Guide Note

The Hopi are Native American's who live in northeastern Arizona on the Hopi Reservation. Their name was taken from the word Hopituh Shi-nu-mu which means "The Peaceful People." They speak the Uto-Aztecan language. The Hopi are religious people. They are anti-war and focus on respecting all things and living in peace with all things. They practice ancient prayer rituals and hold traditional dance ceremonies and sacred chants.

Fast Facts

1. Live mostly in Arizona
2. Population: 6,946
3. Many Hopis live by selling Kachina dolls, Jewelry, baskets and pottery
4. Kachina are the spirits of the invisible life forces of the Hopi
5. Invented the technique of "dry-farming"

The Hopi originated from a group of Southwestern people called the Pueblo. Their villages are located on the mesa tops or flat topped hills located in northeast Arizona. The Old Oraibi village was founded around 1100 AD. It is the oldest inhabited settlement within the United States. It is located on the Third Mesa in Navajo County. The Hopi live in pueblos made of mud and stone. Their basic food originally consisted of corn or maize along with other vegetables that they grew such as beans, squash, and pumpkin. The Hopi people believe in over 300 powerful ancestor spirits known as the Kachinas. They make Kachina dolls for the girls in the tribe and they also sell them to tourist. Today, there are traditional Hopi that uphold their old traditions and ways of living and there are new or modernized Hopi that enjoy modern conveniences such as medical care and schools. The Hopi still have conflict with the Navajo people whose reservations currently surround theirs.