The Hopi Indians and the Three Mesas

The Hopi Indians live atop three spectacular Mesas in simple stone villages in the Hopi Indian reservation in north east Arizona.

These very private and traditional people are totally different from their Navajo neighbours whose land they are completely surrounded by.

The word Hopi means peaceful people and they live in buildings made from mud and stone called Pueblo's.

These buildings usually have a basement room called a Kiva and religous ceremonies and meetings are held here.

The three Mesas can be accessed by driving Highway 264.

First Mesa... The village on top of this Mesa has been occupied by the Hopi Indians for nearly 350 years first arriving while fleeing the Spanish.

At the end of this Mesa you will find a tiny village called Walpi which is about 800 years old and has no electricity or running water.

You can take a guided tour here which is well worth the effort as the guides speak excellent english and the chance to witness how the Hopi Indians lead their traditional and private lives is unmissable.

Leave your camera in the car for this tour as photography is strictly forbidden.

However you will have the opportunity to buy local crafts at reasonable prices here and jewelry and pottery are a speciality of this Mesa.

Natural resources are used and the pottery is fired in outside ovens, before being painted by brushes made from the yucca leaf.

Second Mesa... Situated just west of the first Mesa the second has a hotel and a very informative museum which you should take the time to visit.

Please note that should you decide to stay at the hotel that Alcohol is forbidden on the Hopi Indian Reservation so no glass of wine with your dinner.

There is also many vendors of local crafts of which wicker basketry is specialised here.

Hopi Arts and Crafts Guild is situated here and offers excellent examples of local sterling silver jewelry

Third Mesa... Further west still you will come to the last of the three Mesas.

There are two villages on the Mesa again where local crafts can be purchased, basketry made from yucca coils is the specialty here.

The village of Kykotsmovi just to the west of this Mesa and founded just over a hundred years ago is the tribal capital.

If you continue along Highway 264, you will enter Tuba City which was named after a Hopi Indian leader but is actually on the Navajo Indian Reservation.

Kachina Dolls... Carved from cottonwood roots Kachinas are the sacred spirits of all things living and provide the peaceful people with natural balance.

Kachina dolls can be purchased from craftsmen on all three Mesas.

Dance also plays a large part in Hopi culture more than just an ordinary dance it is a form of prayer to gain peace with the elements.

Dances are usually a very private affair and visitors are not usually permitted to witness them but if you are invited to such a dance then accept without question as this is a real privilege, but please stay quiet and be respectful these dances are very sacred.

Turquoise Jewelry features heavily in Hopi Indian Jewelry and is known to them as the skystone.

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