The Hopi Indians and their ancestors are Native Americans who have lived in Northwestern Arizona for a thousand years.  The name ‘Hopi’ is translated to mean ‘peaceful person.

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The Hopi people are famous for their art and pottery and their native dances.

 

So Much History

A native art website says:

These Southwest American Indians inhabit an area called the Black Mesa, a plateau that rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding grasslands, and they refer to this place as the Center of the Universe.....the Hopi Reservation encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres.  Oraibi, the westernmost Hopi Pueblo, is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States.  It has been continuously inhabited for the past 1,100 years.

That's a lot of history, culture, and tradition and you can see for yourself this Saturday, June 4th at the Yakima Valley Museum when the  Honanie Family Dance Group performs.

Seizing The Opportunity

The Hopi Dance Group was originally scheduled to perform at the Yakama Nation Treaty Days Pow wow this weekend but that celebration had to be moved on short notice to next weekend.  Since the Honanie Family was already coming, a Yakima Museum spokesperson says they were delighted to be able to provide a venue for their performance.

The Eagle Dance and the Snake Dance are two of the most famous Hopi dances, but there are many others.  On this visit, the group will be showcasing the Water Maiden Dance and the Corn Dance.

They are each 20-25 minutes and they are partner dances performed with both young ladies and young men. Both water and corn are important to the Hopi culture, religion, and daily life.

The first is scheduled for 1 pm and following a costume change, the second to begin around 2:15 - 2:30 pm

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