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The Hopi


Hopi Villages

There are eleven Hopi villages in Northeast Arizona on Black Mesa, a rock land table, and the major ones are on three high mesas. The current Hopi population is between 10,000 and 12,000, and some information says that there are 12 villages. Each Hopi village is independent, with its own style of government. Style of crafts vary by village, but Kachina dolls (tithu) are made by all. Any dolls that are sold always have errors in them, as the true tithu are not for sale.

First and Third Mesa are separated by 15 miles, with a total land area of about 500 square miles. The names in parentheses are the commonly used Anglo spelling according to pronunciation.

First Mesa: Their craft specialty is polychrome pottery.
· Waalpi:
· Hanoki: (Hano or Tewa) This village was founded by refugees after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.
· Sitsomovi (Sichomovi)

Second Mesa: Craft specialty is silver overlay jewelry and coiled basketry.
· Songoopavi (Shongopavi)
· Musungnuvi (Mishongnovi)
· Supawlavi (Shipaulovi)

Third Mesa: Craft specialty is wicker and twill basketry.

· Hoatvela (Hotevilla): This is a newer community A division of the Hopi, first of three prophesied, took place in 1906 when Chief You-kew-ma and his followers were forced out of Oraibi by a pushing contest and began the new community of Hotevilla. · Paaqavi (Bacavi)
· Munqapi (Moencopi)(Moenkopi) This is an outlying village.
· Kiqotsmovi (Kykotsmovi)
· Orayvi (Oraibi - believed to be the longest inhabited community in North America)
Many of the villages are now closed to visitors for the religious ceremonies and it is best to inquire first. Photos, sketching, and video and sound recording are prohibited, and questions are disrespectful. The Hopi share some religious beliefs with other tribes, but there is no world like the Hopi and it must be seen first-hand. Information above is from the Four Corners Postcard