured that without our interference he would
be able to take advantage of the good things offered by
Bahanna.
THE FAITHFUL HOPI EVICTED FROM ORAIBI
On September 7th, 1906, his followers, commanded by chief
Tewaquaptewa himself, entered the house where we were discussing
prophecies and threw us out. We did not resist until rifles and
other weapons were shown and they began beating us. Then we resisted
only to the extent of defending ourselves from injury. I was knocked
unconscious. When I came to, all my people were gathered to go.
My
father, Yukiuma, was selected to be the leader. The women and
children, with a few belongings on their backs, a little food, and
no shoes, were prepared to leave. Some tried to go back to their
houses to get their valuables and some extra food, but they were
turned back. (In the Book of the Hopi it is said we
were allowed to go back and get some belongings, but this is not
true. That book is not accurate.) After we had left we
learned that our houses had been looted and that horses had been
turned loose in our fields and had eaten our crops, which were just
ready for harvest.
Thus we had to migrate once again to find a new home, leaving behind
a corrupt world of confusion. We sought to start a new life, carry
on our ceremonial cycles, and preserve our way of life without
interference, but now we know that this was a dead dream, for the
interference has continued right up to the present day.
THE FOUNDING OF HOTEVILLA VILLAGE
The village of Hotevilla was settled for one purpose,
to stand firmly on the Great Spirit’s instructions and
fulfill the prophecies of the end. It was established by good
people, one-hearted people who were actually living these
instructions. Water was plentiful, and so was wood, from which we
built temporary shelters in which we were to survive the cold winter
with very few blankets. Food was scarce, but we managed to live from
the land by hunting game and picking greens. We were united into
oneness, but it would again be split into two due to extreme
pressure from the outside.
RENEWED ATTACKS
Hardly had our footprints faded away in Oraibi, when
early one morning we found ourselves surrounded by government
troops. All the people, including the children, were ordered to
march six miles to a place below Oraibi. From there
all the men were marched over forty miles to the U.S. Government
agency at Keams Canyon, where they were imprisoned for
about a year-and-one-half for not accepting the generous offer of
education for our children, among other things.
The first thing they ordered us to do was to sign papers. We
refused. Then they locked us inside a building without food and with
very little water for several days until we were very hungry. Again
they tried to induce us to sign papers, promising to feed us and let
us go, but again we refused. They tried other tricks to make us sign
but each time we refused. Finally they took us to a blacksmith shop,
where they riveted chains to our legs with loops and hooks, and
fastened us together in pairs. In this way we were forced to work on
a road gang for long hours, working dangerously with dynamite on the
steep rocky cliffs near the agency. That road is now the foundation
of a highway still in use today.
At night we were fastened together in groups of six by means of long
chains. To add to our torture, soap was added to our food, which
made us very sick. When one man had to go to the outhouse all six
had to go. All this time the possibility of signing certain papers
was left open to those who might weaken. During this period my
father, Yukiuma, was being held somewhere else so I was
acting as leader.
While we were in prison, only the women and children, and maybe a
few old men, were left out here. They had very little food, but as
if by a miracle, there happened to be a lot of rabbits and other
wild game, so on that meat diet they were able to survive the hard
winter. It was very hard while the men were away. The old people
used to talk about it. The women had to gather the wood themselves.
My mother used to tell me how they would form hunting parties and
get the dogs to help. We had a small flock of sheep which they
tended while we were away. During the growing season they planted
the crops, took care of the fields, and all the work that the men
would normally do, in order to survive.
THE DISRUPTION CONTINUES TODAY
During this period a group under the leadership of
Kawonumptewa (Sand Clan), fearing even worse
pressure from the Government, returned to Oraibi to
follow Tawaquaptewa and accept the Karomuster way, but
they were rejected and driven out. They settled about two miles from
Hotevilla, where they founded the village of
Bacobi. Unable to make out independently, they asked the
Government Agency for help.
The Agency happily obliged with such
things as housing materials. Now they almost entirely accept the
Bambi way, along with his religion. According to the
Great Spirit’s law they are now landless. Their only
assets are their dwellings. But it is through them that the
Agency obtained token permission to build a school on
Hotevilla land, and with the Agency’s backing they have
committed land grabs against the Hotevilla people. It
is also through them that the Government built a water tower on
Hotevilla land, which supplies running water to the
school and to Bacobi village, while depleting the
natural water supply of the Hotevilla people. Most of
the people in Hotevilla refuse to use the water from
this tower. Much of the trouble caused by the Bacobi people
still exists today. I can recall much more than I hope will come to
light.
When we left Oraibi and settled at Hotevilla,
the Grey Eagle Clan came with us on the same condition
they agreed to in Oraibi, which is still in force.
They have created trouble again and are due to move out. They are
the backbone of the disturbances in our village, selling out
the Hopi nation by their inclination to bow toward more
persuasive powers for certain favors. There are two roads for them
to follow, the road of the Great Spirit, or the road
of Bahanna, the white man. They are supposed to
move out to Mushongnovi as agreed, in fact the people
there are waiting for them, but they lack the courage to carry out
their agreement. They are cowards hiding behind the man-made law of
Bahanna.
At the present time we face the danger that we might lose our land
entirely. Through the influence of the United States Government,
some people of Hopi ancestry have organized what they
call the Hopi Tribal Council, patterned according to a plan
devised by the Government, for the purpose of negotiating directly
with the Government and with private businesses. They claim to act
in the interests of the Hopi people, despite the fact
that they ignore the existing traditional leaders, and represent
only a small minority of the people of Hopi blood.
Large areas of our land have been leased, and this group is now
accepting compensation from the Indian Claims Commission for the use
of 44,000,000 acres of Hopi land. This is in error, for we laid our
aboriginal claim to all of this land long before the newcomers ever
set foot upon it. We do not recognize man-made boundaries. We true
Hopi are obligated to the Great Spirit
never to cut up our land, nor to sell it. For this reason we have
never signed any treaty or other document releasing this land. We
have protested all these moves, but to no avail.
Now this Tribal Council was formed illegally, even according
to white man laws. We traditional leaders have disapproved and
protested from the start. In spite of this they have been organized
and recognized by the United States Government for the purpose of
disguising its wrongdoings to the outside world. We do not have
representatives in this organization, nor are we legally subject to
their regulations and programs. We Hopi are an
independent sovereign nation, by the law of the Great
Spirit, but the United States Government does not want to
recognize the aboriginal leaders of this land. Instead, he
recognizes only what he himself has created out of today’s children
in order to carry out his scheme to claim all of our land.
Because of this, we now face the greatest threat of all, the actual
loss of our cornfields and gardens, our animals and wild game, and
our natural water supply, which would put an end to the Hopi
way of life. At the urging of the Department of the Interior of the
United States, the Tribal Council has signed several leases
with an outside private enterprise, the Peabody Coal Company,
allowing them to explore our land for coal deposits, and to
strip-mine the sacred mesas, selling the coal to several large
power-plants.
This is part of a project intended to bring heavy
industry into our area against our wishes. We know that this will
pollute the fields and grazing lands and drive out the wildlife.
Great quantities of water will be pumped from beneath our desert
land and used to push coal through a pipe to a power plant in
another state (Nevada). The loss of this water will affect our farms
as well as the grazing areas of the animals. It also threatens our
sacred springs, our only natural source of water, which we have
depended upon for centuries.
We Hopi knew all this would come about, because
this is the Universal Plan. It was planned by the Great
Spirit and the Creator that when the power plant came he
would offer us many things. If we were to accept those offers from
his government, that would be the doom of the Hopi
nation. Hopi is the bloodline of this continent, as others are the
bloodline of other continents. So if Hopi is doomed,
the whole world will be destroyed. This we know, because this
same thing happened in the other world. So if we want to survive, we
should go back to the way we lived in the beginning, the peaceful
way, and accept everything the Creator has provided for us to
follow.
Power plants laws are all stacked up. So many people have made the
rules, and many of them are made every day. But my law is only the
Creator’s, just one. And no manmade law must I follow, because it is
ever-changing, and will doom my people.
We know that when the time comes, the Hopi will be
reduced to maybe one person, two persons, three persons. If he
can withstand the pressure from the people who are against the
tradition, the world might survive from destruction. We are at the
stage where I must stand alone, free from impure elements. I must
continue to lead my people on the road the Great Spirit
made for us to travel. I do not disregard anyone. All who are
faithful and confident in the Great Spirit’s way are at liberty to
follow the same road. We will meet many obstacles along the way. The
peaceful way of life can be accomplished only by people with strong
courage, and by the purification of all living things. Mother
Earth’s ills must be cured.
As we say, the Hopi are the first people created. They
must cure the ills of their own bloodline so everything will become
peaceful naturally, by the will of the Creator. He will cure
the world. But right now Hopi is being hurt. To us
this is a sign that the world is in trouble. All over the world they
have been fighting, and it will get worse. Only purification of the
Hopi from disruptive elements will settle the problems here on this
Earth. We didn’t suffer all this hardship and punishment for
nothing. We live by these prophecies and teachings, and no matter
what happens, we will not buckle down under any pressure from
anybody.
We know certain people are commissioned to bring about the
Purification. It is the Universal Plan from
the beginning of creation, and we are looking up to them to bring
purification to us. It is in the rock writings throughout the world,
on different continents. We will come together if people all over
the world know about it. So we urge you to spread this word around
so people will know about it, and the appointed ones will hurry up
with their task, to purify the Hopi and get rid of
those who are hindering our way of life.
I have spoken. I wish this message to travel to all corners of this
land and across the great waters, where people of understanding may
consider these words of wisdom and knowledge. This I want. For
people may have different opinions about some things, but because of
the nature of the beliefs upon which this HOPI life is
based, I expect that at least one will agree, maybe even two. If
three agree, it will be worth manyfold.
I am forever looking and praying eastward to the rising sun for my
true white brother to come and purify the Hopi. My
father, Yukiuma, used to tell me that I would be the one to
take over as leader at this time because I belong to the Sun
Clan, the father of all the people on the Earth. I was told
that I must not give in, because I am the first. The Sun is the
father of all living things from the first Hopi
creation. And if I am done, the Sun Clan, then there
will be no living thing left on the Earth. So I have stood fast. I
hope you will understand what I am trying to tell you.
I am the
Sun, the father. With my warmth all things are created.
You are my
children, and I am very concerned about you. I hold you
to protect you from harm, but my heart is sad to see you
leaving my protecting arms and destroying yourselves.
From the breast of your mother, the Earth, you receive
your nourishment, but she is too dangerously ill to give
you pure food.
What will it
be? Will you lift your father’s heart? Will you cure
your mother’s ills? Or will you forsake us and leave us
with sadness, to be weathered away?
I don’t want
this world to be destroyed. If this world is saved, you
all will be saved, and whoever has stood fast will
complete this plan with us,
so that we
will all be happy in the Peaceful Way.
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People everywhere must give Hopi their most serious
consideration, our prophecies, our teachings, and our ceremonial
duties, for if Hopi fails, it will trigger the
destruction of the world and all mankind. I have spoken through the
mouth of the Creator. May the Great Spirit
guide you on the right path.
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