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Language and Ceremony
Though related to a few other native languages, the Hopi language is an Uto-Aztecan language not spoken by others. So, speaking Hopi did have its advantages. When I came to Hopi, children and adults would switch to Hopi when I came near so they could continue talking about whatever they were talking about and I would not understand. As a result, I found it necessary to try to learn Hopi in order to protect myself. But learning Hopi was difficult for me, as both vocabulary and syntax have no relation to any European language. With a lot of study, I was able to learn enough to know what people were talking about when they switched to Hopi and could make a response that let them know I was understanding. Most of the negative comments in Hopi stopped then.
A knowledge of the language did not, however, guarantee me acceptance or access. For example, after living on Hopi for several years and after marrying my Hopi wife, I pretty much adopted the Hopi religion and religious beliefs. I realized full well that I could not be initiated into Hopi or a Hopi village, as that was not done for non-Natives. There are a number of children in families where one parent is Hopi and another is another tribe who have been initiated. And there are a few cases where someone from another tribe is initiated and allowed to participate in Hopi ceremonies. I know of no instance, though, where a non-Native was initiated or allowed to participate in ceremony. Non-Natives, like me, are welcome to watch most ceremonies, but not to participate.
There are a few instances where I and other non-Natives have not been allowed to watch Hopi ceremonies. For the past 30 years, the Snake Dance has been held only at Shungopavi and Mishongnovi on Second Mesa. Yet several years ago, the Snake Dance at Second Mesa was closed to non-Natives. This was in response to busloads of non-Native tourists brought by tour groups to the ceremony who were unaware of and/or disrespected the sacredness of the ceremony by generally acting like tourists. When the dance was closed, the Snake chief worked at the same school where I worked. I asked him if, even though the dance was closed to non-Natives, I would be able to attend. He looked me in the eye and said, “No.”
Nearly 30 years ago the ceremonial leaders at First Mesa closed all katsina dances there in response to a comic book that irreverently and inappropriately depicted Hopi katsinas. In Hopi, Katsinas are semi-sacred figures who act somewhat like the Greek messengers to the gods, relaying prayers and helping the Hopi people to attain crops, moisture, fertility, and prosperity in the sense of adequate food and stable family life. Some katsina dances at Second Mesa also closed to Whites at about that time. First Mesa dances continue to exclude Whites, while at Second Mesa it depends on the specific dance and the sponsor of that dance. No katsina dances are closed at Third Mesa.
There was one year that a spokesman for thetraditional leaders of Hotevilla (the village where I live) put out a letter saying that the Home Dance at Hotevilla would be closed to non-Natives. I respected that ban, though I understand many non-Natives did still attend. Before and after that one instance, Hotevilla has always welcomed all people to their ceremonies.
The purpose of Hopi ceremony is to bring rain and prosperity to the people of the earth, not just to Hopi. In order to accomplish this, those participating in the ceremony do activities for some time, sometimes two weeks, in the kivas (ceremonial chambers) away from the eyes of the public. Then there is a public part of the ceremony in which the participants sing and dance in the village plaza. It is the function of the audience to amplify the song and prayers of the participants, so it is important that everyone in attendance be focused and in a frame of mind to help with the ceremony. I have always felt that, if my presence at a “closed” ceremony would detract anyone from being able to participate positively in the purpose of the ceremony, it would be a serious infraction.