A Story from the Hopi Peoples' Oral History

It may have taken quite a long time for these villages to be establishedIn the tradition of oral history and storytelling, the storyteller often recounts several events or stories in a row. In what way does this opening sentence imply that this story was probably not the first in the series?. Anyway, every place was pretty well settled down when the Spanish cameIn what way does the tone of this passage connect to the oral tradition?. The SpanishSpanish conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado is believed to be the first Spaniard to visit the Hopi, in about 1540.. were first heard of at Zunia village in what is now New Mexico, the home of the Zuni people and then at Awatovi. They came on to Shung-opovi, passing Walpi. At First Mesaa mesa in Arizona that encompasses the villages of Shung-opovi, Awatovi, Walpi, Si-kyatki, Si-kyatki was the largest village then, and they were called Si-kyatki, not Walpi. The Walpi people were living below the present village on the west side. When the Spaniards came, the Hopi thought that they were the ones they were looking for--their white brother, the BahanaPart of the Hopi emergence creation story holds that a "white brother" came up with the Hopi people from the underworld and would return one day to, their savior.

The Spaniards visited Shung-opovi several times before the missions were established. The people of Mishongnovia Hopi village located in Arizona on Second Mesa welcomed them, so the priest who was with the white men built the first Hopi mission at Mishongnovi. The people of Shung-opovi were at first afraid of the priests but later they decided he was really the Bahana, the savior, and let him build a mission at Shung-opovi.

Well, about this time the Strap Clan were ruling at Shung-opovi, and they were the ones that gave permission to establish the mission. The Spaniards, whom they called Castilliaa region in Spain, told the people that theythe Spaniards had much more power than all their chiefs and a whole lot more power than the witches. The people were very much afraid of them, particularly if they had much more power than the witches. They were so scared that they could do nothing but allow themselves to be made slaves. Whatever theythe Spaniards wanted done must be done. Any man in power that was in this position the Hopi called To-ta-achi, which means a grouchy person that will not do anything himself, like a child. They couldn't refuse, or they would be slashed to death or punished in some way. There were two To-ta-achiWhat information does this description of a "To-ta-achi" provide about how the Hopi viewed the Spanish missionaries?.

The missionary did not like the ceremonies. He did not like the Kachinasancestral spirits worshipped by the Hopi and he destroyed the altars and the customs. He called it idol worship and burned up all the ceremonial things in the plaza.

a Hopi Kachina doll

He did not like the Kachinas and he destroyed the altars and the customs.

When the Priests started to build the mission, the men were sent away over near the San Francisco peaks to get the pine or spruce beams. These beams were cut and put into shape roughly and were then left till the next year when they had dried out. Beams of that size were hard to carry, and the first few times they tried to carry these beams on their backs, twenty to thirty men walking side by side under the beam. But this was rather hard in rough places and one end had to swing around. So finally they figured out a way of carrying the beam in between them. They lined up two by two with the beam between the lines.

In doing this, some of the Hopis were given authority by the missionary to look after these men and to see if they all did their duty. If any man gave out on the way he was simply left to die. There was great suffering. Some died for lack of food and water, while others developed scabs and sores on their bodies.

It took a good many years for them to get enough beams to Shung-opovi to build the mission. When this mission was finally built, all the people in the village had to come there to worship, and those that did not come were punished severely. In that way their own religion was altogether wiped out, because they were not allowed to worship in their own way. All this trouble was a heavy burden on them and they thought it was on account of this that they were having a heavy drought at this time. They thought their gods had given them up because they weren't worshiping the way they should.

Now during this time the men would go out pretending they were going on a hunting trip and they would go to some hiding place, to make their prayer offerings. So today, a good many of these places are still to be found where they left their little stone bowls in which they ground their copper ore to paint the prayer sticks. These places are called Puwa-kiki, cave places. If these men were caught they were severely punished.

Now this man, To-ta-achi (the Priest) was going from bad to worse. He was not doing the people any good, and he was always figuring what he could do to harm them. So he thought out how the water from different springs or rivers would taste, and he was always sending some man to these springs to get water for him to drink, but it was noticed that he always chose the men who had pretty wives. He tried to send them far away so that they would be gone two or three days, so it was not very long until they began to see what he was doing. The men were even sent to the Little Colorado River to get water for him, or to MoencopiBoth Moencopi and the Little Colorado River are more than 50 miles from Shung-opovi. At a pace of 15 miles per day, it would take between six and seven days to retrieve the water and return to Shung-opovi.. Finally, when a man was sent out he'd go out into the rocks and hide, and when the night came he would come home. Then, the priest, thinking the man was away, would come to visit his wife, but instead the man would be there when he came. Many men were punished for this How many times has fear, hardship, or punishment caused by the priests been mentioned so far?.

All this time the priest, who had great power, wanted all the young girls to be brought to him when they were about thirteen or fourteen years old. They had to live with the priest. He told the people they would become better women if they lived with him for about three years. Now one of these girls told what the To-ta-achi were doing, and a brother of the girl heard of this, and he asked his sister about it, and he was very angry. This brother went to the mission and wanted to kill the priest that very day, but the priest scared him and he did nothing. So the Shung-opovi people sent this boy, who was a good runner, to Awatovi to see if they were doing the same thing over there, which they were. So that was how they got all the evidence against the priest.

Then the chief at Awatovi sent word by this boy that all the priests would be killed on the fourth day after the full moon. They had no calendar and that was the best way they had of setting the date. In order to make sure that everyone would rise up and do this thing on the fourth day, the boy was given a cotton string with knots in it and each day he was to untie one of these knots until they were all out and that would be the day for the attackThe Pueblo Indian communities, including the Hopi, successfully revolted against the Spaniards on August 13th, 1680..

Things were getting worse and worse, so the chief of Shung-opovi went over to Mishongnovi, and the two chiefs discussed their troubles.

"He is not the savior, and it is your duty to kill him," said the chief of Shung-opovi.

The chief of Mishongnovi replied, "If I end his life, my own life is ended."

Now the priest would not let the people manufacture prayer offerings, so they had to make them among the rocks in the cliffs out of sight, so again one day the chief of Shung-opovi went to Mishongnovi with tobacco and materials to make prayer offerings. He was joined by the chief of Mishongnovi, and the two went a mile north to a cave. For four days they lived there heartbroken in the cave, making pahosprayer sticks. Then the chief of Mishongnovi took the prayer offerings and climbed to the top of the Corn Rock and deposited them in the shrine, for according to the ancient agreement with the Mishongnovi people, it was their duty to do away with the enemy.

He then, with some of his best men, went to Shung-opovi, but he carried no weapons. He placed his men at every door of the priest's house. Then he knocked on the door and walked in. He asked the priest to come out but the priest was suspicious and would not come out. The chief asked the priest four times and each time the priest refused. Finally, the priest said, "I think you are up to something."

The chief said, "I have come to kill you."

"You can't kill me," cried the priest, "you have no power to kill me. If you do, I will come to life and wipe out your whole tribe."

The chief returned, "If you have this power, then blow me out into the air; my gods have more power than you have. My gods have put a heart into me to enter your home. I have no weapons. You have your weapons handy, hanging on the wall. My gods have prevented you from getting your weapons."

The old priest made a rush and grabbed his sword from the wall. The chief of Mishongnovi yelled and the doors were broken open. The priest cut down the chief and fought right and left but was soon overpowered, and his sword taken from him.

They tied his hands behind his back. Out of the big beams outside they made a tripod. They hung him on the beams, kindled a fire, and burned him.

From "Starving Time"
painting of colonists surviving the winter

But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in 2 or 3 months' time half of their company died.

In these hard and difficult beginnings they found some discontents and murmurings arise amongst some, and mutinous speeches and carriages in other; but they were soonWriting conventions have changed considerably since the colonial period. Read this opening sentence carefully, taking the colonial influence into consideration. What is Bradford saying here? quelledto suppress, repress, stifle--particularly with regard to things considered bad or disagreeable and overcome by the wisdom, patience, and just and equal arrange of things by the Governor and better part, whichWriting conventions have changed considerably since the colonial period. Read this opening sentence carefully, taking the colonial influence into consideration. What is Bradford saying here? clovestuck together faithfully together in the main.Writing conventions have changed considerably since the colonial period. Read this opening sentence carefully, taking the colonial influence into consideration. What is Bradford saying here? But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in 2 or 3 months' time half of their company died, especially in January: and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvya debilitating disease caused by a lack of vitamin C; it was nearly impossible for the colonists to acquire fruit, which was the only means of warding off scurvy at the time. and other diseases, which this long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them; so as there died some times 2 or 3 of a day, in the foresaid time; that of 100 and odd persons, scarce 50 remained. And of these in the time of most distress, there was but 6 or 7 sound persons, who, to their great commendationsa show of approval or favorable attention be it spoken, spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsomehateful, disgusting, repulsive clothes, clothed and unclothed them; in a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasyupset stomach, nauseous stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren. A rare example and worthy to be remembered. Two of these were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend Elder, and Myles Standish, their Captain and military commander, unto whom myself, and many others, were much beholden in our low and sick condition. Yet the Lord so upheld these persons, as in this general calamitydeep distress or misery resulting from an unfavorable situation or event they were not at all infected either with sickness, or lameness. And what I have said of these, I may say of many others who died in this general visitation, and others yet living, that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of them. And I doubt not but their recompense is with the Lord.

From "Indian Relations"

All this while the Indians came skulking about themWhy do you think the previous reading section, "Starving Time," is necessary to understand "Indian Relations”?, and would sometimes show themselves aloofwithout empathy or feeling; standoffish off, but when any approached near them, they would run away. And once they stole away their tools where they had been at work, and were gone to dinner. But about the 16th of March a certain Indian came boldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, but marveled at it.How does this meeting differ from the first interaction between the Spanish and the Hopi? At length they understood by discoursediscussion, conversation with him, that he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts, where some English-ships came to fish, with whom he was acquainted, and could name sundry of them of their names, amongst whom he had got his language. He became profitable to them in acquainting them with many things concerning the state of the country in the east-parts where he lived, which was afterwards profitable unto them; as also of the people hear, of their names, number, and strength; of their situation and distance from this place, and who was chief amongst them.The Hopi knew of the Spanish, having heard reports from villages a long distance away. In what way is the situation reversed here? His name was Samaset; he told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English then himself. Being, after some time of entertainment and gifts, dismissed, a while after he came again, and 5 more with him, and they brought again all the tools that were stolen away before, and made way for the coming of their great Sachema civil or judicial leader within a tribe, as opposed to a chief, a military, or an oratory leader, called Massasoyt; who, about 4 or 5 days after, came with the chief of his friends and other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto. With whom, after friendly entertainment, and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which hath now continued this 24 years) in these terms.

  1. That neither he nor any of his, should injure or do hurt to any of their people.
  2. That if any of his did any hurt to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him.
  3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do the like to his.
  4. If any did unjustly war against him, they would aide him; if any did war against them, he should aide them.
  5. He should send to his neighbors' confederates, to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.
  6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.

After these things he returned to his place called Sowams, some 40 mile from this place, but Squanto continued with them, and was their interpreter, and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure otherRecalling the hardships noted in the "Starving Time" excerpt, would the colonists have survived without Squanto's guidance? commoditiesa product or service that is for sale or use; merchandise or services exchanged in trade, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died.Recalling the hardships noted in the "Starving Time" excerpt, would the colonists have survived without Squanto's guidance? He was a native of this place, and scarce any left alive besides himself.